Network Programming with Perl

"Network programming" - the term had a distinct meaning once, but now it begs the question, "Is there another kind?" That's why Lincoln Stein's Network Programming with Perl is valuable. It shows how one of the world's top Perl authorities brings the language to bear on problems that require communication among computers, showing that you may not have to resort to Java as soon as you may have thought to meet a networking requirement. What's more, Stein doesn't assume you have a lot of Perl expertise. An intermediate-level familiarity with the language should enable you to understand the examples in the book and follow its classic code-and-commentary structure.Stein presents full, working scripts, calling attention to particularly interesting lines and passages by repeating them in the text. If a program makes use of an unusual or previously undiscussed function (and lots of them do, because one of the author's missions is to introduce the contents of specialized libraries), its syntax and legal parameters will be documented and a concise statement of its behavior provided. The example programs are the best part of this book, though. As the problems get more complicated, it's fun to watch Stein solve them with efficient, attractive code. Unless you're a really experienced professional, you'll be able to study the examples in this book and learn a lot. - David WallTopics covered: \* Perl function libraries and techniques that allow programs to interact with resources over a network \* IO::Socket library \* Net::FTP library \* Net::Telnet library \* Net::SMTP library \* Chat problems \* Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) issues \* Markup-language parsing \* Internet Protocol (IP) broadcasting and multicasting"

"This is a superb book. Another splendid book from Lincoln, whose mastery and lucid exposition make this a must-have for the serious Perl programmer."
--Jon Orwant, Chief Technology Officer, O'Reilly & Associates Founder of The Perl Journal, author of Mastering Algorithms with Perl, (O'Reilly & Associates)
and co-author of Programming Perl, Third Edition (O'Reilly & Associates)

Network Programming with Perl is a comprehensive, example-rich guide to creating network-based applications using the Perl programming language. Among its many capabilities, modern Perl provides a straightforward and powerful interface to TCP/IP, and this book shows you how to leverage these capabilities to create robust, maintainable, and efficient custom client/server applications.

The book quickly moves beyond the basics to focus on high-level, application programming concepts, tools, and techniques. Readers will find a review of basic networking concepts and Perl fundamentals, including Perl's I/O functions, process model, and object-oriented extensions. In addition, the book examines a collection of the best third-party modules in the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network, including existing network protocols for e-mail, news, and the Web.

The core of the book focuses on methods and alternatives for designing TCP-based client/server systems and more advanced techniques for specialized applications. Specific topics covered include:

• The Berkeley Sockets API
• The TCP protocol and the IO::Socket API
• FTP filesharing service
• The Net::Telnet module for adapting clients to interactive network services
• SMTP, including how to create and send e-mails with multimedia attachments
• POP, IMAP, and NNTP for receiving and processing e-mail
• HTTP and the LWP module for communicating with Web servers
• Forking servers and the UNIX and Windows inetd daemons
• Perl's experimental multithreaded API
• Multiplexed operations and nonblocking I/O
• Bulletproofing servers
• TCP urgent data
• UDP protocol and servers
• Broadcasting and multicasting
• Interprocess communication with UNIX-domain sockets

Useful, working programs demonstrate ideas and techniques in action, including a real-time chat and messaging system, a program for processing e-mail containing MIME attachments, a program for mirroring an FTP site, and a Web robot.

Network Programming with Perl focuses on TCP/IP rather than just the common Web protocols. Modeled after the critically acclaimed TCP/IP Illustrated by W. Richard Stevens, this book achieves a level of detail far superior to most. It is an essential resource for network administrators and Perl programmers who are creating network applications.

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Any developer who's comfortable with Perl can build remarkably powerful TCP/IP network applications -- no C required! In Network Programming with Perl , Lincoln Stein shows how, step-by-step, with extensive code examples. Modeled on W. Richard Stevens' legendary Unix network programming book, this book opens up network programming to a new generation of programmer: Web developers ready to build serious network applications and solve complex network problems. Stein begins with an overview of Perl's increasingly powerful networking facilities; then introduces Berkeley Sockets, and the UDP and TCP protocols at the heart of network programming. He presents Perl's IO:: socket API, which simplifies the creation and use of sockets; demonstrates how to create forking servers; and introduces practical techniques for creating multithreaded and multiplexed applications. Modeled upon the style of Stevens, and using extensive sample code, Stein demonstrates all of the key features. Network Programming with Perl also includes chapter-length explanations of creating Internet modules for FTP and Telnet; Mail and News; and Web services A text focusing on the methods and alternatives for designed TCP/IP-based client/server systems and advanced techniques for specialized applications with Perl. A guide examining a collection of the best third party modules in the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network. Topics covered: Perl function libraries and techniques that allow programs to interact with resources over a network. IO: Socket library ; Net: FTP library -- Telnet library -- SMTP library ; Chat problems ; Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) issues ; Markup-language parsing ; Internet Protocol (IP) broadcasting and multicasting (Pearson Education) A text focusing on the methods and alternatives for designed TCP/IP-based client/server systems and advanced techniques for specialized applications with Perl. A guide examining a collection of the best third party modules in the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network Softcover. DLC: Perl (Computer program language).