[zt from ml] perl or python? 回答者比较公正，勿口水

> Is it better to learn Perl or Python since i can manage only writing
> simple bash shell scripts.

It depends on more things, like the things you need to do, the language prefered by your team members, the platform you are targeting, etc.

If you need to do cli system administration, Perl is better.
If you need to do very many programs in many fields, Perl is better because there are very modules on CPAN that can help you.
If you need to do web programming, Perl is better if you consider to use the tools like Catalyst framework, DBIx::Class ORM, Template-Toolkit templating system, HTML::FormFu or HTML::FormHandler form processors and many other modules you can get from CPAN.

If you need to do programs that interact with the GUI of the OS, Python is better.
If you need support for Windows or for apps with a GUI, Python is better.
If you need to do programs to run on Symbian-based phones, Python is a choice while Perl is not (because symbianperl doesn't really exist).

If you work alone and you respect the best practices, Perl can be as clear as Python but if you work in a team, more and more new programmers consider to learn Python and not Perl, because Python code is clearer.
If you need to work in a team which has blind programmers, Perl is better because the punctuation chars that makes Perl code uglier makes the code more accessible than the Python code which needs a strict indentation.

If you want to use something trendy, Python is a much better choice these days.