title: Learn Perl In a Weekend
author:  Thomas Nowers 
description: Who Should Read This Book? <P>This book starts from the very beginning; I assume that you have never done any programming. That doesn't mean that this book is remedial; programming and Perl are both complex subjects. It simply means that the book explains each and every lesson in detail (sometimes painstakingly). <P>The tutorials assume that you have some computer experience and know your way around the Windows operating system. You should be comfortable with files and folders, using a browser, such as Internet Explorer (which I use for all examples where a browser is present), and maneuvering around your computer's file system. If you are uncomfortable on a Windows system, I suggest that you pick up a copy of Learn Windows XP In a Weekend or Windows XP Fast and Easy, published by Premier Press. <P>Perl was actually born in UNIX, but most nonprogrammers today haven't had any experience with UNIX systems, so I chose to write this book with a Windows frame of mind. All of the code samples were written and tested on the Windows XP operating system. If you are a UNIX guru and you want to learn Perl on a UNIX-based system, much of this book still will be applicable, although you will want to pay particular attention to the Sunday Evening session, "Learning Advanced Perl Techniques," for an advanced section on Windows and UNIX compatibility.
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  ## Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  * [1\. Today I Am Paul](tiac_split_006.html#calibre_toc_2)
  
  
  * [2\. Today I Visit with Dr. Zinta](tiac_split_007.html#calibre_toc_3)
  
  
  * [3\. Today I Am Anna](tiac_split_008.html#calibre_toc_4)
  
  
  * [4\. Today I Am Susan—and Mr. Robot](tiac_split_009.html#calibre_toc_5)
  
  
  * [5\. Today I Am Nobody](tiac_split_010.html#calibre_toc_6)
  
  
  * [6\. Today I Am Many People](tiac_split_011.html#calibre_toc_7)
  
  
  * [7\. Today I Am Paul Again](tiac_split_012.html#calibre_toc_8)
  
  
  * [8\. Today I Am Henry](tiac_split_013.html#calibre_toc_9)
  
  
  * [9\. Today I Am Repaired](tiac_split_014.html#calibre_toc_10)
  
  
  * [10\. Today I TELL A STORY](tiac_split_015.html#calibre_toc_11)
  
  
  * [11\. Today I Am Santa Claus](tiac_split_016.html#calibre_toc_12)
  
  
  * [12\. Today I Have a New Directive](tiac_split_017.html#calibre_toc_13)
  
  
  * [13\. Today I Celebrate Christmas](tiac_split_018.html#calibre_toc_14)
  
  
  * [14\. Today Marks Five Years from Mildred’s Passing](tiac_split_019