A pearl is a gem. Perl, is a programming language used to create CGI scripts. It's not as easy to learn as HTML or JavaScript. PHP is a scripting language. Like Perl, PHP scripts can be embedded into HTML pages. Both Perl and PHP enhance a website by adding functionality and interaction.

"The problem is when it comes to learning a new programming language; most of us are either too busy or too unsure of our abilities."

With Perl/CGI and PHP you can add mailing forms, shopping cart applications, and document searches into your site. With Perl/CGI and PHP scripts you can make a website that does more than just display. You create a site that interacts.

The problem is when it comes to learning a new programming language; most of us are either too busy or too unsure of our abilities. Adult webmasters have to absorb a lot of knowledge about a lot of different subjects just to stay in the game. We have to know sex. We have to know business. We have to know marketing. We have to know about billers, content producers and sponsors. There’s barely enough time in the day to learn the basics. Some of us have hardly mastered HTML.

Relax. Nobody expects you to become a guru. This is your life and your business. You can only do what you can do. Your success does not hinge on whether or not you know how to make scripts with Perl or PHP.

Chances are you’re dealing with Perl/CGI and PHP without even trying. Your sponsors, content providers and hosting companies use Perl/CGI and PHP in their site applications. Other webmasters such as TGP owners and Top List operators are implementing PHP and Pearl/CGI scripts. You see evidence of Perl on the adult Internet all the time. You’re more familiar than you think.

As an adult webmaster you’ve come to understand the need to familiarize yourself with a myriad of technical subjects.

For instance, many of you started out with no actual knowledge of HTML. You came to realize that in order to be a better adult site owner, you had to at least be able to recognize flawed HTML code. You learned it through examining code examples and tutorials. You learned it when having to cut and paste and configure sponsor referrer tags and advertising banners. You learned it by necessity when your WYSIWYG software created unworkable pages. Now you know HTML as if it were your native language.

You can learn Perl/CGI and PHP the same way. There are sites out there designed just for this purpose. There are communities and tutorials galore for you to read and browse at your leisure. You can go to a site and look for scripts which you can not only use for free, but which also come with detailed instructions on how to configure them. If you have hosting which doesn’t allow PHP or CGI, then you can find scripts that work off of the servers of their providers.

If you have a little money, you can buy pre-made scripts that will suit your needs. If you want an actual human to walk you through configuring a script, there are consultants who are more than happy to be you guide for a nominal fee. No matter what your level of experience or level of income, there is a way for you to get started taking advantage of all Perl has to offer.

In the second part of this article, "Of Perl and PHP", I’ll show you exactly where those resources reside on the Internet.

For now, just take a deep breath. Perl/CGI and PHP aren’t that hard. The point of this article is to show you that you can take this journey one step at a time. Nobody is demanding you learn everything there is to know about Perl language or CGI scripting. No one expects you to be a sage PHP programmer. Don’t be ashamed of your naivete. You’re far from alone. There are hundreds of adult webmasters who’ll never take the time to learn a whit about Perl or CGI or PHP.

If you take the time, if you practice a little and read a little, you could be giving yourself an invaluable gift. So crack open that shell of a brain just a touch more. Let in some new thoughts to add grit to the mix.

If you press hard enough, you might find some pearls!

** Click Here For: Of Perl and PHP - Part #2