1. Because you feel you can do better.

2. Because you've nothing else to do and you want to be busy when your boss walks by.

3. Because it's so much more fun re-inventing the wheel than using someone else's.

4. Because you can learn from your experience.

5. Because you didn't realise that someone else already HAD invented it ... but ...

In Perl programming, we encourage you to use the CPAN. In Python, the Cheeseshop and [Vaults of Parnassus (ex http://www.vex.net/parnassus) - ed -see below] will save you hours of work recoding and maintaining. In PHP, there are great time-saving resources at PECL and PEAR.

Update - October 2012: My attention has been drawn to this old blog article ... resource sites more on, and the Vaults of Parnassus are no more; however, there is a new Python resource in the Python Package Index.

(written 2006-05-06, updated 2012-10-01)

 H101 - Introduction to PHP
  [4118] We not only teach PHP and Python - we teach good PHP and Python Practice! - (2013-06-18)
  [3025] Learning to Program ... in PHP. Course examples. - (2010-11-01)
  [2097] PHP Course - for hobby / club / charity users. - (2009-03-22)
  [1958] PHP - Parse error: syntax error, unexpected $end ... - (2008-12-23)
  [1753] Perl v PHP, choosing the right language - (2008-08-14)
  [1717] Q - Should I use Perl or Python? - (2008-07-23)
  [1198] From Web to Web 2 - (2007-05-21)
  [1050] The HTML++ Metalanguage - (2007-01-22)
  [949] Sludge off the mountain, and Python and PHP - (2006-11-27)
  [924] The LAMP Cookbook - Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP / Perl - (2006-11-13)
  [917] Syntax checking in PHP - (2006-11-07)
  [846] Is Perl being replaced by PHP and Python? - (2006-08-27)
  [795] Remember a site's non-technical issues too - (2006-07-07)
  [789] Hot answers in PHP - (2006-07-02)
  [691] Testing you Perl / PHP / MySQL / Tcl knowledge - (2006-04-19)
  [646] PHP - London course, Melksham Course, Evening course - (2006-03-14)
  [629] Choosing the right language - (2006-03-01)
  [624] It's REALLY easy to add a little PHP - (2006-02-26)
  [577] Learning to program in Perl or PHP - (2006-01-26)
  [433] FTP - how to make the right transfers - (2005-09-01)
  [382] Central London Courses - Perl, PHP, Python, Tcl, MySQL - (2005-07-18)
  [380] Bridging to the customer requirement - (2005-07-16)
  [341] Happy Birthday, PHP - (2005-06-09)
  [317] Programming languages - a comparison - (2005-05-20)
  [135] Too many Perls - (2004-11-30)
  [132] Portrait of the author - (2004-11-27)
  [124] PHP v Java - (2004-11-20)
  [93] Case Sensitive? - (2004-10-19)
  [55] Evening classes to learn PHP - (2004-09-19)
  [48] PHP - onwards and upwards - (2004-09-14)

P219 - Perl - Libraries and Resources
  [3377] What do I mean when I add things in Perl? - (2011-08-02)
  [3101] The week before Christmas - (2010-12-23)
  [3009] Expect in Perl - a short explanation and a practical example - (2010-10-22)
  [2931] Syncronise - software, trains, and buses. Please! - (2010-08-22)
  [2427] Operator overloading - redefining addition and other Perl tricks - (2009-09-27)
  [2234] Loading external code into Perl from a nonstandard directory - (2009-06-12)
  [2229] Do not re-invent the wheel - use a Perl module - (2009-06-11)
  [1865] Debugging and Data::Dumper in Perl - (2008-11-02)
  [1863] About dieing and exiting in Perl - (2008-11-01)
  [1444] Using English can slow you right down! - (2007-11-25)
  [1391] Ordnance Survey Grid Reference to Latitude / Longitude - (2007-10-14)
  [1235] Outputting numbers as words - MySQL with Perl or PHP - (2007-06-17)
  [1219] Judging the quality of contributed Perl code - (2007-06-06)
  [760] Self help in Perl - (2006-06-14)
  [737] Coloured text in a terminal from Perl - (2006-05-29)
  [358] Use standard Perl modules - (2005-06-25)
  [357] Where do Perl modules load from - (2005-06-24)
  [112] Avoid the wheel being re-invented by using Perl modules - (2004-11-08)
  [86] Talk review - Idiomatic Perl, David Cross - (2004-10-12)

Y101 - Introduction to Python
  [1663] Python in an afternoon - a lecture for experienced programmers - (2008-06-01)
  [1375] Python v Ruby - (2007-10-02)
  [950] Python and the Magic Roundabout - (2006-11-27)
  [909] Python is like a narrowboat - (2006-10-30)
  [834] Python makes University Challenge - (2006-08-15)
  [753] Python 3000 - the next generation - (2006-06-09)
  [745] Python modules. The distribution, The Cheese Shop and the Vaults of Parnassus. - (2006-06-05)
  [710] Linux training Glasgow, Python programming course Dundee - (2006-05-05)
  [444] Database or Progamming - which to learn first? - (2005-09-13)

Back to THE home directory or MY home directory

Previous and next or Horse's mouth home

Forward to Pictures from my travels

Evaluating arithmetic expressions in configuration files
First way to get rid of customers
Room for Octopuses
Pictures from my travels
Why reinvent the wheel
THE home directory or MY home directory
Handling huge data files in PHP
Linescapes of Mull
A story of goldfish