using a 'here' doc to build a web page

[Anonymous Monk]

I am constructing a web page by first defining variables which are extrapolated in the 'HERE' document. I am creating a HTML file by printing the 'HERE' document. It seems to be working OK. Is this a valid approach?

[hippo]

Is this a valid approach?

It is valid but it won't be the most scalable or maintainable in the long term. If you have not already done so, do consider one of the excellent templating systems available on CPAN. While they might be considered overkill for a single, isolated web page the knowledge will stand you in good stead should you attempt more ambitious projects in future.

[marto]

What framework are you using? Mojolicious::Lite has a nice templating system by default (see this tutorial), other templating systems are optional, and a logical path for growth.

[Anonymous Monk]

not using a framework; hand-coding CSS and HTML. Mojolicious::Lite is something I will explore...thanks

[marto]

Are you using CGI? Even that will likely be better (safer) than something hand rolled. I'd suggest that you start off with Mojolicious::Lite, the documentation is great.

[Discipulus]

> Is this a valid approach?

as already said it will be valid for a small, not often changed project. But since Perl 5.26 at least you can indent your heredocs: see Indented_Here-documents in perldelta.

A template system is something good to have in your bag of tools: recently in an interesting, similar thread Text::Xslate was suggested as terribly fast compared to the classical Template::Toolkit see Best way to start a perl project

L*