How do I run a Perl program? If you’re new to Perl or just looking to get started, you might be wondering how to execute your Perl scripts. Running a Perl program is a straightforward process that involves a few simple steps. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of running a Perl program on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
First, ensure that you have Perl installed on your system. Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. It’s widely used for various tasks, such as text processing, system administration, and web development. You can download and install Perl from its official website (https://www.perl.org/get.html) for free.
Once Perl is installed, you need to write your Perl script. Perl scripts are plain text files with a `.pl` extension. You can create a new file using any text editor, such as Notepad, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code. Here’s a simple example of a Perl script that prints “Hello, World!” to the console:
“`perl
!/usr/bin/perl
print “Hello, World!”;
“`
Save this file with a `.pl` extension, for example, `hello_world.pl`. The first line of the script, `!/usr/bin/perl`, is known as a shebang. It tells the system to use the Perl interpreter to execute the script.
Now, navigate to the directory where your Perl script is saved using the command line. On Windows, you can use the Command Prompt or PowerShell. On macOS and Linux, you can use the Terminal. Here’s how to navigate to the directory in each operating system:
– Windows:
“`shell
cd path\to\your\directory
“`
– macOS/Linux:
“`shell
cd path/to/your/directory
“`
Once you’re in the correct directory, you can run your Perl script by typing the following command in the command line:
– Windows:
“`shell
perl hello_world.pl
“`
– macOS/Linux:
“`shell
./hello_world.pl
“`
This will execute your Perl script, and you should see the output “Hello, World!” printed to the console.
That’s it! You’ve successfully run your first Perl program. Keep experimenting with Perl and explore its vast array of features and capabilities. Happy coding!
