#!/usr/bin/perl -w

use strict;
use File::Glob qw(:glob);

my $dirstring    = q(~user);
my $newdirstring = 
  File::Glob::bsd_glob( $dirstring, GLOB_TILDE | GLOB_ERR );

print <<RESULTS;
Old directory string: $dirstring
New directory string: $newdirstring
RESULTS