Perl: Your visual blueprint for building Perl scripts (Visual Read Less, Learn More)

The multifaceted Perl programming language is captured in a new profile in this fascinating, graphically driven synopsis by a group of graphical text designers at Maran Graphics. Perl newbies of marginal literacy--or who have no patience for textual explanations of programming tasks--will find the visual blueprint to be a stimulating and highly parallel interface for the communication of Perl syntax, code structure, and functionality. Each page is printed in three shades of blue text and graphics, as well as black text. The random-access, task-oriented design encourages browsing, and the visual effects capture the blueprint concept in their clarity and simplicity.

But there is a fine line between simple and simplistic. In an effort to convey the live look-and-feel code-development environment, the Maran designers depict the "pico" editor window around every code snippet; "pico"'s own interface becomes synonymous with Perl by the third example. Moreover, the editors underestimate newbie user-interface experience when they remind the user to "position the cursor" in certain locations before typing the next segment of the demonstration code--even after 16 chapters. Code annotation is graphically stimulating throughout, but conceptually mundane. Plenty of white space on each page keeps the visual display from being cluttered, and emphasizes also missed pedagogical opportunities.

The Maran group succeeds in hitting Perl's most important high points in its 285-page jaunt across the language. Examples for variable dereferencing, making and using Perl modules, building dynamic Web interfaces, accessing databases, and designing for the CGI server-side Web interface all are included. The emphasis on example will privately delight older hands who might rediscover forgotten shortcuts. Maran's spoon-feeding style demystifies the newer corners of Perl's Web implementation, including one-line cookie handling. The accompanying CD-ROM contains Perl 5.6 distribution for Unix, ActivePerl for Windows platforms, a PDF-format e-copy of the text itself, and a variety of extras. --Peter Leopold