I do wonder though...If I can hold till later this year, would more programming options be available on the first meego phone? or would it still be older versions of python/perl? course non of that matters if the meego does not have a hardware keyboard...

Having the latest version isn't always the best alternative. Focus on learning the basics which are the same in an older version. Then, when you need to, upgrade to whatever is needed. The older version has been tested by more people and used in more ways which often leads to more stable code with the updates that have been released. New versions include new functionality that's not very well tested.

Personally, I view Perl as the least inviting option to do anything. Python is still pretty unknown to me and Ruby is just something I've read about.

I stick to C and some shell scripting when needed. Had there been an easy way to get Java going on the device, I might use that too.

But, there are more options than those: C++, LISP, LUA and some more obscure ones too. Pick the right tool for the problem and you'll be fine.

thanks, the reason I am looking at perl is I am trying to make the switch to linux admin and every job I look for asks for perl scripting. some mention python but perl seems to for whatever reason be the one for admins (not developers but scripting admins). plus my book (learning perl 5th addition) though backwards compatible, focuses on 5.10 perl.

so do we think I could fire up a recent version on the debian chroot with the help of this forum?

I already said this. Yes.

I also don't think you need to be so obsessed with the "newest" versions, either. Most newer versions still run and work with scripts written in "older" versions. The vast majority of them have backwards compatibility and mostly just add some things, not remove them.

Thus, if you learn to code in an older perl, sit at a computer with a newer perl, you will still be able to code in it. Just like I said earlier regarding Sed, Awk, and Bash - Until you actually run into something that is only in the version you want, there is no reason to beat your head against the wall to get the "newest" of anything if the older easily obtainable one does the job just fine.

I'll just put it this way: I have no idea what version of Ruby, perl, or Python I learned on. I especially have no idea what version of QT I learned first a few years ago. I don't have any idea what version of any of the above are on systems that I manage because I don't bother looking.. I realize I need to script something in either bash or perl and I just script it and run it.. and have not once had it error and then realize it's running some archaic version.

Just because the book is 5.10 doesn't mean everyone updates their Perl installation when a new version comes out. And no one rewrites existing code unless something breaks, either.

Using the built-in Perl of 5.8 would still be beneficial if you want to become an admin. Odds are you would have to maintain scripts written in earlier versions of Perl anyway. When I have to troubleshoot a script I didn't write, that's the first thing I ask.

You can always search Google for Perl 5.8/Perl 5.10 changes. There are tons of hits. But if you don't know Perl, they won't mean anything until you do.

IMO, nothing beats opening an x-term and just writing a script. Why get bogged down with advanced features until you actually need them? Practice your regular expressions and system calls. Write shell scripts, lots of them. Wrangle text files and log ouptut. Then maybe worry about EasyDebian.

Terry

I've already managed hot to create Hello World app in QT and compile it with my own icon using MADDE to N900. I've got cool big button I can press

C++ development itself is a different story to learn but who knows.. If time permits. Using QT to figure out library functionality is quite intuitive and there is a lot of examples, thumbs up for that. I'm completely noob to this area.

I even figured out how to use WebKit and launch some website but getting flash working under this will be my next step to learn. No luck at the moment.