Advent Calendar For Geeks

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Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday December 1, 2010 @05:05AM from the geek-christmas dept.

bLanark writes "Well, as children and adults all over the world begin their day with chocolate, with the traditional Advent calendar, I'd like to remind you that there's an alternative for geeks. The Perl Advent calendar will give you a new Perl tip every day right up to Christmas."

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Is this Necessary by MRRPLR · 2010-12-01 05:08 · Score: 1

Yeah do we really need this extra in our life without everything else we have on?

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1. Re:Is this Necessary by Blink+Tag · 2010-12-01 05:15 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Yeah do we really need this extra in our life without everything else we have on?
  Are your referring to Christmas, or Perl? ;)
2. Re:Is this Necessary by sakdoctor · 2010-12-01 05:19 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  This year you are being visited by three ghosts.
  The ghost of preprocessor directives.
  The ghost of just-in-time debugging.
  And finally...
  The ghost of lazy evaluation.
3. Re:Is this Necessary by Monkeedude1212 · 2010-12-01 05:23 · Score: 2
  
  Personally, I celebrate Javakkuh.
4. Re:Is this Necessary by weeboo0104 · 2010-12-01 06:11 · Score: 1
  
  I think more people would be willing to openly celebrate Javakkuh, if fewer people hated the JVS.
  
  --
  It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
5. Re:Is this Necessary by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 06:16 · Score: 0
  
  How about C++wanza
6. Re:Is this Necessary by Monkeedude1212 · 2010-12-01 06:21 · Score: 1
  
  Well all the radio commercials are calling it "The Holiday season" and "Gifts for the Holidays" instead of openly saying C++mas or Javakkuh or even Kwanzaa.
  I blame those guys promoting those 4th level languages with more verbosity and higher amounts abstraction. It's obviously led to the generalization of the holidays.
  Though - I suppose thats what the assembly programmers were saying about me last year...
7. Re:Is this Necessary by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 06:50 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah do we really need this extra in our life without everything else we have on?
  You win a worst grammar of the day award!
8. Re:Is this Necessary by bluefoxlucid · 2010-12-01 10:36 · Score: 1
  
  7 and 8 make my comment redundant. Was going to say, wtf perl, for the pathologically eclectic retard in your life?
  
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  Support my political activism on Patreon.
Happy Channukah by Archangel+Michael · 2010-12-01 05:11 · Score: 3, Informative

:-D

--
Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
I don't get any presents, here's why. by pieisgood · 2010-12-01 05:14 · Score: 2

Allow me to be somewhat cynical without angering the mods too much.
There's a reason people turn off the "hints" in IDE's, 3D modeling software, Word, Open office... ect. It's because if there is a problem, we'll go out and search for the solution. Now they want to put the daily hints behind the advent calender? oy vey!
You may now proceed to mod me down.

--
Eat sleep die
1. Re:I don't get any presents, here's why. by i.r.id10t · 2010-12-01 05:25 · Score: 1
  
  Indeed. After all, what I can do with a measly 8 hints? Why not make a calendar for a full year instead?
  
  --
  Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
So instead of by geekoid · 2010-12-01 05:17 · Score: 1

gifts and chocolate for perl tips?
Gee. I'll jump right on that~

--
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
1. Re:So instead of by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 08:06 · Score: 0
  
  me too! ==MM==D~~~~
  --
  New punctuation to indicate that you're a jackoff: ==MM==D~~~
Re:Under square number one... by daeglo · 2010-12-01 05:20 · Score: 1

Once again someone has replaced your advent chocolate with a rolaids. Sorry about that.
I'm a tip traditionalist by swanzilla · 2010-12-01 05:26 · Score: 1

Animated paper clips, or be gone.

--
0 = 1 + e^(Alt something)
1. Re:I'm a tip traditionalist by Monkeedude1212 · 2010-12-01 05:30 · Score: 1
  
  Will you settle for cats, dogs, or bouncy red balls?
2. Re:I'm a tip traditionalist by geekoid · 2010-12-01 05:36 · Score: 1
  
  So you want Vigor?
  http://vigor.sourceforge.net/screenshots/
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
No Thanks by camperdave · 2010-12-01 05:29 · Score: 2

"Well, as children and adults all over the world begin their day with chocolate, with the traditional Advent calendar, I'd like to remind you that there's an alternative...
No thanks. I'd rather have the chocolate.

