Learning Perl
Encyclopedia
Learning Perl, also known as the llama book, is a tutorial book for the Perl
programming language, and is published by O'Reilly
. It was authored solely by Randal L. Schwartz
in its first edition (1993). The second (1997) edition was coauthored with Tom Christiansen and the third (2001) edition was coauthored with Tom Phoenix. The fourth (2005), fifth (2008) and sixth (2011) editions were written by Schwartz, Phoenix, and brian d foy
. According to the 5th edition of the book, previous editions have sold more than 500,000 copies.
Unlike Programming Perl
, this book is aimed at computer programmers new to Perl. The publisher offers a free sample of the 4th Edition's Chapter Eleven as well as complete set of code examples presented in the 3rd Edition book.
Schwartz selected the world of The Flintstones
for the examples in this book, giving rise to the somewhat frequent use of Fred and Barney as metasyntactic variable
s, rather than the classic foo and bar.
, praises the book for its "casual, first person style" and concludes that it "is a terrific introduction to the language that will serve as a good reference book once you have read it through." In his Linux Journal
review of Perl in a Nutshell, Jan Rooijackers recommends that "If you are totally new to programming and you want to learn Perl, the book Learning Perl ... might be a better place to start."
Discussing Schwartz' conviction, the New York Times noted that "Much of the Internet's World Wide Web has been built by programmers who got their start by reading his "Programming Perl" and "Learning Perl" books." Also reflecting in that case in Principles of Information Systems Security, Gurpreet Dhillon calls Learning Perl, "the definitive Perl instruction guide." In Perl Medic, author Peter Scott calls the book "the most common tutorial for learning Perl", but then criticizes its omission of hard references.
. Mastering Perl
, the third book in the trilogy and follow-up to Intermediate Perl, was published in July 2007.
Perl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular...
programming language, and is published by O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media is an American media company established by Tim O'Reilly that publishes books and Web sites and produces conferences on computer technology topics...
. It was authored solely by Randal L. Schwartz
Randal L. Schwartz
Randal L. Schwartz , also known as merlyn, is an American author, system administrator and programming consultant.-Career:...
in its first edition (1993). The second (1997) edition was coauthored with Tom Christiansen and the third (2001) edition was coauthored with Tom Phoenix. The fourth (2005), fifth (2008) and sixth (2011) editions were written by Schwartz, Phoenix, and brian d foy
Brian d foy
Brian D Foy is the publisher and editor of The Perl Review, a magazine devoted to Perl and co-author of several books on Perl including Learning Perl and Intermediate Perl...
. According to the 5th edition of the book, previous editions have sold more than 500,000 copies.
Unlike Programming Perl
Programming Perl
Programming Perl, ISBN 0-596-00027-8,best known as the Camel Book among programmers, is a book and ebook about writing programs using the Perl programming language, revised as several editions to reflect major language changes since Perl version 4. Editions have been co-written by the creator of...
, this book is aimed at computer programmers new to Perl. The publisher offers a free sample of the 4th Edition's Chapter Eleven as well as complete set of code examples presented in the 3rd Edition book.
Schwartz selected the world of The Flintstones
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
for the examples in this book, giving rise to the somewhat frequent use of Fred and Barney as metasyntactic variable
Metasyntactic variable
In computer science, programmers use metasyntactic variables to describe a placeholder name or an alias term commonly used to denote the subject matter under discussion or an arbitrary member of a class of things under discussion...
s, rather than the classic foo and bar.
Reactions
Brad Morrey, reviewing the book for InfoworldInfoWorld
InfoWorld is an information technology online media and events business operating under the umbrella of InfoWorld Media Group, a division of IDG...
, praises the book for its "casual, first person style" and concludes that it "is a terrific introduction to the language that will serve as a good reference book once you have read it through." In his Linux Journal
Linux Journal
Linux Journal is a monthly technology magazine published by Belltown Media, Inc. of Houston, Texas. The magazine focuses specifically on Linux, allowing the content to be a highly specialized source of information for open source enthusiasts.-History:...
review of Perl in a Nutshell, Jan Rooijackers recommends that "If you are totally new to programming and you want to learn Perl, the book Learning Perl ... might be a better place to start."
Discussing Schwartz' conviction, the New York Times noted that "Much of the Internet's World Wide Web has been built by programmers who got their start by reading his "Programming Perl" and "Learning Perl" books." Also reflecting in that case in Principles of Information Systems Security, Gurpreet Dhillon calls Learning Perl, "the definitive Perl instruction guide." In Perl Medic, author Peter Scott calls the book "the most common tutorial for learning Perl", but then criticizes its omission of hard references.
Later works
In 2003, Schwartz published a follow-up to the Llama, Learning Perl Objects, References & Modules. It picks up where Learning Perl left off. In 2005, Learning Perl Objects, References & Modules was updated by Schwartz and Foy and re-titled Intermediate PerlIntermediate Perl
Intermediate Perl is a book by Randal L. Schwartz, Brian D Foy and Tom Phoenix, published in 2006 by O'Reilly. It was released as a retitled second edition of Learning Perl Objects, References & Modules by Schwartz and Phoenix, published by O'Reilly in 2003 to favorable reviews.Intermediate Perl...
. Mastering Perl
Mastering Perl
Mastering Perl, published in 2007 by O'Reilly , is the third book in their series of Perl tutorials, following Learning Perl and Intermediate Perl. The book is written by brian d foy....
, the third book in the trilogy and follow-up to Intermediate Perl, was published in July 2007.
Editions
- First edition (1993; 274 pages; ISBN 1-56592-042-2)
- Second edition (1997; 300 pages; covers Perl 5.004; ISBN 1-56592-284-0)
- Third edition (2001; 330 pages; covers Perl 5.6; ISBN 0-596-00132-0)
- Fourth edition (2005; 312 pages; covers Perl 5.8; ISBN 0-596-10105-8)
- Fifth edition (2008; 348 pages; covers Perl 5.10; ISBN 0-596-52010-7)
- Sixth edition (2011; 390 pages; covers Perl 5.14; ISBN 1-4493-0358-7)