Perl - Windows Interface (Also Q&A Reminder)

[Russ]

Perusing Categorized Questions and Answers, I came across an unanswered question still worth asking. Setting aside the somewhat dubious nature of the actual question, I've fielded this one rather often from Perl detractors:

"Yeah, but Perl can't talk to Windows, much less do GUI or DirectX, so Visual Basic or C/++ is always as good, if not better, if you're not on *nix."

A cursory search revealed only a little discussion of this, and I'd like to see it in Categorized Questions and Answers. (GUI) Windows Programming FAQ addresses the GUI aspect. How about other stuff like COM, or DirectX (shudder)?

Aside: Remember Q&A. Put frequently asked questions there, with your answer. Point people there when they ask the umpteenth version of the same question. Vote on the answers you see there - it's a good place for you vote-out'ers to visit :-)

Russ
Brainbench 'Most Valuable Professional' for Perl

[Courage]

How can I comment on that question?

Those who asks it simply do not knows about possibilities of perl on Win32 and thinks that therefore such possibilities do not exist.

As just one example I can demonstrate my own node Re: Win32 Task Scheduler Monitor (out of gazillions others here and there about Win32), which heavily relies on COM object and solves a problem within just coulple of lines of code, whereas it is not possible to have such quick and dence solution using C++.
(it has small reputation because of massive downvoting I accidentially fallen into :) because of unrelated stupid question :) )

Courage, the Cowardly Dog.
PS. Something fishy is going on there, or my name is Vadim Konovalov. And it's not.