Advanced Perl Training

Delivery Options

• Customized Onsite Training (4 days): Request a Proposal

Class Description

Class Overview

Class Goals

• Learn to debug Perl applications
• Learn to efficiently manipulate lists in Perl
• Learn to work more effectively with Perl packages
• Learn to work with Tied Variables in Perl
• Learn to manipulate databases with Perl
• Learn to effectively use Perl Modules
• Learn to work with Perl/Tk
• Learn to extend Perl with C/C++
• Learn to embed the Perl Interpreter into a program
• Learn to create your own Perl modules

Class Outline

1. Debugging Perl
   1. Warnings
   2. Diagnostic Messages
   3. Carping, Confessing, and Croaking
   4. Strict Checks
   5. Compiler Pragmas
   6. Debugging Flags
   7. Your Perl Configuration
   8. The Devel::Peek Module
   9. The Data::Dumper Module
2. Expert List Manipulation in Perl
   1. The grep Operator
   2. Lists, Arrays, and List Operators
   3. Context
   4. Context and Subroutines
   5. Initializing Arrays and Hashes
   6. Reference Syntax
   7. Auto-vivification
   8. Defined Values
   9. Other List Operators
   10. Usage of map, grep, and foreach
3. Blocks and Code References in Perl
   1. Blocks
   2. Subroutines
   3. Subroutine Prototypes
   4. Code Refs and Anonymous Subroutines
   5. Typeglobbing for the Non-Squeamish
   6. Local (Dynamic) Variables
   7. Lexical Variables
   8. Persistent Private Subroutine Variables
   9. Closures
   10. The eval Operator
   11. The Block Form of eval
   12. The String Form of eval
   13. Block Form of eval for Exception Handling
4. Perl Packages
   1. Review of Packages
   2. BEGIN and END Blocks
   3. Symbol Tables
   4. Package Variables
   5. Calling Package Subroutines
   6. Importing Package Symbols
   7. Exporting Package Symbols
   8. Using the Exporter Package
   9. The use Function
   10. AUTOLOAD and @ISA
   11. AutoLoader and SelfLoader
5. Objects and Classes in Perl
   1. Object-Oriented Stuff
   2. Making Perl Object-Oriented
   3. References
   4. The bless Function
   5. So, What's a Blessed Thing Good For?
   6. Calling Class and Object Methods
   7. Object Methods
   8. Writing Classes
   9. Constructors
   10. Inheritance
   11. What Perl Doesn't Do
6. Tied Variables in Perl
   1. Why Use tie?
   2. Tying a Scalar
   3. Inside Tied Variables
   4. untie
   5. Another Tied Scalar Example
   6. Tying an Array
   7. A Tied Array Example
   8. Tying Hashes
   9. Tie::Hash and Tie::Array
   10. Tying Filehandles
   11. What Are DBM, NDBM, GDBM, SDBM, etc?
   12. Using the DBM Modules
7. Installing and Using Perl Modules
   1. Laziness, Impatience, and Hubris
   2. CPAN
   3. Using Modules
   4. Installing a Perl Module
   5. Unpacking the Module Source
   6. The Configuration Step
   7. The Build Step
   8. The Test Step
   9. The Install Step
   10. Using CPAN.pm
   11. Using Module Documentation
8. Introduction to DBI/DBD in Perl
   1. The Old Way - DBPerls
   2. A Better Way - DBI/DBD
   3. Database Programming
   4. Handles
   5. Connecting to the Database
   6. Creating a SQL Query
   7. Getting the Results
   8. Updating Database Data
   9. Transaction Management
   10. Finishing Up
9. DBI/DBD SQL Programming
   1. Error Checking in DBI
   2. Getting Connected
   3. Drivers
   4. Using Parameterized Statements
   5. Statement Handle Attributes
   6. Other Handle Attributes
   7. Column Binding
   8. The do Method
   9. BLOBs and LONGs and Such
   10. Installing DBI Drivers
10. Introduction to Perl/Tk
    1. Tcl, Tk, Tcl/Tk, Tkperl, Perl/Tk, etc.
    2. Perl/Tk
    3. Creating a Perl/Tk Application
    4. GUI Programming Overview
    5. Adding Widgets
    6. Scrolled Widgets
    7. Configuring Widgets
    8. Menus
    9. More Fun with Menus
    10. Using FileSelect
11. Perl/Tk Programming
    1. Tk::Error and Tk::ErrorDialog
    2. Configuring Widgets
    3. Geometry Management
    4. Geometry Management with grid()
    5. The Frame Widget
    6. Defining Widget Callbacks
    7. Bindings
    8. Nonblocking I/O with fileevent()
    9. Tags
    10. Other Widgets
    11. Other Tk Commands
    12. Getting Tk
12. Extending Perl with C/C++
    1. Extending the Perl Interpreter
    2. Overview of Perl5 XSUBs
    3. Get Started with h2xs
    4. Set up the Perl Wrapper Class
    5. Write the XS Code
    6. The XS File
    7. Write Some Test Code
    8. What Do You Want?
    9. Returning Values on the Stack
    10. A Walk Through an XSUB
    11. Arguments to XSUBs
    12. Other h2xs Options
13. Embedding the Perl Interpreter
    1. Why Embed Perl?
    2. Embedding Perl in a C Program
    3. Compiling the Program
    4. perlmain.c
    5. Perl Data Types
    6. Macros and Functions
    7. Manipulating Scalars
    8. Memory Management
    9. Script Space
    10. Evaluating Perl Expressions
    11. Dynamic Loading
    12. Multiple Perl Interpreters
14. Module Development and Distribution in Perl
    1. Distributing Modules
    2. Get Started with h2xs
    3. Files Created by h2xs
    4. The Build Library (blib) Directory
    5. Unit Testing and test.pl
    6. Versions
    7. Using blib
    8. POD
    9. POD Translators
    10. Cutting a Distribution
    11. Other Niceties
    12. Makefile.PL
15. Design and Implementation in Perl
    1. Think First
    2. Object-Oriented Design
    3. Object-Oriented Development
    4. Library Modules
    5. Utility Programs
    6. Filters
    7. Performance
    8. Timing with Benchmark

Class Materials

Each student in our Live Online and our Onsite classes receives a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all the class examples.

Class Prerequisites

Experience in the following areas is required:

• Perl Programming and Perl application development experience

Experience in the following areas would be beneficial:

• C or C++ programming

Technical Requirements

Our computer technical requirements and setup process is easy, with support just a click away.

• Onsite course technical requirements and setup instructions.