Slightly off topic, but has there been any "State on the Onion" updates since 2007[0]? I always looked forward to reading these and was surprised to find nothing new since I last checked some years ago.
Interview: Larry Wall
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Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#52Perl was the second programming language I learned. Teenage me idolized Larry and his hippie wisdom. "... the three great virtues of a programmer: laziness, impatience, and hubris." — Larry Wall
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Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#53Would I be nuts to pick perl over python as my main scripting/server admin language? I am a postgres, openbsd, data/text processing guy. OpenBSD is 40% perl. Postgres uses perl for its builds. Perl seems to have better text processing capabilities. But it seems to be dying out compared to python.
You would be reasonable. Perl often fits in better with the 'advanced shell scripting' type of work than Python or Ruby. It has more libraries for unix-like admin tasks, but less common support for external APIs (which more commonly support Java/Ruby/Python/etc.) so it may be an uphill battle if you use a _lot_ of external APIs. Perl won't ever 'die out', especially if you write good perl that doesn't depend on flash…
> but less common support for external APIs (which more commonly support Java/Ruby/Python/etc.)
Yesterday, there were an even 60 CPAN module releases, and that is a pretty typical day. Most of them weren't NEW modules, but some were.
It's true that you don't as often see Perl APIs released along with the various 'external API' things, but, as someone who probably spends too much time tracking the various new hot things, Perl API support is first rate. It's damn rare that I don't see a Perl API for something, even if it's relatively new.
I'be been watching CPAN for a long, long time, and I will say that it's more vibrant and active now than I have ever seen it.
Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#54I had to check the year on the article - "He’s the creator of Perl, a programming language that’s widely regarded as the glue holding the internet together " was arguably true in 1999 - 16 years ago.
I get what you're saying, but if Perl magically stopped running today I think there's a legit chance the Internet would cease functioning.
Obligatory XKCD: https://xkcd.com/224/
Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#55I miss Perl. It was the first programming language I learned as a kid. I read the entire Perl for dummies book when I was 14 and uploaded my first script to a "cgi-bin" shortly after. Thanks Larry for your contributions!
If you want to make a web app with modern Perl practices, check out Mojolicious[1] or Dancer[2].
Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#56Slightly off topic, but has there been any "State on the Onion" updates since 2007[0]? I always looked forward to reading these and was surprised to find nothing new since I last checked some years ago. [0] http://www.perl.com/pub/2007/12/06/soto-11.html
A recent post that seems relevant,
Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#57> Up until now, the Python community has done a much better job of getting into the lower levels of education than we have. We’d like to do something in that space too, and that’s partly why we have the butterfly logo, because it’s going to be appealing to seven year old girls! Heh, I can't tell whether or not he's kidding.
Perhaps a bit of both. Regardless, Larry's intentions are good and he's an angel -- which is rare among programmers. Many (like Linus, RMS, DHH) are almost sociopathic in how they view others' work and treat the people they work with, so it's very refreshing to see someone that's not only passionate about his work, but gentle and kind as well.
Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#58Always a pleasure to see Larry.
Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#59Re: Interview: Larry Wall
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Two things came out of Berkeley: LSD and Unix. We do not believe this to be a coincidence."
LSD and BSD.
See Chapter 1 of the Unix Hater's Handbook. http://www.csf.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/BioComp/training/...