Perl to Python Converter
Modernize legacy Perl scripts to Python with AI-powered conversion. Transforms Perl's sigil-based variables ($scalar, @array, %hash) to Python's clean naming, converts built-in regex operations with =~ to Python's re module, and migrates bareword filehandles to context managers. Handles CGI.pm web scripts to Flask/Django, CPAN module dependencies to PyPI packages, and Perl's context-sensitive behavior to explicit Python patterns—enabling maintainable codebases.
Paste code in both editors to see differences
Hint: Paste original code on left, modified code on right, then click Compare to see differences highlighted.
Hint: Paste your code, customize font size and line numbers, then click Export PDF to download formatted code.
Hint: Paste your JWT token to decode and view its header, payload, and signature. The tool validates token structure and format.
Hint: Select conversion type, paste your data, and get instant conversion. Supports JSON, YAML, XML, Excel, PDF, and more.
Issue Description
Hint: Describe what you want to build or paste requirements, select target language, and click Generate.
How It Works
- Step 1: Paste your Perl source code including variable declarations with sigils, regex patterns with =~ operator, file operations, and CPAN module usage.
- Step 2: The AI analyzes Perl patterns identifying sigil types for appropriate Python structures, regex operations for re module conversion, and context-sensitive behavior.
- Step 3: Advanced transformation generates Python code with clean variable names, explicit re.search/match calls, with-statement file handling, and modern web framework patterns.
- Step 4: Download maintainable Python code with proper imports, type hints where beneficial, and modern idioms replacing Perl's implicit behaviors.
Perl vs Python: Language Comparison
| Feature | Perl | Python |
|---|---|---|
| Syntax | Sigils ($, @, %), context-sensitive | Clean, consistent |
| Variables | Scalar, array, hash with prefixes | Unified variable names |
| Regex | Built-in with =~ operator | re module with methods |
| File Handling | Bareword filehandles | Context managers (with) |
| Web CGI | CGI.pm module | Flask, Django, FastAPI |
Code Conversion Examples
Example 1: Variables and Regex
#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;
my $text = "Contact: [email protected]";
my @emails = ();
my %contacts = ();
# Perl regex with =~ operator
if ($text =~ /(w+)@([w.]+)/) {
my $username = $1;
my $domain = $2;
push @emails, "$username@$domain";
$contacts{$username} = $domain;
}
# Process array
foreach my $email (@emails) {
print "Email: $email
";
}
# Process hash
while (my ($user, $domain) = each %contacts) {
print "User: $user, Domain: $domain
";
}#!/usr/bin/env python3
import re
text = "Contact: [email protected]"
emails = []
contacts = {}
# Python regex with re module
match = re.search(r'(w+)@([w.]+)', text)
if match:
username = match.group(1)
domain = match.group(2)
emails.append(f"{username}@{domain}")
contacts[username] = domain
# Process list
for email in emails:
print(f"Email: {email}")
# Process dictionary
for user, domain in contacts.items():
print(f"User: {user}, Domain: {domain}")Key Changes:
Perl's sigils ($, @, %) disappear in Python—variables use consistent naming. The =~ regex operator becomes explicit re.search() calls. Capture groups ($1, $2) convert to match.group() methods. Push operations become list.append(). The each function for hash iteration converts to .items() for dictionaries. Perl's implicit $_ variable becomes explicit loop variables. String interpolation changes from double quotes to f-strings.
Example 2: File Operations and Subroutines
#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;
sub read_config {
my ($filename) = @_;
my %config = ();
open(my $fh, '<', $filename) or die "Cannot open $filename: $!";
while (my $line = <$fh>) {
chomp $line;
next if $line =~ /^#/; # Skip comments
if ($line =~ /^(w+)s*=s*(.+)$/) {
$config{$1} = $2;
}
}
close($fh);
return %config;
}
# Usage
my %settings = read_config('config.txt');
print "Database: $settings{database}
" if exists $settings{database};#!/usr/bin/env python3
import re
def read_config(filename):
config = {}
try:
with open(filename, 'r') as fh:
for line in fh:
line = line.strip()
if line.startswith('#'): # Skip comments
continue
match = re.match(r'^(w+)s*=s*(.+)$', line)
if match:
config[match.group(1)] = match.group(2)
except IOError as e:
raise IOError(f"Cannot open {filename}: {e}")
return config
# Usage
settings = read_config('config.txt')
if 'database' in settings:
print(f"Database: {settings['database']}")Key Changes:
Perl subroutines (sub) become Python functions (def). Bareword filehandles convert to with-statement context managers ensuring automatic cleanup. Perl's die with $! error variable becomes Python exceptions with proper error messages. The chomp function removing newlines converts to strip(). Regex patterns remain similar but use re.match. Hash existence checking (exists) becomes Python's 'in' operator. Return values change from list context (%config) to single dictionary return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Perl regex converted to Python?
Perl regex patterns convert to Python re module with similar syntax. Matching operators (=~, !~) become re.search/match, capture groups work identically, and regex modifiers map to Python flags like re.IGNORECASE.
What happens to Perl variables?
Scalar variables ($var) become regular Python variables, arrays (@arr) become lists, hashes (%hash) become dictionaries. Special variables like $_ and @ARGV convert to explicit loop variables and sys.argv.
Can it convert CGI scripts?
Yes! Perl CGI scripts convert to Python equivalents using Flask or Django. CGI.pm operations map to request handling, form parsing, and HTTP responses in Python web frameworks.