Learning Perl Objects, References & Modules offers a gentle but thorough introduction to advanced programming in Perl. Written by the authors of the best-selling Learning Perl, this book picks up where that book left off. Topics include:

Packages and namespaces

References and scoping

Manipulating complex data structures

Object-oriented programming

Writing and using modules

Contributing to CPAN

Following the successful format of Learning Perl, each chapter in the book is designed to be small enough to be read in just an hour or two, ending with a series of exercises to help you practice what you've learned. To use the book, you just need to be familiar with the material in Learning Perl and have ambition to go further.

Perl is a different language to different people. It is a quick scripting tool for some, and a fully-featured object-oriented language for others. It is used for everything from performing quick global replacements on text files, to crunching huge, complex sets of scientific data that take weeks to process. Perl is what you make of it. But regardless of what you use Perl for, this book helps you do it more effectively, efficiently, and elegantly.

Learning Perl Objects, References & Modules is about learning to use Perl as a programming language, and not just a scripting language. This is the book that separates the Perl dabbler from the Perl programmer.

Synopsis
This volume offers a gentle introduction to the world of references, object-oriented programming, and the use of Perl modules that form the backbone of any effective Perl program. Following the successful format of "Learning Perl", each chapter in the book is designed to be small enough to be read in just an hour or two. Each chapter ends with a series of exercises to help you practice what you've learned with answers in an appendix for your reference. Assuming just a rudimentary knowledge of Perl, this book explains how to effectively use both standard and object-oriented Perl modules, how to use namespaces and packages properly, and how to use references to build powerful data structures. In short, it covers everything that separates the Perl dabbler from the Perl programmer. Topics covered include: building larger programs with Perl; references and scoping; manipulating complex data structures; introduction to objects; advanced object topics; writing a distribution; essential testing; and contributing to CPAN.

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