3 ms·

I want to write some scripts that are _slightly_ too complicated for bash. Basically just implementing some simple scripts that have a couple options/args and I

by zests 7y ago

I want to write some scripts that are _slightly_ too complicated for bash. Basically just implementing some simple scripts that have a couple options/args and I want to use another tool. How good would perl 5/6 be for this? If not perl, anything similar that's not python? I want to learn something new.

Grinnz 7y ago
"This would be annoying to write in bash" is a very popular use case for Perl (5).
ttkciar 7y ago
Yes, what Grinnz says. "Bash on steroids" is one of perl's strongest use-cases. It's why a lot of system administrators learned perl.
Qcombinator 7y ago
Sounds like the perfect opportunity to check out P6. It's stable enough and has a lot of cool features if you want to learn something new. It even has built-in multi-dispatch command-line arg-processing: https://docs.perl6.org/language/create-cli https://docs.perl6.org/language/create-cli
perlperson 7y ago
This is a _perfect_ case -- to get started, you can just put `shell` in front of every line #!/bin/bash echo hello change to #!/usr/bin/env perl6 shell "echo hello" then for arguments, try making `foo.p6` #!/usr/bin/env perl6 unit sub MAIN($name,:$times,:$language); say $name, $time, $language and run ./foo.p6 --help
daotoad 7y ago
As I said elsewhere in this thread, check out my article for the 2018 Perl6 Advent Calendar. https://perl6advent.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/day-17-checking-your-list-twice/ https://perl6advent.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/day-17-checking... I walk through the development of a utility for auditing Santa's Naughty and Nice lists. Along the way, I introduce literate programming, multiple dispatch, types, type subsets, links to documentation, perl6 collections, and File IO. And, I've been told I managed to do all this without making the reader they've been dragged over rough ground behind a certain festive sleigh. The key thing to remember when you start learning a Larry Wall Language is that you only need to worry about the parts you need to worry about. It's more like learning a natural language than a programming language. Learn how to say the things that are important to you, and it will serve you well even if you speak with an accent.

by zests 7y ago

Grinnz 7y ago

"This would be annoying to write in bash" is a very popular use case for Perl (5).

ttkciar 7y ago

Yes, what Grinnz says. "Bash on steroids" is one of perl's strongest use-cases. It's why a lot of system administrators learned perl.

Qcombinator 7y ago

Sounds like the perfect opportunity to check out P6. It's stable enough and has a lot of cool features if you want to learn something new. It even has built-in multi-dispatch command-line arg-processing: https://docs.perl6.org/language/create-cli https://docs.perl6.org/language/create-cli

perlperson 7y ago

This is a _perfect_ case -- to get started, you can just put `shell` in front of every line #!/bin/bash echo hello change to #!/usr/bin/env perl6 shell "echo hello" then for arguments, try making `foo.p6` #!/usr/bin/env perl6 unit sub MAIN($name,:$times,:$language); say $name, $time, $language and run ./foo.p6 --help

daotoad 7y ago

As I said elsewhere in this thread, check out my article for the 2018 Perl6 Advent Calendar. https://perl6advent.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/day-17-checking-your-list-twice/ https://perl6advent.wordpress.com/2018/12/16/day-17-checking... I walk through the development of a utility for auditing Santa's Naughty and Nice lists. Along the way, I introduce literate programming, multiple dispatch, types, type subsets, links to documentation, perl6 collections, and File IO. And, I've been told I managed to do all this without making the reader they've been dragged over rough ground behind a certain festive sleigh. The key thing to remember when you start learning a Larry Wall Language is that you only need to worry about the parts you need to worry about. It's more like learning a natural language than a programming language. Learn how to say the things that are important to you, and it will serve you well even if you speak with an accent.