Comment by csdvrx
2 months ago
I like Perl mostly because it's poetic (the code is super nice to read, with variable types standing out thanks to sigils), but another core strength is how very fast and light it is.
Instead of "cross-compiling" or just running a native perl interpreter (there's one for about every platform!), I prefer how Actually Portable Executables make Perl multiplatform with just 1 binary asset running everywhere!
I wanted to write a webserver processing CGI to learn more about the "old school web", so I wrote https://github.com/csdvrx/PerlPleBean and the simplicity of just downloading and running the .com on anything is very nice
I'm now trying to do the same in Python3, but it's not as fun - and I'm not yet to the part where I will try to safely run python code within the python webserver, either through restrictedpython or ast.parse(), ast.walk(), eval(compile()) ...
I also choose Perl most of the time, but I think this is the first time I've ever heard anyone call it super nice to read
I've heard it called a "write-only language"
They call it like that, but it depends on the programmer as always. The problem is, that it is really flexible, more so than python or javascript, so it gives you all the tools to shoot yourself in the foot and take away the leg with it.
An example, you can rewrite the calling program in a module.(https://metacpan.org/pod/Acme::Bleach orhttps://metacpan.org/release/DCONWAY/Lingua-Romana-Perligata...)
While cool for jokes or serious DSL's, it may lead to difficult to understand code. (Nothing wrong with Damian Conway btw, I just remembered he used source filters in interesting ways).
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It's more readable than C++, C or Rust though
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> I've heard it called a "write-only language"
A frequent opinion. Easy way to fit in for people who never bothered to learn the language. Which is all the more sad that Perl is super easy to learn (one layer at a time).
Also called executable line noise, like Python is called executable pseudocode.
But I like Perl (and other languages) too.
Variety is the spice of life.
My Perl code is super nice to read. :D
My perl code isn’t. But neither is my Python, or Java, or C, or JavaScript or bash or anything.
Clearly the problem is all these languages, and not me.
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The joke used to be that Perl code looked like an explosion in an apostrophe factory.
I once accidentally piped an SSL certificate into Perl and got 40+ warnings before it realised it wasn't Perl. I'm not joking.
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It may looks chaotic ("explosion") when you don't see the structure.
When you do, you appreciate the density of information.
When I read perl it's like I read a poem: to take a simple example, 'while/until' instead of 'while/while not' creates more beautiful code
Larry Wall has said he likes parenthesis in his LISP like he likes fingernails in his oatmeal. xD Hence, Perl's abilit to forgo parens in many cases.
Or executable line noise (I think I heard that one from slashdot)
Or like an explosion in a sigil pottery :)
Maybe he's used to K?
Perl was my first "real" language, i.e. the first one that actually "clicked" for me. Still holds a soft spot in my heart, even though I don't use it much these days. It's one of the few languages (along with Ruby, Erlang, and Zig) that I feel have made me a better programmer by learning them.
I like perl, because the code i wrote 20 years ago still works without issues.
Just wanted to say that I really dig your enthusiasm! I read most of PerlPleBean’s README and was smiling the whole time - APE was so exciting to read about when it came out, and your project may just inspire me to look more into what it can do!
Importing stuff fron CPAN used to be a nighthmare but I admit I have a sweet spot in my heart for Perl.