use strict; use warnings; use Data::Dumper; my %WOMBLE_DEFAULTS = ( fleem => 12.3, alarm_low => 99, alarm_hi => 'naked ernest borgnine', alarm_hello => 'nice to see you', alarm_good_evening => 'STOP_STEALING_PYTHON_GAGS', quux => 19.95, ); my $DEBUG = 1; womble({ quux => 1.21, alarm_low => 42, }); exit( 0 ); sub womble { my ($args_href) = @_; %$args_href = (%WOMBLE_DEFAULTS, %$args_href); warn Dumper( $args_href ) if $DEBUG; ## ... rest of womblification routine }