#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;
use warnings;

local $| = 1;

# Our alarm handler: simply quits the
# process, or eval block.

  $SIG{ALRM} = sub { die "our alarm went off\n" };

# Put it all in an eval block, so we
# can regain control after if finishes
# or dies.

  eval {
    #alarm(10); # set for ten seconds  [example]
    alarm(1); # set for one second     [example]

    print "Running subprocess, etc...";
    sleep(5);  # the sleep() merely simulates a running process
    print "done\n";
  };

# Let's see if an error, from die, was
# returned; and if it was, whether it
# was because our alarm went off.

  if($@) {
    print "Timed out\n" if $@ =~ /our alarm went off/;
    # Do whatever else we wish.
  }