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Programming Perl
Perl is a powerful programming language that has grown in popularity since it first appeared in 1988. The first edition of this book, Programming Perl, hit the shelves in 1990, and was quickly adopted as the undisputed bible of the language. Since then, Perl has grown with the times, and so has this book.
Programming Perl is not just a book about Perl. It is also a unique introduction to the language and its culture, as one might expect only from its authors. Larry Wall is the inventor of Perl, and provides a unique perspective on the evolution of Perl and its future direction. Tom Christiansen was one of the first champions of the language, and lives and breathes the complexities of Perl internals as few other mortals do. Jon Orwant is the editor of The Perl Journal, which has brought together the Perl community as a common forum for new developments in Perl.
Any Perl book can show the syntax of Perl's functions, but only this one is a comprehensive guide to all the nooks and crannies of the language. Any Perl book can explain typeglobs, pseudohashes, and closures, but only this one shows how they really work. Any Perl book can say that my is faster than local, but only this one explains why. Any Perl book can have a title, but only this book is affectionately known by all Perl programmers as "The Camel."
This third edition of Programming Perl has been expanded to cover version 5.6 of this maturing language. New topics include threading, the compiler, Unicode, and other new features that have been added since the previous edition.
Programming Perl is not just a book about Perl. It is also a unique introduction to the language and its culture, as one might expect only from its authors. Larry Wall is the inventor of Perl, and provides a unique perspective on the evolution of Perl and its future direction. Tom Christiansen was one of the first champions of the language, and lives and breathes the complexities of Perl internals as few other mortals do. Jon Orwant is the editor of The Perl Journal, which has brought together the Perl community as a common forum for new developments in Perl.
Any Perl book can show the syntax of Perl's functions, but only this one is a comprehensive guide to all the nooks and crannies of the language. Any Perl book can explain typeglobs, pseudohashes, and closures, but only this one shows how they really work. Any Perl book can say that my is faster than local, but only this one explains why. Any Perl book can have a title, but only this book is affectionately known by all Perl programmers as "The Camel."
This third edition of Programming Perl has been expanded to cover version 5.6 of this maturing language. New topics include threading, the compiler, Unicode, and other new features that have been added since the previous edition.
1092 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
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October 7, 2019A great read and I think it will be an even better re-read in the future.
August 4, 2008
The "camel" book. This book should be everyone's initiation into Perl. It is a great way to get your feet wet and start to see the scope of what Perl can do. Read this one first, "Intermediate Perl" 2nd, for object oriented programming in Perl. If you're still around after that, grab the "Perl Cookbook" to learn some nifty tricks.
December 2, 2008
This book is the holy grail of Perl programming, it's a must read!
May 25, 2015
This book is a mixed opinion kind of thing, a lot like the language itself. I think that if you find yourself strangely attached to Perl, you will also experience a strange attachment with this book. It feels as organic and chaotic as the language design and using it as a reference is a lot like using Perl to solve a problem - it's all there, it's just arranged in potentially ridiculous ways.
If you are considering using a printed copy of this book as a reference in this day and age, you should consider other options. Do you refer to printed manpages often? I thought not. Considering the book's notorious organization (notorious lack thereof), the only way you're going to be successful in finding specific language topics in reasonable time here is if you have already read the book a couple of times cover to cover (in which case you don't need my opinion).
However, this is generally construed as one of those good books on programming languages. It has an above average level of detail, it makes for an introductory text as well as a tune-up for the advanced user, but the real charm is how naturally language concepts are explained (even if they're misguided) and the unique insight it gives on the language design resulting in moments of unexpected intuition when using Perl. I think this book is beloved by a rare sort of right-brained geeks - it's too emotional for a stereotypical coolly logical C programmer and too technical and intense for a stereotypical creative think-tank Ruby programmer. It's Perl through and through.
If you are considering using a printed copy of this book as a reference in this day and age, you should consider other options. Do you refer to printed manpages often? I thought not. Considering the book's notorious organization (notorious lack thereof), the only way you're going to be successful in finding specific language topics in reasonable time here is if you have already read the book a couple of times cover to cover (in which case you don't need my opinion).
However, this is generally construed as one of those good books on programming languages. It has an above average level of detail, it makes for an introductory text as well as a tune-up for the advanced user, but the real charm is how naturally language concepts are explained (even if they're misguided) and the unique insight it gives on the language design resulting in moments of unexpected intuition when using Perl. I think this book is beloved by a rare sort of right-brained geeks - it's too emotional for a stereotypical coolly logical C programmer and too technical and intense for a stereotypical creative think-tank Ruby programmer. It's Perl through and through.