--
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
1. Re:No Thanks by clone52431 · 2010-12-01 07:01 · Score: 1
  
  Me too, but I’d be willing to tolerate Perl tips stamped into the chocolate or printed on the wrapper. Call it a fair compromise.
  
  --
  Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
2. Re:No Thanks by Darinbob · 2010-12-01 08:08 · Score: 1
  
  Where's my AVR assembler advent calendar, my Forth advent calendar, my Common Lisp advent calendar, my VHDL advent calendar, or even a Linux kernel patch of the day advent calendar? Please, something geeky at least, not Perl...
3. Re:No Thanks by Thud457 · 2010-12-01 08:24 · Score: 1
  
  no, that would make the chocolate taste more bitter than poison
  
  --
  the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
4. Re:No Thanks by clone52431 · 2010-12-01 08:54 · Score: 1
  
  Chocolate is already bitter.
  
  --
  Distributed Denial of APK: It takes 15 seconds to reply to him anonymously, but wastes tons of his time if we all do it.
Left out, again by Tr3vin · 2010-12-01 05:33 · Score: 1

What about those who aren't looking forward to christmas? I guess this is another grievance to air in front of the festivus pole.
Happy Saturnalia or something by AliasMarlowe · 2010-12-01 05:34 · Score: 2

Our kids get a calendar full of secular Lego bits for the upcoming solstice, Saturnalia, Sol invictus, Yule, or other midwinter festival. We made them ourselves, with 24 numbered pouches (each with a velcro flap).
Yeah, I know that starting on 1 December there should generally be only 21 pouches to reach the solstice, 23 for Saturnalia, and 25 for Yule and Sol invictus, but kids here expect to get prezzies on 24 December, so that's when the calendar ends.

--
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
1. Re:Happy Saturnalia or something by ushering05401 · 2010-12-01 06:23 · Score: 2
  
  That's beautiful. Are the pouches mounted on a backboard? Have you posted pics anywhere?
  My lady stax & I are also crafters and currently doing hand felted items. We're going to have to riff on your idea for next season.
2. Re:Happy Saturnalia or something by mcneely.mike · 2010-12-01 06:51 · Score: 1
  
  Wow!!! Even for sarcasm this is just too involved...
  
  I can now die in peace.
  
  --
  soylentnews.org Go there to enjoy the people!
3. Re:Happy Saturnalia or something by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 08:22 · Score: 0
  
  He may be serious; has been known to play bongos.
4. Re:Happy Saturnalia or something by Tolaris · 2010-12-02 00:53 · Score: 1
  
  My child gets the actual Lego advent calendar, which is totally secular. So far she's gotten a snowman and a child minifig with sword (!).
5. Re:Happy Saturnalia or something by germansausage · 2010-12-05 18:51 · Score: 1
  
  This is why I read Slashdot. Every now and again a post like this comes along. A thrust so skillful and a blade so keen that your opponent doesn't even realize he's been cut. He feels an odd tugging sensation, looks down, and sees his liver lying on the floor. Bravo!
Perl 6 calendar by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 05:44 · Score: 2, Informative

Also don't forget about the Perl 6 advent calendar that's just posted its first entry this year!
Advent of what? by GerryHattrick · 2010-12-01 05:46 · Score: 0

Did you know that Advent Calendars are not about consumerist chocolate, but graphic reminders of some tribal seasonal story? I don't believe it either, but it's as pretty a story as Father Christmas, and deserves to be left alone.
1. Re:Advent of what? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 05:56 · Score: 0
  
  Advent is the season leading up to the arrival of Fetus Christ!
2. Re:Advent of what? by horza · 2010-12-01 06:16 · Score: 1
  
  How about a geek advent calendar that features non-fictional historical events?
  Eg:
  Ala Lovelace, the first programmer, born 10 December 1815
  Charles Babbage, inventor of the computer, born 26 December 1791
  Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux, born December 28, 1969
  (ok I know advent calendars normally stop at xmas, but most people celebrate New Year more these days anyway)
  I'm sure others can fill in the gaps...
  Phillip.
  
  --
  Property for sale in Nice, France
3. Re:Advent of what? by tverbeek · 2010-12-01 06:24 · Score: 1
  
  "(ok I know advent calendars normally stop at xmas, but most people celebrate New Year more these days anyway)"
  I hadn't noticed that. How did I miss all the New Year TV specials, the radio stations playing New Year music 24/7, the throngs of New Year shoppers, etc?
  
