Perl 5 Desktop Reference (A Nutshell handbook) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This quick-reference guide to the Perl programming language provides a complete overview of the language, from variables to input and output, from flow control to regular expressions, from functions to document formats -- all packed into a convenient, carry-around booklet. Updated to cover Perl version 5.003, this guide includes a summary of Perl syntax rules, a complete list of standard library modules with brief descriptions, and a precedence table for Perl operators. Perl 5 Desktop Reference is the perfect companion to Learning Perl, a carefully paced tutorial course by Randal L. Schwartz, and Programming Perl, the complete, authoritative reference work coauthored by Perl developer Larry Wall, Tom Christiansen, and Schwartz.

From the Publisher

This "official" quick-reference guide to the Perl programming language has now been enlarged to provide a summary of Perl syntax rules, a complete list of standard library modules with brief descriptions, and a precedence table for Perl operators. The guide is current with Perl version 5.003. Perl, having previously established itself as the UNIX scripting tool of choice, is establishing itself as the tool of choice in numerous programming spheres, ranging from the World Wide Web to general-purpose programming. Perl combines in one language virtually all the functionality of the C, sed, and awk programming languages, as well as many functions of a shell. The Perl 5 Desktop Reference provides a complete overview of Perl, from variables to input and output, from flow control to regular expressions -- all packaged into a convenient, carry-around guide that can easily be inserted into your favorite Perl programming manual.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 46 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565921879
• ISBN-13: 978-1565921870
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,466,962 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The book to have close at hand when learning perl, March 28, 1998

By A Customer

This quick reference guide to Perl 5.000 was always close at hand when I was learing Perl. It provided just enough detail to remind me of the sticky points of syntax and usage while being lean enough to find items fast. It is a truly useful companion to both the Camel book (Programming Perl, 2nd edition) and the Llama book (Learning Perl).

These days I don't use it as much, mainly because my knowledge of Perl has grown to the point where I have fewer questions of usage, but also because I have the CD-Rom edition of O'reilly's "Webmaster in a Nutshell" which contains a full text version of "Programming Perl". I can now look things up electronically in about the same time I could on paper.

Perl's quirky syntax and the attitude built into the language of there's always more than one way to do it, makes having multiple reference sources a requirement, if only to find the Perl guru who thinks like you do. Vromans uses a clean, straightforward style which is a refreshing change from the sometimes too humorous style of Larry Wall and Randal Schwartz.