Top Rated Scripts | CGI & Perl | Tutorials & Tips

This is a series of short tutorials on programming in Perl. It covers a wide range of topics from Basic Syntax, Variables, Scalars, Strings, Functions, Lists, Arrays, Hashes to Conditionals, Subroutines, and File operators. Using all the concepts featured in the series, in the end, you will have a mailform that takes the results of an HTML form and mail the values to a specified person.

This 6-page article explains what XML is, and what it can be used for. It also shows how to develop a Perl script to retrieve and display the contents of HTML embedded XML tags, and how to create a script that gathers news headlines from an XML file and creates an HTML news summary. Full source code for each script available for download.

Those who use Perl as a programming language frequently forget that it is just as useful as a quick and dirty scripting engine for command-line operations. From the command line Perl can accomplish, in just a single line, tasks that require pages of code in most other languages. This article takes you through some useful examples.

The new Inline module for Perl allows you to write code in other languages (like C, Python, Tcl, or Java), as well as toss it into Perl scripts. Unlike previous ways of interfacing C code with Perl, Inline is very easy to use, and very much in keeping with the Perl philosophy. One extremely useful application of Inline is to write quick wrapper code around a C-language library to use it from Perl.

The author writes "CGI::Application builds upon the bedrock of CGI, adding a structure for writing truly reusable Web-applications. CGI::Application takes what works about CGI and simply provides a structure to negate some of the more onerous programming techniques that have cast an unfavorable light upon it. CGI::Application code is so universal and non-proprietary that it works exceedingly well on any operating system and Web server that supports Perl and CGI. The CGI::Application structure makes it possible for authors to distribute, for the first time, fully functional and sophisticated Web-applications via CPAN.

This is an article series intended to teach perl cgi programming from very starting points to higher level web programming skills. You will learn from very basic concepts and will continue to become a professional web programmer.

A mainstay of the Perl culture, JAPH is a short script that produces the output "Just another Perl hacker." Although written for the beginner or intermediate Perl programmer, this article examines a few simple examples of the JAPH genre that will surprise and engage even the most seasoned devotee.

Based on the Darwinian principle of survival of the fittest, genetic programming uses mutation and replication to produce algorithms for creating ever-improving computer programs. In this column, you'll get to know the genetic algorithm in simple terms. This article provides Perl implementations for some specific tasks, which you can adapt for generic use. To demonstrate the genetic algorithm, the author breeds numbers for fitness to a formula, and letters to form English words.

Crashinto Learning Central offers tutorials on Perl, html, and more.

A graphical flow diagram illustrating 11 stages of a sample CGI script. Detailed information on all 11 stages is included.

This is a concise tutorial on SSI (Server Side Includes). Learn how to apply logic to this nifty server side feature.

This article shows how to turn any news site into a Remote Site Summary (RSS) web service using Perl. Using several modules from CPAN network, it shows how to: download the page, parse the HTML on the page, and encode the summary info in RSS.

This article will show you how to use the GD library to create an index image that contains thumbnails of images in a given directory.

This article serves as an introduction to installing and troubleshooting Perl scripts. There's no programming in this article, just a �down and dirty� on how to get it right.

If you already know what "Object Orientated Programming" is, this tutorial will help you implement the OOP technique in Perl.

Short tips on how to fix and troubleshoot CGI scripts.

A free online course designed to help those with a bit of familiarity with Perl learn to write CGI programs. The emphasis is on security and good coding practices. The author is a CPAN (Comprehensive Perl Archive Network) contributor, runs Portland Perl Mongers, and is known in the Perl community as someone who takes the time to help others learn.

This tutorial will go through the basics of Perl starting from the very beginning. Learn how to use variables, arrays, control structures, conditionals, file handling subroutines and more.

A free, and self-paced online class. The homework is optional, and you're free to complete the assignments when you're ready. If you have questions or would like some feedback, you'll have lots of help and support from myself and your classmates in the About Perl/PHP Forum.

This small tutorial will tell you why the Perl uses the "0 but true" return value when it executes some system functions. So this is a special way to show a good exit of function call.