>On Tue, Aug 01, 2000 at 07:29:05AM -0600, Tom Christiansen wrote:
>> I suggest that the language list discuss this very matter: what
>> Perl really *is*, so that we know the tenets and principles against
>> which proposals can be measured.
>
>Let's do that. Here's my opening gambit:
>Well, enough clowning around. Perl is, in intent, a cleaned up and
>summarized version of that wonderful semi-natural language known as
>"Unix".
> -- Larry Wall in <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Or: "Perl is the Cliff Notes of Unix."
Or: "Perl: Eau d'Unix" (perhaps pronounced "Ode to" :-)
Perl has attitude and style, both of which derive directly and
unabashedly from C and Unix cultures; it has flavor not found in
bland, politically correct languages. You cannot let the PC police
call the shots without killing the language's spirit and appeal.
Caponate Perl of Unix, and you have some lame Python/Java niche-alike
that can but ostracize those who have until now most delighted in
the joys of Perl.
--tom
