Perl Weekly #602 - RIP Ben Davies
Tags: perl, news, programming
Published: 2023-02-06 12:18:47

---
title: Perl Weekly #602 - RIP Ben Davies
published: true
description: Another week another Perl Weekly
tags: perl, news, programming
canonical_url: https://perlweekly.com/archive/602.html
series: perl-weekly
---

Originally published at [Perl Weekly 602](https://perlweekly.com/archive/602.html)


Hi there,

I got the sad news about <strong>Ben Davies</strong> through the git notifications, being member Raku github repositories. Although I didn't know him personally but I felt a personal loss. He was so young and actively involved in development of Raku language. I found <a href="https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/27062822/benjamin-nelson-davies">this page</a> sharing the details, if you are interested.

It reminded of loss another very dear friend of mine, <a href="https://rakudoweekly.blog/2020/03/16/2020-11-farewell-good-friend">Jeff Goff (aka DrForr)</a>. I had the honour to meet him at various Perl/Raku conferences. Life is so unpredictable, it is unbelievable. I have reached a point in my life where every little things create havoc as far as health is concerned.

Talking about heartbroken news, I would like to bring the subject raised by <strong>Gabor Szabo</strong> in the last edition of the <a href="https://perlweekly.com/archive/601.html">weekly newsletter</a>. At times, I wonder how can one be so disrespectful to others. I was really sad to hear what <strong>Gabor</strong> had to go through. Honestly speaking, I only came to know about <a href="https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism">Antisemitism</a> when I moved to England in 2000. During my college days, I never had interest in subject outside of domain of India. Although I was aware of <strong>love/hate</strong> relationship between Muslims and Jews, I never bothered looking into the history behind it. Muslim community in general in India is more sympathetic towards fellow muslims. Some may find, my relationship with <strong>Gabor</strong> strange. Again, I must confess that I wasn't aware about <strong>Gabor</strong> background when I first met him when he took my interview in <strong>2016</strong>. I only found out later about him being a Jewish when I had further interactions with him with regard to CPAN works. He has been my mentor ever since I first met him and has helped me every time I was in trouble. For me, religion is very personal thing and I like to keep it private. Having said, I don't hide the fact that I am a practicing Muslim.

I urge everyone, please be kind to each other and spread love. Life is too short, so enjoy every moment of it.

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter.

  --
  Your editor: Mohammad S. Anwar.


## Announcements

  
### [New Dancer, Dancer2 plus Ecosystem Updates](https://blogs.perl.org/users/jason_a_crome/2023/02/new-dancer-dancer2-plus-ecosystem-updates.html)

Welcome to 2023 (just a little bit late)! We've put together a number of long overdue updates for Dancer, Dancer2, and other parts of the ecosystem.

  
### [This Week in PSC (096)](https://blogs.perl.org/users/psc/2023/02/this-week-in-psc-096.html)

Another quick updates from Perl Steering Council.

  
### [United-domains supports the German Perl/Raku-Workshop](https://blogs.perl.org/users/max_maischein/2023/02/united-domains-supports-the-german-perlraku-workshop.html)

United-domains now sponsor for German Perl/Raku workshop.

  

---

## Articles

  
### [Color Evolution](https://blogs.perl.org/users/lichtkind/2023/01/color-evolution.html)

The most requested feature of the Cellgraph is now in operation: Colors.

  
### [Add a base URL to xlinx](https://github.polettix.it/ETOOBUSY/2023/02/05/base-in-xlinx/)



  
### [I used... Raku](https://github.polettix.it/ETOOBUSY/2023/02/04/used-raku/)

Why use Raku? Nice answer.

  

---

## CPAN

  
### [Annotated Test2::Tools Index](https://blogs.perl.org/users/tom_wyant/2023/02/annotated-test2tools-index.html)

Interesting use case with regard to skip test inside for-loop. Highly recommended.

  
### [Data::Resolver - some docs](https://github.polettix.it/ETOOBUSY/2023/02/01/data-resolver-some-docs/)



  

---

## The Weekly Challenge
<a href="https://theweeklychallenge.org/">The Weekly Challenge</a> by <a href="http://www.manwar.org/">Mohammad Anwar</a> will help you step out of your comfort-zone. You can even win prize money of $50 Amazon voucher by participating in the weekly challenge. We pick one winner at the end of the month from among all of the contributors during the month. The monthly prize is kindly sponsored by Peter Sergeant of <a href="https://perl.careers/">PerlCareers</a>.
  
### [The Weekly Challenge - 203](https://theweeklychallenge.org/blog/perl-weekly-challenge-203)

Welcome to a new week with a couple of fun tasks: "Special Quadruplets" and "Copy Directory". If you are new to the weekly challenge, why not join us and have fun every week? For more information, please read the <a href="https://theweeklychallenge.org/faq">FAQ</a>.

  
### [RECAP - The Weekly Challenge - 202](https://theweeklychallenge.org/blog/recap-challenge-202)

Enjoy a quick recap of last week's contributions by Team PWC dealing with the "Consecutive Odds" and "Widest Valley" tasks in Perl and Raku. You will find plenty of solutions to keep you busy.

  
### [Into the Odd Wide Valley](http://www.rabbitfarm.com/cgi-bin/blosxom/perl/2023/02/05)

Good to see the use of Perl v5.36, thanks for spreading the knowledge.

