Perl Programmer's Interactive Workbook (Interactive Workbook (Prentice Hall)) (Paperback)

If you're going to learn PERL, learn it right: with a focus on building rock-solid, readable code that can endure and evolve as your needs change. That's how this book teaches PERL: with a focus on quality, plenty of real-world sample code -- and no frills. PERL Interactive Workbook doesn't try to teach you everything: only the key skills you need to be effective. "Learn by doing," as you master PERL variables, branching, testing, loops, system control, files, output, functions, and much more. The code samples in this book have real purpose: there are no phony variables named "foo," and no fake programs named "loopdemo.pl"! The content and lab exercises are drawn from actual experience -- and they're supplemented by bonus code and exercises on Prentice Hall PTR's Companion Interactive Workbook Web site. From start to finish, this book will teach you how to build solid PERL programs, not just "quick and dirty" code that collapses at the slightest breeze!

1. Getting Started.

LAB 1.1 Running Perl from the Command Line. LAB 1.2 Writing Your First Perl Program. Test Your Thinking.

2. The Nickel Tour.

LAB 2.1 Comments, Command Line, Environment. LAB 2.2 Keyboard and System Commands. LAB 2.3 Reading Quickly from a File. Test Your Thinking.

3. Variables: Large and Small.

LAB 3.1 Identifier Names and Scalar Variables. LAB 3.2 Simple Operators. LAB 3.3 Scalars and Context. LAB 3.4 Special Scalar Variables. Test Your Thinking.

4. Arrays and Lists.

LAB 4.1 Using Arrays and lists. LAB 4.2 Traversing an Array or List. LAB 4.3 Functions that Operate on Arrays. Test Your Thinking.

5. Hashes: Our Things Should Have Names.

LAB 5.1 Creating and Accessing a Hash. LAB 5.2 Traversing a Hash. Test Your Thinking.

6. Tests and Branching.

LAB 6.1 Truth, Branching, and the Many Faces of Nothing. LAB 6.2 Traditional Branching Constructs. LAB 6.3 Tests That Involve Numbers, Strings, and Files. Test Your Thinking.

7. Regular Expressions.

LAB 7.1 Standard Regular Expression Metacharacters. LAB 7.2 Perl Extended Metacharacters. LAB 7.3 Simulating a Switch Construct. Test Your Thinking.

8. Loops (and Other Repetitive Experiences).

LAB 8.1 Traditional Loops. LAB 8.2 Unusual Loops. LAB 8.3 Advanced Loop Control. Test Your Thinking.

9. Files: Outside and In.

LAB 9.1 File Meta-Information (File Statistics). LAB 9.2 Functions that Manipulate Files. LAB 9.3 Opening Filehandles for Reading and Writing. Test Your Thinking.

10. Functions: Programming in Polite Society.

LAB 10.1 Writing and Executing Functions. LAB 10.2 Function Arguments and Return Values. LAB 10.3 Building a Library of Functions. Test Your Thinking.

11. Ends and Odds.

LAB 11.1 Using POD to Embed Multi-Purpose Documentation. LAB 11.2 Using format and write() for Reports. LAB 11.3 Using Perl Modules. Test Your Thinking.

APPENDIX A: Answers to Self-Review Questions. APPENDIX B: Perl Reference. INDEX.

© 1999,

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