May 15, 2012
Would you believe it if I said that a programming manual was compusively readable? Pick up this book: I particularly recommend Chapter 27, "Perl as Culture" -- including the subsection on "Perl poetry."
Oh -- it's also a really useful reference, as should be expected, because the author is also the creator of the programming language.
Along with the camel, you'll probably want the llama.
Oh -- it's also a really useful reference, as should be expected, because the author is also the creator of the programming language.
Along with the camel, you'll probably want the llama.
April 8, 2013
I read this book back when it was only a couple years published. I laughed really hard and puzzled through the programming. I didn't have what it took to stick with Perl. I moved quickly into areas where I had better prospects. Recently, I've returned to dabble a little in areas where Perl is a solid choice and am having all these fond memories. I'm not sure I'll pick this up and read it again just yet. I also remember the llama book being more helpful getting me off the ground and I might revisit that!
September 23, 2014
Perl was my first language after not having written any code for 25 years and ASM being my weapon of choice during the 8-bit 6502 days.
This book not only taught me about Perl, but filled in a lot of the gaps in programming theory that I'd missed when I taught myself as a teenager.
It works well as a tutorial guide, as a reference, and as an intro to Comp Sci text.
I have it at my elbow whenever I work in Perl.
This book not only taught me about Perl, but filled in a lot of the gaps in programming theory that I'd missed when I taught myself as a teenager.
It works well as a tutorial guide, as a reference, and as an intro to Comp Sci text.
I have it at my elbow whenever I work in Perl.
April 29, 2007
I give it a marginal 5 stars, mostly for all the use I've gotten out of it. The organization of the book is not the best, for example it would be nice if other keywords and reserved symbols (like, say, "while" or "{") were covered in detail in an easy to find ordered reference section, as the functions are. But it's still the best Perl reference out there.
January 15, 2016
The original PERL book, written by Larry Wall, the designer/creator of PERL. Probably a bit dated now, I read this many years ago when PERL was first released and I needed to teach myself this "new" language. As with all the O'Reilly series of books, this is a good introduction to the language that will get you up and running in short order.
December 23, 2010
Excellent reference work. It was better, back in the first edition, when the programming examples were co-bound, but it's really getting so huge (all the useful libraries) I can see why they don't do that any more.
TMTOWDI!
TMTOWDI!
June 10, 2011
Библия perl "Camelbook" - это один из тех источников к которому обращаешься постоянно в работе с Perl. Самое фундаментальное, основательное и, что немаловажно, человекочитабельное издание легендарной книги.
Всем начинающим, и продвинутым разработчикам рекомендуется в качестве настольной книги.
Всем начинающим, и продвинутым разработчикам рекомендуется в качестве настольной книги.
August 22, 2007
excellent book. I really enjoyed this. It basically brought me up to speed in about a day on perl. This is a classic in my library.
October 5, 2007
The book in perl. A must if you're a perl programmer.
February 21, 2008
The Perl Bible.
February 29, 2008
Granted, I did not read this cover to cover, but very close to it.
For anyone hacking away at perl, this is the bible.
For anyone hacking away at perl, this is the bible.
Read
October 31, 2008Programming Perl (3rd Edition) by Larry Wall (2000)
Want to read
December 27, 2008Need to read this "The Bible"
February 18, 2009
This is my bible when it comes to Perl.
December 8, 2009
To be fair, I love Perl. I learned mostly on the 2nd edition, but this is the one on my shelf. Seriously in-depth but still easy to consume and then use as an indexable reference.
February 16, 2011
This was the text for a Perl class and appropriately
so as it was taught by Tom Christiansen one of the authors.
Contains all the perls of wisdom you should need for this
language.
Read
July 25, 2011Must read for all Perl programmers
August 31, 2012
great geek perl book, should be on every perl developers bookshelf
October 28, 2012
I owe so much to this book. It would not be exaggerating to say this box changed my life.
February 11, 2013
Classic perl programming book, back when hashes were 'associative arrays'.
August 27, 2014
A must have reference for those needing to program in PERL.
February 18, 2016
It's the Perl Camel book. Need I say more?
January 1, 2017
Worth reading again and again ....
August 23, 2017
A complete reference book for Perl programming language. A bit old but covers most of the topics.
February 17, 2019
This is the book that helped me fall in love with programming. One of the ten most influential works on programming in history IMHO.
October 20, 2019
One of five books I'd take to a deserted island with great internet and no Amazon delivery. Huge but worth re-reading periodically. Will teach you both Perl and Unix/Linux.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews