Perl On-Site Training Courses: software and logistical requirements

Hardware Requirements

To teach the onsite version of a Perl course we will require:

• Suitably equipped workstations. We have a strong preference for one workstation per student; in particular, we recommend that the students have enough permissions to install additional software
• One fairly large work space per student (enough to accomodate folders, notepads and text books, etc. alongside the workstation
• A dry-wipe whiteboard and pens, or flip chart, or similar. Most of our trainers prefer landscape format whiteboards
• A SVGA projector is not an absolute requirement, but strongly recommended. Please let us know well in advance if you are unable to source or book one.

Software Requirements

In the past we have worked with Unix/Linux based platforms and those from Microsoft; either works perfectly well.

We are not prescriptive about which packages you use. In general, we simply request that you have recent versions of the following:

• A recent version of Perl installed (version 5.005 or 5.6.1). Many Unix and Linux systems come with an appropriate version installed as part of the base operating system. Alternatively, CPAN has the source distribution, as well as links to binary distributions for Unix systems. ActiveState have binary distributions of Perl for Windows platforms.
• The Perl manuals and FAQ lists; these should come as part of the Perl installation
• A Database supported by Perl (typically MySQL)
• The Perl DBI database-interface module, available from CPAN
• A DBI backend for the database system you're using. If you use MySQL, get msql-mysql-modules from CPAN. If you are using ActiveState's ActivePerl binary distribution on Windows, you should be able to use the ActiveState PPM package manager to install the Perl modules for DBI and for MySQL.
• A Web server (typically either Apache or IIS)
• A Web Browser
• A good Text Editor

Students will need their own database with specific tables for some of the exercises. Our trainer will supply the descriptions for those tables, or supply a sample database where appropriate.

Preferences and Recommendations

Obviously, we have definite preferences for particular packages. Here are our preferred packages for teaching Perl.

Apache Web Server

This is installed as standard on Linux distributions. A version of Apache for Windows version can be downloaded too.

Database System

We strongly recommend MySQL: this is not only free, unlike some releases of Microsoft's SQL Server, it actually works too. You can obtain it here. You can use your own RDBMS, if you prefer, provided that you ensure there is support for it in the version of Perl that you install. The course examples use MySQL.

Please ensure that the delegates are given suitable user names and passwords for the database system prior to the start of the course!

Mozilla Web Browser

Mozilla is now our preferred Unix/Linux browser. If you are using it, please ensure you have the latest stable version possible (check the previous link).

A Good Text Editor

Unix/Linux systems typically already have good software editors installed; the links below are mostly for the benefit of Windows users.

• Vim A powerful editor with a non-trivial learning curve. Easier to use and more features than a traditional Unix vi, but still for the experienced.
• Xemacs See the comments above re. Vim - they apply similarly to Emacs.
• The Programmers File Editor
• Notepad+
• TextPad N.B. This is not free software. Many MS-Windows programmers have, however, found the evaluation copy useful for our courses.

Course Schedule

Our typical daily schedule for in-house courses is fairly intensive, and runs as follows:

• 9.30 Session 1
• 11.00 Mid-morning break
• 11.15 Session 2
• 12.45 Lunch
• 13.30 Session 3
• 15.00 Mid-afternoon break
• 15.15 Session 4
• 16.30 End of formal teaching, though our trainer will typically stay until approx 5 PM if wanted.

If you are organising an on-site course it will help us very much if you can inform us of the appropriate

• Contact Name
• Contact Number
• Start Time

— in the past we have had experienced trainers arriving at security or reception, where all knowledge of the course is denied!