>    #print "Line [ @{[__LINE__}] is a syntax error\n";

Because you are closing the parens in the wrong order.

Otherwise it works.

> Is there a better way to include the __LINE__ information without all this fanning-about?

Out of the box, no.

But if you use this very often consider a subroutine which builds the string. Using caller inside that routine would give you the line number.

Otherwise if it really needs to be a variable I'd suggest Tie::Hash to make "$caller{line}" return what you want. Alternatively "$LINE" with Tie::Scalar . °

Similarly for package and file

°) like shown by Haukex++ in the meantime.