The scripting language Perl is has extensive features but is easy-to-use. This makes it easy to write concise yet powerful scripts for complex data manipulation and administration. This course gives an introduction to the Perl programming language including more advanced Perl features such as using packages and modules.

A Programming Introduction class is required. Experience in writing shell scripts is helpful, but not required. If the course is run on UNIX, experience using UNIX and Unix-based text editors is also required.

Topics covered on the 5 day Introduction To Perl Programming course

Introduction

• Key features
• Documentation
• Running Perl
• The Perl Environment

Basic Concepts

• Values and variables
• Context
• Operators
• Blocks
• Control constructs
• Subroutines
• Functions
• Variable scope

Operators

• Operators Versus Functions
• Operator Types and Categories
• Precedence and Associativity

Structure, flow and control

• Blocks and compound statements
• Program flow control
• Loops and looping
• Controlling loop execution

Working with scalars

• Value conversion and caching
• Numbers
• Strings

More data types

• Lists and arrays
• Hashes

Input and Output with Filehandles

• IO and Filehandles
• The filehandle data type

Interpolation and regular expressions

• Text interpolation
• Regular Expressions

Subroutines

• Declaring and Calling Subroutines
• Passing Parameters
• Returning Values from Subroutines

Manipulating files and directories

• Files and filenames
• The unary file test operators
• Manipulating Directories
• References
• Complex Data Structures

Packages and Moduless

• Scope
• Packages
• Modules

   (excl.VAT)