This course provides an overview of the freely available Perl Modules, and gives students an opportunity to work with some of the more generally useful ones. The instructor will discuss some "classic" modules, from the following categories, as well as some interesting new ones:

• Getopt (for processing script options),
• Text (for formatting text),
• CPAN (for automating the installation of modules),
• File (for handling files),
• Benchmark (for timing code samples),

The "Creating & Using" versions of the course add an extra half-day covering the basics of making your own modules. This knowledge lets you easily incorporate your commonly used subroutines, or those common to your workgroup, into your programs.

The two-day "Creating & Using" version spends an additional half-day on coverage of additional CPAN modules, chosen by a vote of the students.