Perl questions in general

[Huggy]

I'm going to college for computer networking
and I have I hope less then a year left.
Now I think we learn 'A little' of perl not much. Would it be worth my time / money to learn it on my own, buy books and spend time on it.
Is perl a bonus on your job application or is it to be expected?
would perl be somthing that is used in a daily basis or one of these ah here and there things?

[klamath]

It totally depends on the job you're applying for.

If it's a network admin job, Perl probably not that useful.

If it's a sysadmin job, Perl is definately a good thing to know.

If it's a programming job, Perl is very useful, but it depends on the kind of programming. For web development, I'd say learn Perl, even if you never intend to use it -- there is a lot of old Perl CGI out there.

[optech]

PERL is described as the glue of programming languages.
go read about it, and see for yourself...
but be warned!!
perl may grab your testes and pull you into it's fascinating soul!

[TheLinuxDuck]

Huggy:

To me, the most important reason to learn a programming language is because you are sincerely interested in it.

Besides, it takes time to truely learn a language.

[Huggy]

TheLinuxDuck
True, True
I am interested in learning it but as a student my time is well, I don't have much of it. Therefor what I try to learn or pick-up on my 'own time' has to be, to a point worth while.
I have always looked at programming languages as a vary time consuming/nevering end learing process, there is no such thing as 'A person who knows every thing about [programming languages put here]' but if I'm able to take time and learn example perl later in life, say on the job and not have doors close on me because 'perl whats that?' then super but if by taking time now and starting to learn it makes people look 2 at me then hey what the hell.

[TheLinuxDuck]

Huggy:

You are absolutely correct that programming is a never ending quest. I imagine that's why so many people find it so satisfying.. (^= and frustrating..

But, if you have the time to devote to it now, then do it.. it cannot hurt you at all to know perl.. heck, maybe one day you'll end up doing it for a living.. (^=