Hi Monks,

I'd like to share some thoughts on the perl language:

I have used perl for many years. IMHO, perl is a very very beautiful language just like english is the very beautiful language amongst all of the language systems on Earth, both of which can express meanings quite concisely, richly and the most important - clearly.

The simplicity, purity, integrity, and intuitiveness of perl make it distinct from most other languages, hence worth treating as a religion. Therefore, there are monks of perl just like there are monks of religions on Earth, simply because both are going for the true meaning and value. Monk, what a sacred word! Have you heard of 'v..b' monks or 'c=>ah=>#' monks? oh, at least not for me ever.

Some languages or platform full of jumping menus and flashing icons seems very attractively 'easy-to-use' and 'user-friendly'. After people are lured and start to use such a dummy platform or languages, they will find that they have got to pay a lot more of time, effort, privacy and money. The innate shortcomings of human being such as laziness, peacockery, impatience, liking graphics are exploited. Dummy platform and languages are really for dummies.

The simplicity and purity of the designing principle of perl is CONSISTENT with the designing rules of this universe. This universe is essentially made of simplicity and unostentatiousness. perl is simple yet 'complex' and very powerful, which complies with the laws of this universe, whereas some languages and platform are seemingly 'simple' but is essentially distortedly intricate, by design. The 'complexity' and powerfulness of perl is based upon its simplicity and conciseness thus is easy to understand and use while the 'simplicity' of some languages and platform is based upon their deliberate intricateness and will inevitably lead to weakness, limitedness, and the most important --- controlledness.

Another wonderful perl principle, the tim today, is as well consistent with the designing rules of this universe, as every one is UNIQUE and have got to make his OWN way to success. Sometimes, perl could look strange just as you have soaked in low-graded languages or platform for too long.

BTW the 'elsif' in perl is great. It becomes a pronuncible word and one less keystroke than 'elseif'.

There are, however two things to worry about:

1. 'big money' can hire goons and thugs to ruin or break such a beautiful language. 2. the simplicity, purity and integrity of perl could be tainted or contaminated, unintentionally or intentionally.

May perl last to the end of this universe.