  --
  http://alternatives.rzero.com/
4. Re:Advent of what? by RobotRunAmok · 2010-12-01 09:01 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I hadn't noticed that. How did I miss all the New Year TV specials, the radio stations playing New Year music 24/7, the throngs of New Year shoppers, etc?
  Not any more, of course. When I was growing up, there were all these New Year celebrations. I remember the booze, the pointy hats, the grand public displays featuring dioramas of Father Time and Baby New Year. Good times...
  Then, some time during the 2020's I think, the protests began. The Chinese were first, of course, complaining that January 1 wasn't their new year, bitching about how offended they were whenever anybody wished them a "Happy New Year!" in the beginning of January. "America is a diverse country," they would say, "and we should respect and honor ALL new year's celebrations equally. And besides, we built your fuckin' railroads, it's the least you could do, right?" The ACLU got involved when the Pagans starting acting up, noting that "The New Year begins November 1. In fact, you wouldn't even have ANY new year if it wasn't for our sun god! Goddam Christians just co-opted our New Year like they did everything else of ours!" The floodgates were opened then. Muslims, Hindus, 7th Day Adventists -- who even *knew* their were enough census-registered Klingons to get tlhIngan Qummem declared a National Bank Holiday every tenth month?
  Yeah, "Happy New Year," those were the days. Egg nog and Guy Lombardo, and the ball dropping in Time Square. Back when you could drop balls in Times Square, without the cubes and rhomboids challenging it in the courts...
5. Re:Advent of what? by horza · 2010-12-01 10:10 · Score: 1
  
  You must have been asleep on December 31st at 23:59 in the year 1999, when computer programmers averted a world-wide apocalypse. January 1st was henceforward declared a national holiday in their honour, as you will find it is this year if you check your diary.
  Whereas Christmas has slowly died along with its associated religion, apart from strong poultry sales, the New Year and the fresh start it symbolises is still celebrated strongly to this day.
  Phillip.
  
  --
  Property for sale in Nice, France
6. Re:Advent of what? by tverbeek · 2010-12-01 11:49 · Score: 1
  
  "You must have been asleep on December 31st at 23:59 in the year 1999..."
  I was awake in my local time zone. Due to early-onset middle age, I was not "partying like it was 1999", however.
  "the New Year and the fresh start it symbolises is still celebrated strongly to this day."
  Don't get me wrong: New Year's Day is pretty much the only annual holiday that I observe personally (i.e. in private, not public motion-goings-thru) in any way, as a fresh-start event. But I know that I'm atypical, and more-observed than Christmas? Not around here it ain't.
  
  --
  http://alternatives.rzero.com/
Oh that's nice by Naked+Jaybird · 2010-12-01 06:00 · Score: 1

About as interesting as spinning top made of clay.
More Perl Advent Calendars by perl6geek · 2010-12-01 06:04 · Score: 5, Informative
The Perl community has more advent calendars than the one linked in TFA:
- Perl 6 advent calendar
- Catalyst advent calendar
- Perl Dancer advent calendar
- Plack advent calendar
- Uwe's CPAN advent calendar
- Ricardo's Perl advent calendar
(Catalyst, Plack and Dancer are web frameworks)
Good thing that Perl is dead. Just imagine how it'd overflow the internet with advent calendars if it were alive!
1. Re:More Perl Advent Calendars by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 08:00 · Score: 0
  
  Some of the advice is really nice. Just beware bugs in the supplied code.
  For one thing, the Day 1 example on YAPE::Regex::Explain has a missing colon on the -M module option and the module in -e (copy pasta typo?) and the use of q for quoting is unbalanced (there is no matching symbol to end the string, in this case an 'r'.)
2. Re:More Perl Advent Calendars by belg4mit · 2010-12-01 08:57 · Score: 2
  
  Yes, the -M missing colon is a copy and paste/revision typo, I will fix it this evening.
  No, there is no missing r. The operator used is qr, not q; the delimiter is %
  Indeed, this is even addressed in the article text ;-)
  As for the GP, I link to all the relevant calendars that I know of on delicious,
  accessible via "Links" in the footer of the splash page.
  Yes there are a lot of them, but this is the continuation of the original, which was
  created by Mark Fowler in 2000.
  
