PERL vs. Shell scripting for server automation.

[Alex Dean]

On May 19, 2010, at 8:16 PM, keith smith wrote:

>
> Well Shell looks like Chinese to me.  I bet I can learn it as I have  
> learned a number of languages.  I think knowing what to do [with  
> Linux] might be more difficult than learning a language.  I did some  
> PERL scripting about 10 years ago.  Seems simple enough.
>
> Since it is half a dozen of one or 6 of the other, I'm wondering  
> which would give me more mileage since I am currently doing PHP?

If you know PHP, are comfortable with PHP, and PHP is on the servers  
you need to do your scripting on, use PHP.  You'll get your work done  
faster, with fewer errors, and less maintenance hassles down the  
road.  I don't see the need to learn another language just for 'admin'  
work.