I dont't understand the comment:

# Check this last to avoid parsing options as Places,
#   and so don't override $opt_man verbose level
my @places  = @ARGV;
pod2usage(-verbose => 1) && exit unless @places;
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I evaluate "--help" and "--man" as "subs", like

GetOptions(
    "help|?" => sub { pod2usage( -verbose => 1, -exitval => 0 ); },
    "man"    => sub { pod2usage( -verbose => 2, -exitval => 0 ); },
# ...
) or pod2usage( -verbose => 1, -exitval => 1);
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The '-exitval' lets pod2usage exit the programm for you.

The line "or pod2usage( -verbose => 1, -exitval => 1);" is now added to my code; until I read your article I never thought of checking GetOptions(). But it is a good idea! :)