  
### [Odd Valleys](https://raku-musings.com/odd-valleys.html)

Not just one but multiple versions presented by Arne with detailed comments. Keep it up great work.

  
### [How Wide is My Valley?](https://colincrain.com/2023/02/06/how-wide-is-my-valley/)

Task analysis by Colin is always the highlight of the week. Really enjoyed itm thanks for sharing.

  
### [Challenge Accepted](https://jacoby.github.io/2023/01/31/weekly-challenge-202-challenge-accepted.html)

Solutions without any complicated logic, using just for-loops. Incredible, well done.

  
### [Weekly Challenge 202](https://dev.to/zapwai/weekly-challenge-202-59md)

Easy to follow Perl solutions. Keep it up, great work.

  
### [PWC202 - Consecutive Odds](https://github.polettix.it/ETOOBUSY/2023/02/02/pwc202-consecutive-odds/)

Interesting questions raised and cool solutions too in the end. Well done.

  
### [PWC202 - Widest Valley](https://github.polettix.it/ETOOBUSY/2023/02/03/pwc202-widest-valley/)

Loved the story behind the solution. The process of getting there is always fun. Great work, keep it up.

  
### [Perl Weekly Challenge: Week 202](https://www.braincells.com/perl/2023/02/perl_weekly_challenge_week_202.html)

Unique style of code with inline comment really helps understand the flow. Great work.

  
### [The Weekly Challenge 202](https://github.com/manwar/perlweeklychallenge-club/tree/master/challenge-202/james-smith#readme)

Compact yet power packed solutions as always. Thanks for sharing the knowledge with us.

  
### [Perl Weekly Challenge 202: Consecutive Odds and Widest Valley](https://blogs.perl.org/users/laurent_r/2023/01/perl-weekly-challenge-202-consecutive-odds-and-widest-valley.html)

Great demo of porting Raku solutions into Perl. I find it helpful to understand the code better. Well done.

  
### [nested loops everywhere!](https://fluca1978.github.io/2023/01/30/PerlWeeklyChallenge202.html)

We not have Raku magic but also SQL solutions. Highly recommend.

  
### [Three odd things in the valleys](https://pjcs-pwc.blogspot.com/2023/02/three-odd-things-in-valleys.html)

Cool one-liner in Perl and interesting task analysis. Great work.

  
### [The Weekly Challenge #202](https://hatley-software.blogspot.com/2023/01/robbie-hatleys-perl-solutions-to-weekly_31.html)

Use of finite state mmachine to solve the Widest Valley task is interesting. Well done.

  
### [Consecutive Valley](https://blog.firedrake.org/archive/2023/02/The_Weekly_Challenge_202__Consecutive_Valley.html)

Roger choosen Raku and Rust this week to talk about in the blog post. Highly recommended if you Raku/Rust fan.

  
### [Weekly Challenge 202](https://dev.to/simongreennet/weekly-challenge-202-4dcm)

Simon gone into the finer details this week, you don't want to miss it. Well done.

  

---

## Rakudo

  
### [2023.05 RB Awarded](https://rakudoweekly.blog/2023/01/31/2023-05-rb-awarded/)



  

---

## Weekly collections

  
### [NICEPERL's lists](http://niceperl.blogspot.com/)

<a href="https://niceperl.blogspot.com/2023/02/cdxxx-14-great-cpan-modules-released.html">Great CPAN modules released last week</a>;<br><a href="https://niceperl.blogspot.com/2023/02/dxliii-metacpan-weekly-report.html">MetaCPAN weekly report</a>;<br><a href="https://niceperl.blogspot.com/2023/02/dlxxi-stackoverflow-perl-report.html">StackOverflow Perl report</a>.

  

---

## <a href="https://perl.careers/?utm_source=perlweekly&utm_campaign=perlweekly&utm_medium=perlweekly">Perl Jobs by Perl Careers</a>

  
### [Perl to Node Cross-training? Yes Please! UK Remote Perl Role](https://job.perl.careers/xn6)

The client is interested in anyone with experience building web apps in Perl, using one of the major Perl frameworks. If you’re a crack-hand with Catalyst, a Mojolicious master, or a distinguished Dancer, they want you. You’ll be deploying apps your work to AWS, so experience would be handy, and the company’s big on testing, so they’d like you to know your way around Test::More.

  
### [C, C++, and Perl Software Engineers, Let’s Keep the Internet Safe. UK Remote Perl Role](https://job.perl.careers/l5p)

A leading digital safeguarding solutions provider is looking for a software engineer experienced in C, C++, or Perl. You’ll have strong Linux knowledge and a methodical approach to problem solving that you use to investigate, replicate, and address customer issues. Your keen understanding of firewalls, proxies, Iptables, Squid, VPNs/IPSec and HTTP(S) will be key to your success at this company.

  
### [Bold, beautiful, and… brainy? Senior Perl roles in Malaysia, Dubai and Malta](https://job.perl.careers/ufc)

With all the knowledge in your big, beautiful brain, it’s time to join a company that appreciates your breadth of experience. Our client provides online trading services and with offices in Dubai, Malta, and Malaysia, they’ve got the global reach that may provide the challenge you’re looking for.  A seasoned Perl pro is just what their team needs as they expand, and that’s where you come in!

---

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(C) Copyright [Gabor Szabo](https://szabgab.com/)
The articles are copyright the respective authors.