Perl AlternativesProgramming Languages and other similar apps like Perl

Perl is described as 'High-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language with over 22 years of development' and is a very popular programming language in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Perl for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Mac, BSD and Web-based apps. The best Perl alternative is Python, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Perl are JavaScript, Node.js, C (programming language) and PHP.

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Alternatives list

  1. Python icon
     1405 likes
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    Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, extensible programming language. It provides an extraordinary combination of clarity and versatility, and is free and comprehensively ported.

    94 Python alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Symbian S60
    • BSD
    • AROS
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
     
    • Python is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Perl.

    • Python is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Perl.

    • Python is Free and Open SourcePerl is also Free and Open Source
  2. JavaScript icon
     629 likes
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    JavaScript (sometimes shortened to JS) is a lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions, most known as the scripting language for Web pages, but also used in many non-browser environments.

    60 JavaScript alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • AROS
    • Haiku
     
    • JavaScript is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to Perl.

    • JavaScript is Free and Open SourcePerl is also Free and Open Source
  3. Node.js icon
     324 likes
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    Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications.

    25 Node.js alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
     
    • Node.js is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Perl.

    • Node.js is Free and Open SourcePerl is also Free and Open Source
  4. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    C is a general-purpose programming language. It was created in the 1970s by Dennis Ritchie and remains very widely used and influential. By design, C's features cleanly reflect the capabilities of the targeted CPUs.

    61 C (programming language) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
     
  5. PHP icon
     469 likes
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    Open-source scripting language executed on the server, PHP embeds into HTML, fostering dynamic web development. Influenced by C, Java, and Perl, it supports database integration, offers extensive libraries, and remains easy for beginners while robust for seasoned developers.

    43 PHP alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PHP
     
  6. C++ icon
     324 likes
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    C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose, powerful programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features.

    69 C++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  7. Lua icon
     184 likes
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    Lua is a powerful, fast, lightweight, embeddable scripting language.

    Lua combines simple procedural syntax with powerful data description constructs based on associative arrays and extensible semantics. Lua is dynamically typed, runs by interpreting bytecode for a register-based.

    84 Lua alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Android Wear
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • Playstation
    • MorphOS
     
    • Lua is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to Perl.

    • Lua is Free and Open SourcePerl is also Free and Open Source
  8. C# icon
     230 likes
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    C# is a multi-paradigm programming language encompassing strong typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented (class-based), and component-oriented programming disciplines.

    79 C# alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
  9. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Open-source programming language by Google, offering C-style syntax and automatic memory management. Features built-in concurrency and vast libraries, ideal for cloud services, web, and CLI development, supporting DevOps with fast builds and an expansive ecosystem.

    68 Go (Programming Language) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Go (Programming Language)
     
  10. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Bash is the shell, or command language interpreter, that will appear in the GNU operating system. Bash is an sh-compatible shell that incorporates useful features from the Korn shell (ksh) and C shell (csh). It is intended to conform to the IEEE POSIX P1003.2/ISO 9945.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
     
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    1
    Comments about GNU Bourne Again SHell as an Alternative to Perl
    ngoomie
    Positive
    0

    I admittedly prefer Perl over bash, but bash is also great for whipping up quick scripts to do small things (one of the things I tend to use Perl for) while having the upside of being installed by default on any Unices that rely strongly on GNU software. That being said, Perl is very common too so it's not likely you'll ever be left with just bash and not Perl, but it's still a point worth noting.

    Perl Icon
    GNU Bourne Again SHell icon
    • GNU Bourne Again SHell is Free and Open SourcePerl is also Free and Open Source
  11. Ruby icon
     269 likes
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    Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, general purpose object-oriented programming language that combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like features. Ruby originated in Japan during the mid-1990s and was initially developed and designed by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
     
  12. Zsh icon
     126 likes
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    Zsh is a UNIX command interpreter (shell) which of the standard shells most resembles the Korn shell (ksh); its compatibility with the 1988 Korn shell has been gradually increasing. It includes enhancements of many types, notably in the command-line editor, options for...

    27 Zsh alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
12 of 79 Perl alternatives