book

Pro Perl

by Peter Wainwright

March 2005

Intermediate to advanced

1064 pages

34h 51m

English

Apress

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IntroductionBuilding and Installing PerlRunning PerlInstalling ModulesSummary
Values and VariablesComments and WhitespaceOperators and FunctionsExpressions and StatementsData TypesContextSpecial VariablesString InterpolationMatching, Substitution, and TransliterationBlocks, Conditions, and LoopsSubroutinesModules and PackagesWarnings and StrictnessVariable DeclarationsSummary
Automatic Conversion: One Scalar Fits AllNumbersStringsSchizophrenic ScalarsSummary
Operator Types and CategoriesPrecedence and AssociativityDisabling Functions and OperatorsOverloading OperatorsOperators vs. FunctionsSummary

Lists and ArraysHashesReferencesComplex Data StructuresTypeglobsThe Undefined ValueConstantsSummary
Declarations, Statements, Expressions, and BlocksConditional StatementsLoops and LoopingSummary
Declaring and Calling SubroutinesPassing ParametersPrototypesReturning Values from SubroutinesClosuresAttributesSummary
Package VariablesLexical VariablesThe Symbol TableSummary
Loading Code Using do, require, and usePragmatic ModulesThe Special Hash %INCThe Special Array @INCLocating Libraries Relative to the ScriptChecking for the Availability of a ModuleFinding Out What Modules Are InstalledPostponing Module Loading Until Use with autouseSummary
Modules and PackagesBEGIN Blocks, END Blocks, and Other AnimalsAutoloadingImporting and ExportingPackage AttributesCreating Installable ModulesSummary
String InterpolationInterpolating VariablesRegular ExpressionsTransliterationSummary
IO and FilehandlesThe Filehandle Data TypeStandard FilehandlesCreating FilehandlesReferring to FilehandlesReading from FilehandlesWriting to FilehandlesBinary and Text Files, Layers, Encodings, and TransformsRandom AccessTruncating and Resizing FilesFile LockingChanging the Default Output FilehandleDuplicating and Aliasing FilehandlesRedirecting FilehandlesCaching Many FilehandlesIO::Handle Methods and Special VariablesSystem-Level IOSummary
Querying and Manipulating FilesQuerying and Manipulating DirectoriesSummary
Parsing Command-Line ArgumentsGetting and Setting the Program NameReading from the EnvironmentWriting Shells in PerlSummary
Determining Whether a Script Is InteractiveReading from the KeyboardWriting to the ScreenHigher-Level Terminal ModulesProgramming the Terminal Directly with POSIXSummary
Enabling WarningsEnabling Better DiagnosticsGenerating Warnings and ErrorsIntercepting Warnings and ErrorsWarnings and Errors with Calling ContextWarnings CategoriesHandling Error Results from System CallsError Logs and System LogsSummary
Debugging Without the DebuggerThe Perl DebuggerDebugging and Informational ModulesDebugging Perl ItselfAutomated TestingProfilingSummary
Text ProcessingDocumenting PerlSource FiltersReports: The “R” in PerlSummary
Introducing ObjectsProgramming with ObjectsWriting Object ClassesInheritance and SubclassingAutoloading MethodsKeeping Data PrivateDestroying ObjectsOverloading OperatorsAutomating Object Class DevelopmentTies and Tied ObjectsSummary
Using Perl from C or C++Using C or C++ from PerlInlining C and Other Languages into PerlCompiling PerlSummary
SignalsStarting New ProcessesHandling Children and Reaping Exit CodesCommunicating Between ProcessesSharing Data Between ProcessesThreadsSummary
SocketsImplementing Servers and ClientsWriting Multiplexed ServersGetting Network InformationSummary
A Brief History of SymbolsUnicode in PerlLocaleInternationalizationSummary

Overview

Over the years, Perl has grown from an elegant scripting tool into a mature and full-featured language for application development, boasting object-oriented programming, a flexible threading model, built-in support for Unicode, and a thriving community. Available on almost every platform, and offering a comprehensive library of modules, there is no task too big or small for Perl to tackle.

Pro Perl helps you master the key features and complexities of this powerful language. Aimed at intermediate and advanced developers alike, the material assumes some general knowledge of programming concepts but not necessarily prior Perl experience. However, given the expansive coverage of core language topics, Pro Perl also serves as a valuable guide to seasoned Perl programmers seeking to push their proficiency to the next level.

Using a depth-first approach to aid learning of advanced concepts, you're provided with detailed examinations of many key topics, including regular expressions, networking, modules and packages, object-oriented development, and much more. Pro Perl seeks to provide developers with not only the answers to their programming questions, but also advanced ideas and related concepts that expand the developer's understanding of Perl as a language.