On my way out?

After my Raspberry Pi stuff I did for a couple of years, I've migrated away from SBC and now focus primarily on micro controllers to perform actions I need done.

I haven't had the 'need' for Perl in some time. Realistically, I'm only checking PerlMonks because it's a habit. I also still use Perl for quick one-off basic math and localized problems.

Other than that, being an ardent Perl user for a couple of decades, I'm finding my desire waning quite quickly. I don't really have the excitement I once held for Perl, nor is the community the same as it was years ago.

I am uncertain as to the future I have with Perl. I know I love Perl to death, but death does not sustain future generations.

I'm starting to think that Perl has been fractured to the point that it's been bypassed, and unless someone comes up with some magical cure to phase in some niche for it, maybe we need to retire.

Flustered and aggrieved I am as we all are, and even though I make money because of Perl, Perl might not be the best recommendation going forward.

As always, opinions welcome.

Comment on On my way out?

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Re: On my way out? by Tux (Canon) on May 29, 2020 at 08:35 UTC
If I look at recent started perl5 projects like working subroutine signatures, Cor, concurrency and asynchronisity, perl5 has a bright future ahead which might draw new people. To me, perl5 is far from dead. I use it for as many tasks as I can, preventing me to use alternatives like java, ruby or python. And to be honest, in all I do, I was able to do it in Perl faster and more efficient than my colleages using other tools. Perl5 is not as thrilling as Raku, but it is (to me) the most reliable and versatile tool I have at my desk to do the job. And do not forget: it is a language where I can have FUN in writing and using it and I have a very helpful community available. Enjoy, Have FUN! H.Merijn	[reply]
Re: On my way out? by haukex (Archbishop) on May 29, 2020 at 09:48 UTC
All I'll say for now is this: I do hope you'll attend the Perl & Raku Conference in the Cloud! (June 24-26 2020) I have a talk about Raspberry Pis and Perl :-)	[reply]
Re: On my way out? by marto (Cardinal) on May 29, 2020 at 07:20 UTC
"maybe we need to retire. "Flustered and aggrieved I am as we all are" Speak for yourself. This feels very similar (though less insulting) than various other (mostly nuked or heavily edited) posts here or on blogs.perl.org you've made in the past along the same lines. Since you solicit opinion, if you want to use perl or contribute in any way to whatever aspect of the 'community' you want to, go for it. If not, don't. Earn money from it, great. Have interests, hobbies and pass times that are unrelated to perl? That's healthy, I'd say this should be encouraged. Continue to do something you don't want to do because of habit, less healthy. Repeatedly ask others why you should have anything to do with something, in this case perl, less healthy still. Related.	[reply]
Re: On my way out? by talexb (Chancellor) on Jun 17, 2020 at 02:04 UTC
.. and even though I make money because of Perl, Perl might not be the best recommendation going forward. Perl is still how I make my money. It's a powerful language, and there are good-sized code bases that use it. There are still modules being added to CPAN .. both new modules and updates. I guess it depends what you need. I've got the message that I need to get going on Java, as we have a fair bit of that as well as the Perl I'm working on. I also need to up my Linux SysAdmin game .. until retirement, there's work to be done. C'est la vie. :/ Alex / talexb / Toronto Thanks PJ. We owe you so much. Groklaw -- RIP -- 2003 to 2013.	[reply]
Re: On my way out? by jdporter (Paladin) on Jun 09, 2020 at 19:28 UTC
Do what's right for you. I think you're experiencing what a preponderance of Perl programmers have experienced over the last 20 years. I've no doubt the trend will continue, as well. I use Perl on a daily basis, mostly for small tools and one-off tasks which help me get my job done. I don't see that changing any time soon. I recently started learning Scala, and used it to write a new app for my project. It's at about 2kloc, and I dare say it wouldn't have been much shorter in Perl. I love this language. It has much for a Perl programmer to love! I just wish it had a commmunity/site like PerlMonks. :-) As others have opined, I think Raku represents a new hope for "Perl", but it is only potential at this point. I reckon we are the only monastery ever to have a dungeon stuffed with 16,000 zombies.	[reply]
Re: On my way out? by runrig (Abbot) on Jun 23, 2020 at 22:54 UTC
As a programming language, I like Perl so much more than Python. But, at my previous company, it's been pretty much phased out in favor of Python, which is one of the reasons I left there. However, I ended up in an environment where we're doing big data, machine learning, and we're doing it in...python. And a little bit of web development in JavaScript frameworks. Yeah, I've bitten the bullet and that's what pays the bills now. I've done small projects at home usually for my wife and those I've done in Perl, but other than that, I'm not doing it anymore.	[reply]
Re: On my way out? by perlfan (Vicar) on Jun 09, 2020 at 03:49 UTC
Perl will be rediscovered by future, less brain damaged generations. It is in essence Unix liquified. When *nix starts to fade in general, then I will start to worry about Perl. In the mean time, keep cranking those LOC and dont' worry about what the kids are doing. Your name may be attached to some 92 year old code that blows some kids mind. Rush - 2112: Overture /The Temples of Syrinx (ff to 4:22, then go back the beginning and enjoy)	[reply]


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