  --
  Were that I say, pancakes?
A note-worthy advent calendar by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 06:06 · Score: 0

I'd prefer the one designed by Porsche: $1 Million Advent Calendar.
Tip #1 by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 06:35 · Score: 0

Don't use perl!
The Big Picture by dronkert · 2010-12-01 06:47 · Score: 1

has its Hubble Space Telescope advent calendar for the third year, with RSS feed.
Check and Mate good sir (or Madam) by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 07:02 · Score: 0

http://shop.lego.com/product/?p=7952&LangId=2057&ShipTo=US
PyCalendar? by MithrandirAgain · 2010-12-01 07:04 · Score: 1

Doesn't anyone care about us Python coders?
1. Re:PyCalendar? by Ramin_HAL9001 · 2010-12-01 15:42 · Score: 0
  
  Well, an Advent calendar is right along the lines of what the hyper-Christian Perl inventor Larry Wall would do. Python fans would be better suited to a "Life of Brian" Calendar, which uses a Python coding technique to express one scene from the Life of Brian every day.
Easy! by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 07:06 · Score: 0

1. Stay away from Perl.
2. Stay away from Perl.
3. Stay away from Perl.
...
23. Stay away from Perl.
24. Stay away from Perl. Merry X-mas!
SysAdvent too! by Avatar889 · 2010-12-01 07:11 · Score: 1

Don't forget about the most excellent SysAdvent calendar: http://sysadvent.blogspot.com/

--
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementia (There is no great genius without a mixture of madness) - Aristotle
Only 12 tips? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-12-01 07:17 · Score: 0

Yeah, like 12 Perl tips is going to let you understand Perl.
Appvent, free iPhone app each day by JD-1027 · 2010-12-01 07:47 · Score: 1

This is my personal favorite this month. You get a free iPhone app each day. These all normally cost money.

http://appventcalendar.com/
dear ghod, NO! by Thud457 · 2010-12-01 08:03 · Score: 1

"new from Microsoft --
the twelve days of Clippymas!"

--
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
1. Re:dear ghod, NO! by ushering05401 · 2010-12-01 09:17 · Score: 1
  
  1. Clippy: Misunderstood animated pedagogical agent or spawn of Satan? - Invokes Sun Tzu
  2. Why People Hate the Paperclip: Labels, Appearance, Behavior, and Social Responses to User Interface Agents. Impressive 65 Page PDF available from this abstract page.
  3. People Who Hate Clippy, the Stupid Paper Clip from Microsoft Word (Wartburg Chapter). Emergency outreach
  4. Meme:Clippy. Fanpic uploads @ end.
  5. On Youtube.
  6. How I Made Clippy Lovable. Stanford again. What is it with these guys? You know their mascot is a tree?
  7. DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS. I think my nose just started bleeding.
  8. Et tu DARPA?.
  9. Senor Pedaso Molesto de Matal NPR transcript.
  10. Back At'chya. Remember before they became inertia?
  11. Hark the Herald.. Wait, DIE DIE DIE. Just sayin'.
  12. Reflection.
  Happy Clippymas! Hope the leaks result in a zillion times the cogitation invested in Clippy..
More fun advent calander by kent_eh · 2010-12-01 08:09 · Score: 1

the Lego advent calendar

--

---
"I can't complain, but sometimes still do..." Joe Walsh
Re:The joys of obfuscation by outZider · 2010-12-01 08:35 · Score: 1

a) It's Perl, not PERL
b) Given the code I've been slogging through the last few years, it seems Perl is no more "write only" than PHP, Java, or C.

--
- oZ
// i am here.
Self-Flagellation, Humiliation, Suffering... by turgid · 2010-12-01 09:20 · Score: 1

Wouldn't this be more appropriate for Lent, rather than Christmas? I'm not a Christian, but I was educated in their ways as a child in Scotland. It reminds me a lot of the Father Ted episode when they hire the nun for lent...

--
Stick Men
Two more... by adamofgreyskull · 2010-12-01 12:16 · Score: 1

PHP advent 2010 (Or on twitter)

Angry Birds (Seasons) features an advent calendar with a new level released every day.

More?
Stop oppressing me! by Alimony+Pakhdan · 2010-12-01 13:38 · Score: 1

Insensitive clods pushing their Christian agenda! Just for that I'll go and make an AppleScript Hanukkah Menorah, that'll show em.
Re:Under square number one... by Ramin_HAL9001 · 2010-12-01 15:37 · Score: 0

"Well, they can't all be winners, can they." -- Bad Santa