Re^2: Why Perl?

[Preceptor]

Actually no, I don't really. You can consider all programming languages to be tools. Some tools are better suited than others to certain jobs.

I'm not so fixated on Perl that I don't realise there's other tools out there, some of which are better suited. But at the same time, with a programming language there's an overhead to learning a new one. So you end up with a tradeoff between ease of use, and suitability as a toolset. I think Perl does well at that - it may not be as good at a specific job as a specific alternative, but it's pretty good at almost anything you could throw at it. Java... well, I just don't get along with Java. But that's prejudice rather than because there's anything particularly wrong with it as a language.

[Your Mother]

I’m sorry if that was too Internetese. The joke is -> Q: Why? A: Because f*** you Java, that’s why.

You are completely right that it’s all just a collection of tools and some have more complete libraries for a given task than others. What follows is nothing but a G thang my take.

PHP is fine as long as I don’t accidentally fall in one its manifold sink holes.

I could learn to enjoy Python and restrain my design instincts enough to not flinch when I have to look at it.

I could learn to love Ruby and forgive it for some of its troubling side cars.

I could be intimidated enough by Lisp to get good at it in defense of my own IQ and self-esteem.

Et cetera…

I would rather work retail during the holidays than work with Java full time. I realize it has the best libraries for quite a few things and I use some of them. I would rather rewrite or port any given library from scratch than be stuck using it as anything other than a black box.

You got good real advice from others though. :P