The future of Perl? (Perl 6, employability)

Question

I\'ve found a few related questions, like Python vs. Perl (now deleted) and Is Perl Worth it? (now deleted), but I can\'t seem to find anything that directly a

Answer 1

• Plenty of shops - including on Wall Street - heavily use Perl and will continue to do so.

  However, I have never seen a PHP or Python used in this industry (not saying it is not used, but that I never encountered. Purely personal anecdote. Nor have I EVER heard any conversation of "Perl can not do X that Python can, let's use Python").

• Perl6 is irrelevant to job picture.

  • Many shops are still on 5.8 or G-d forbid 5.6

  • More importantly, perl5 continues to evolve, including with features/ideas from Perl6. See Perl 5.10 and 5.11

  • Plus evolution includes really cool framework like Moose etc...

I can probably come up with more bullets later, but the summary is that no, having a Perl job will in no way negatively affect your career prospects.

However, knowing nothing but Perl may affect it negatively, so make sure you know Java, C#, C++ or something besides dynamic interpreted languages. Not many shops would hire "Perl Only" developer, even if they gladly hire "Perl + other stuff" ones.

Answer 2

See Tim Bunce's Perl Myths slides on slide share.

In short, Perl is not dead and has lots of jobs available.

Answer 3

To add another separate answer - as you have noted - there is a very real danger when dealing with recruiters and others that your resume will be interpreted and things inferred that are not necessarily how you see yourself, and you might get pigeon-holed.

This WILL happen both ways - too much variation and you aren't an expert in anything OR too little variation and you are only good at one thing.

I don't have a simple answer for combatting that, except to ensure that you emphasize portable skills and also achievements which are independent of technology - making the company more money, landing new business, making new markets, etc.