String comment_a = "/* this is not a comment */';

   String comment_b = "" +
   // /*
      "this is actually used" +
   //  */
      "";

##</code><code>##

if ( length $line )
  {
    if ($line =~ m|^\s* //  |x or
        $line =~ m|^\s* /\* |x or
        $line =~ m|^\s* \*  |x)
      {
        $comment = $comment + 1;
      }
    else
      {
        print "$line\n";
        $code = $code + 1;
      }
    }