Perl Developer in India: Development and Maintenance

By Manu Mathew · Last updated 4 October 2026

If your team or business depends on Perl code that needs fixing, extending or keeping up to date, this page explains how I can help. I’m a Perl developer based in Kozhikode, Kerala, and I work remotely with teams across India and elsewhere.

Quick answer

I help keep existing Perl code working and moving forward: maintaining and extending it, fixing bugs, improving performance, upgrading Perl and the modules your code depends on, database work, scripts and automation, code reviews, module work, and moving old CGI applications to a modern Perl framework. I work remotely from Kozhikode, Kerala, with teams across India and elsewhere.

What Perl work can I help with?

• Maintaining and extending existing code: adding features and making changes without breaking what already works.
• Bug fixes: tracking down errors, warnings and wrong results, including in code nobody on the team wrote.
• Performance: finding the slow parts of a script or application and making them faster.
• Upgrades: moving to a newer Perl, updating the modules your code depends on and fixing what changes along the way.
• Database work: queries, transactions, connection handling and data fixes.
• Scripts and automation: data imports and exports, reports, file processing and scheduled jobs.
• Code reviews: a second pair of eyes on Perl changes, with plain notes on risks and fixes.
• Module work: writing, packaging, fixing or patching Perl modules.
• Moving CGI applications to modern frameworks: taking an old CGI application to a modern Perl framework or a modern setup, step by step, with the application kept running throughout.

Who is this for?

• Engineering leads with Perl systems that still matter to the business
• Business owners who depend on Perl scripts or applications someone else wrote
• Teams whose Perl developer has moved on and who need help in the meantime

What’s my Perl background?

• I started my career with Perl and PHP training at Spectrum Softtech Solutions, then worked there as an intern and later as a developer and trainer.
• At AdvantEdge I used Perl with Microsoft SQL Server on task and performance tracking for healthcare billing teams.
• I still use Perl and PHP regularly in my work.

I also keep short Perl notes on this site, for example on database transactions and checking whether a value is a number, and a short post on where Perl still belongs next to newer platforms.

How can an old CGI application move to a modern framework?

Step by step, so the application keeps working while it changes. A typical approach looks like this:

1. Get it running in a modern setup first. Existing CGI scripts can often run under a modern Perl web setup with few or no code changes, which gives a stable starting point.
2. Add tests around current behaviour, so each later change can be checked against what the application does today.
3. Move one part at a time to a modern Perl framework, page by page or route by route.
4. Retire the old CGI code once nothing depends on it.

If a full move isn’t the right step yet, I can also help keep an existing CGI application running: fixing bugs, dealing with security issues, or getting it working on a newer Perl.

How does working together work?

1. A short conversation about the system, what’s wrong or what’s needed, and any deadlines.
2. A first look at the code, with whatever access you’re comfortable giving.
3. A written scope and quote before the main work starts.
4. Small, reviewable changes, with tests where practical, so you can see what changed and why.
5. Handover notes so your team can carry on after I’m done.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Perl work cost?

It depends on the work. Fixing one bug and upgrading a large application are very different jobs, so I don’t publish prices. I give you a quote after I’ve understood the task, usually after a first look at the code.

Can you work on old Perl code with no tests or documentation?

Yes. That’s common with Perl systems that have run for years. I start by reading the code and making small, careful changes, and I add tests around the parts we touch where that’s practical.

Can you move an old CGI application to a modern framework?

Yes. I can move an old CGI application to a modern Perl framework or a modern setup, step by step, so the application keeps running while it moves. We agree the order and scope of the work before starting.

Do you work remotely?

Yes. I’m in Kozhikode, Kerala (India Standard Time), and Perl work is done remotely, so I can work with teams anywhere in India or elsewhere. We agree on how I get access to the code and systems before work starts.

Need help with Perl code?

If you have Perl code that needs fixing, extending or upgrading, I’m happy to take a look. You can reach me through the contact section or email me at manu@manu.co.in. A few lines about the system and what you need is a good start.