Re: [MacPerl-WebCGI] reading list

[T Judd <tjudd@teleport.com>]

>Promised a friend that I'd construct a web site (my first) for his pipe
>organ shop.
>
>I have enough Markup Language to write a basic non-interactive information
>site but expect he'll want more.
>
>Looked at the POD for CGI.pm but think I need a basic CGI FAQ and perhaps a
>recommendation for book or two?


You'll have a lot of people suggest different items to learn CGI or PERL.
I'm just giving my two cents.

I would definately <borrow> from your library the book "Learning Perl" -
it's the famous book by Mr Wall.  That gives you a primer of how and why
perl works the way it does.

I then would <buy> the book "Programming Perl" - it's also the famous book
by Mr Wall.  Not only does it back up what Learning Perl references, it
steps it up a bit by giving examples, run-time examples.  It's also got a
glossary of the commands that perl understands, their syntax, examples, and
description of the command.  I've referenced that book more than once when
making my scripts.

Both of those commands teach you the basics of perl, but don't really teach
you anything on CGI.  I, myself, bought the CGI/Perl Cookbook by Craig
Patchett and Matt Wright.  I didn't know the perl community hated Matt
Wright's script so much, and this is why:
  Matt Wright writes bad code.  He doesn't allow for error checking, he
doesn't comment his scripts, and more than often, after you download one of
his scripts, you have trouble setting it up.
Although the Cookbook is perfect for teaching <why> and <how> things are
accomplished with PERL, it's not a good resource.  But I bought it, and
can't return it.  :)

Second option after Leaerning Perl and Programming Perl would be to search
out CGI tutorials on the WWW.  You have had some links given to you in
prior mailings on this mailing list.  Here's a couple more:
  http://www.cgi-resources.com/
  http://www.cgidir.com/Tutorials/
both of those are in "high" status in a IRC chat channel I frequently visit.

And Larry -- welcome to the PERL CGI community.  :)


>Where should I start?
>Thanks.

--T J



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