[pm-h] Introductory Perl Help

[Abraham Báez]

Responses provided inline.

On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 10:04 PM, G. Wade Johnson <gwadej at anomaly.org>wrote:

> One of the goals listed on our "About Houston.pm"
> (http://houston.pm.org/about.html) page is "Provide help and mentoring
> to local Perl programmers."
>
> After talking with a few of the more inexperienced Perl programmers in
> our group, I think we are falling down in this area.
>
> For this reason, I'm going to be starting a regular session for
> answering basic Perl and programming questions. I'd like to get some
> input from those who need this help.
>
> 1. Would you be willing to get together for another monthly meeting for
> mentoring and question answering? yes
>
> 2. Would you be willing to do a monthly remote session through
> something like Google Hangouts, where you could get help? yes, however,
> when concepts are to be explained because we just don't get it, the
> mentor/helper may get frustrated because the student doesn't respond as
> expected.  In my mind, mentoring is a face to face experience where
> information is exchanged quickly, illustrations are thought of on the fly
> based on the students level of understanding, etc.   In other words, a very
> dynamic exchange.  Online approach would be a challange for me.  But
> willing to try it.
>
> 3. Would you be more inclined to talk to a single person, or one of a
> few experts? It depends, when struggling with concepts if the mentor is
> gifted with patience and ability to instruct/share/illustrate in more than
> one way a single individual is plenty.  When working with extremely bright
> but not too patient, multiple instructors can help while not exhausting
> their patience.  To learn to fly the jet, one person.  To learn manuvers
> multiple persons would be great.
>
> 4. Would you use this session regularly? yes, the more the better.  In my
> case, I forget information quickly. Therefore, the need to stay on top of
> it regularly.
>
> 5. Would you use this session only when you run into a specific problem?
> No.  Whenever it's available.  Problems where Perl can be used are
> abundant, but getting to the point where one can see how to use Perl is
> very challenging.
>
> I really appreciate your time and input on this. Having mentored people
> before and taught programming classes, I'm confident that we can make
> this work.
>

I appreciate your willingness to help.  Just developing the questions is an
effort.  In my view, Perl is very powerful, very, very cryptic, extremely
exacting.  Sorry, I don't agree Perl is easy. In other words, this is not
like learning to drive a car...Perl is a state of the art fighter jet...
you better pay attention when you climb in the cockpit because it ain't for
amateurs.  Indeed, it is very tough to master.  And like a fighter jet you
have to fly it every day or close to every day.  Tough to do for those who
don't make a living programming in Perl.  Sorry, this would be a superb,
frankly invaluable, tool for me; but not a way to make a living...don't
have the talent nor the inclination to program.  Thanks for your
willingness to share your talent and experience.

>
> Thanks for your time and help.
> G. Wade
> --
> Understanding is a three-edged sword.      -- Kosh in "Deathwalker"
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> Website: http://houston.pm.org/
>



-- 
Abraham Baez
281.821.0101 Cellular
"Abraham Baez" < abaezjob at gmail.com >
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