$str = q{split on whitespace "but leave" quoted "spaces alone"};
@chunks = get_chunks($str);

# desired return value:
# ('split', 'on', 'whitespace', 'but leave', 'quoted', 'spaces alone')
# it's hard to do it with split(), but it CAN be done!

# method 1
# note:  this leaves the "s in...
sub get_chunks {
my$s;split/"(?{$s=!$s})(?!)|\s+(?(?{$s})(?!))/,pop
}


# method 2
# note:  this removes the "s (preferred)
sub get_chunks {
my$s;@_=split/(?(?{$s})"\s*(?{$s=0})|(?:\s*"(?{$s=1})|\s+))/,' '.pop;shift;@_ 
}