my @output = split(/\n/, `set`); my %environment; foreach (@output) { my ($key, $value)= split /=/; $environment{$key}=$value; } foreach $variable qw/USERNAME HOMEDRIVE/ { ${$variable}=$environment{$variable}; } print "my name is $USERNAME my home is at $HOMEDRIVE"; #### my name is KJM my home is at C: