Embedding Perl in HTML with Mason

Author(s) : Dave Rolsky, Ken Williams
ISBN : 0596002254
Pages : 318
Publication Date : October 2002
Publisher : O'Reilly
Free License : Open Publication License

Book Excerpts:

Mason is a tool for embedding the Perl programming language into text, in order to create text dynamically, most often in HTML. But Mason does not simply stop at HTML. It can just as easily create XML, WML, POD, configuration files, or the complete works of Shakespeare.

Mason doesn't aim to be the one true Perl-based templating system for building web sites, but it's led many programmers to abandon their custom solutions when they've seen how much easier using Mason can be. It's a powerful, open source, Perl-based web site development and delivery engine, with features that make it an ideal backend for high load sites serving dynamic content.

Although using Mason isn't difficult, creating a Mason-based site can be tricky. Embedding Perl in HTML with Mason, written by members of Mason's core development team, shows readers how to take advantage of Mason's strengths while avoiding the obstacles that inexperienced users may encounter. Mason's unique features, when used properly, can streamline the design of a web site or application. This concise book covers these features from several angles, and includes a study of the authors' sample site where these features are used.

This book shows readers how to create large, complex, dynamically driven web sites that look good and are a snap to maintain. Readers will learn how to visualize multiple Mason-based solutions to any given problem and select among them. The book covers the latest line of Mason development 1.1x, which has many new features, including line number reporting based on source files, sub-requests, and easier use as a CGI. This is an essential reading for any Perl programmer who wants to simplify web site design.

Intended Audience:

This book assumes that readers is familiar with Perl at an intermediate level and that common Perl idioms don't stop them in their tracks. While readers need not have written their own modules previously, familiarity with Perl's object-oriented syntax will be helpful.

Reviews:

Amazon.com

"But.. it is a little too short. Not really but I would have loved to have more book. The book covers just about every topic. I personally would have enjoyed to have more examples in each area."

"This book is not needed to get in touch with Mason althought usefull - but if you are really starting to deploy a site I strongly recommend this book."

Andy Lester

"So should you buy the book, if masonhq.com has extensive documentation? If you're new to Mason, it's well worth your $35 to have a guided introduction. To the experienced Mason developer, there's still an advantage to seeing Mason code written the way that the authors intended, or learn a new idiom."

Simon Cozens

"That also means, however, that I've had high expectations of it; Rolsky and Williams' effort has lived up to many of them but let me down in a few areas."

View / Download Embedding Perl in HTML with Mason