Basics of Perl (Weeks 1–2)
Install Perl on your system.
Understand syntax, variables (scalars, arrays, hashes).
Input and output basics.
Operators and basic expressions.
Writing and executing your first Perl scripts.
Goal: Be comfortable writing simple scripts and handling input/output.
Control Structures (Weeks 3–4)
Conditional statements (if, unless, else, elsif).
Looping constructs (for, foreach, while, until).
Using last, next, and redo.
Practical exercises with loops and conditions.
Goal: Gain confidence in controlling program flow.
Data Handling & Regular Expressions (Weeks 5–7)
Strings and string functions.
Arrays and array manipulation.
Hashes (associative arrays).
File handling (read/write files).
Introduction to regular expressions.
Pattern matching and substitutions.
Goal: Understand Perl’s strength in text and data manipulation.
Subroutines & Modular Programming (Weeks 8–9)
Defining and calling subroutines.
Scope of variables (my, local, our).
Arguments and return values.
Introduction to Perl modules (use, require).
CPAN basics (Comprehensive Perl Archive Network).
Goal: Start writing modular and reusable code.
Advanced Regular Expressions & File Operations (Weeks 10–11)
Greedy vs. non-greedy matches.
Capturing groups and backreferences.
File handling with error checking.
Working with directories.
Text parsing and log file analysis.
Goal: Build strong skills in parsing and automation.
Object-Oriented Perl (Weeks 12–14)
Introduction to objects and classes in Perl.
Creating and using packages.
Blessing references into objects.
Inheritance and encapsulation.
Object-oriented best practices in Perl.
Goal: Understand and apply OOP concepts in Perl.
Advanced Perl Features (Weeks 15–16)
References and complex data structures.
Advanced module usage.
Error handling and debugging.
Using CPAN for real-world projects.
Perl best practices and coding style.
Goal: Write clean, efficient, and maintainable Perl code.
Web & Database Programming (Weeks 17–20)
CGI programming with Perl.
Working with databases using DBI.
Web scraping and automation.
Basic networking with Perl.
Goal: Apply Perl for real-world applications like websites and data-driven projects.
Capstone Project (Weeks 21–24)
Choose a project such as:
Log analyzer.
Web scraper.
Database-backed web application.
Automation tool for file management.
Apply all learned skills in a complete solution.
Goal: Showcase your Perl expertise in a practical project. By following this structured 6-month path, students will gradually progress from beginner to advanced Perl programming. From writing basic scripts to building full-fledged applications, this timeline ensures solid theoretical understanding and hands-on practice. With consistent effort, you will be able to use Perl confidently in professional and academic projects.
