🚀 go-pugleaf

I am launching a new site and I have the option of having all my file
splicing and parsing (templates and whatnot) done either via Perl (.cgi) or
PHP (.phtml)  That will be 90% of the use of the script... assemble
templates + raw files, breaking files down into multiple "click here for
page 2/3/etc" pages... etc...

ASP is not an option, I'm on UNIX.

I keep hearing different stories about which of the two (Perl vs CGI)
performs better on large loads (you'd think I was talking about a laundry
detergent wouldn't you?)

All my links will be drawn up one way or another... so which way should I be
investing my time in (I'll be hiring someone to do the script)?

Perl or PHP3?

PS: The server admin told me he had to shut down several sites earlier this
year because of Perl scripts... too many hits, and every hit ran the
template-grabbing CGI.  He said sites that get less hits but use Perl tax
the server more than sites that get more hits but use PHP... somehow, PHP
opens and closes fewer files (that's how it was explained to me) so he's
strongly pushing for PHP.  Is this all just BS?

Jon