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Book:   The Perl CD Bookshelf, Version 2.0
Subject:   The Perl CD Bookshelf, Version 2.0 Review
Date:   2001-11-08 20:01:03
From:   Stephen E. Hargrove
Rating:  StarStarStarStarStar

I will never understand why Learning Perl was removed from this set. I've been programming in Perl for over 5 years now, and I still find myself referring to this book. (Sometimes you have to go back to the basics...)


In my humble opinion, there are three essential books for every Perl programmer:



  1. Learning Perl


  2. Programming Perl


  3. Perl Cookbook



I've used, and still refer to, Perl for System Administration, but it's not what I'd consider a "must have" -- more of a "unbelievably very nice to have."


Advanced Perl Programming is a great book, but I don't find myself referring to it that often. (Heheh - maybe those who support the programs I write wish I would - there's a thought...)


I find it highly ironic that Learning Perl for Win32 Systems was removed from this set, and yet you can only access the search features through a Windows system. Am I the only one...?


Overall, my biggest two gripes with this set is the removal of Learning Perl and the complete refusal to include Mastering Regular Expressions. If this set included:



  1. Learning Perl


  2. Programming Perl


  3. Perl Cookbook


  4. Perl for System Administration


  5. Mastering Regular Expressions



it would be the definitive Perl collection. It would be much more on par with what we've all come to expect (and demand) from O'Reilly. As it stands, it's just an okay addition to your library. You can probably live without it.

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