The Bottom Line
If you can get only one book on Perl, get this book.
Pros
- Comprehensive and clear reference
- Excellent explanations of Perl functions
- Sections on various uses for Perl
Cons
- Not good for learning Perl
Description
- Reference of Perl functions listed alphabetically and by purpose.
- Step-by-step instructions for installing Perl on several platforms.
- Sections on Databases, Network Programming, Perl/Tk, and more.
- Complete coverage of CGI.pm and mod_perl.
Guide Review - Perl in a Nutshell by by Ellen Siever et al
This book will help you get Perl installed, and explain the basics of Perl quickly and concisely. However this is not where the book excels. It is in the clear explanations of the Perl functions (by category and alphabetically), the standard modules, and a whole section on CGI. The CGI section includes using CGI.pm and mod_perl, both very useful for writing CGIs. There is a section on Databases, Network Programming, and Perl/Tk (for writing GUI interfaces in Perl). This book is excellent and although it is a bit dry and difficult for beginners, even a beginner who is willing to expend some energy will get a lot out of this book.
