my %hash1 = ( );  # %hash1 is a normal hash (note the '%' prefix)
    $hash1{$name} -> {'uid'}     = $uid;
    $hash1{$name} -> {'gid'}     = $gid;
    $hash1{$name} -> {'gecos'} = $gecos;

##</code><code>##

    my $hash1 = { };  # $hash1 is a hash reference (note the '$' prefix)
    $hash1 -> {$name} -> {'uid'}     = $uid;
    $hash1 -> {$name} -> {'gid'}     = $gid;
    $hash1 -> {$name} -> {'gecos'} = $gecos;

##</code><code>##

$VAR1 = {
          'jblow' => {
                         '2195' => {
                                     'gecos' => 'Joe Blow,,,',
                                     'gid' => '20'
                                   }
                       }
        };

##</code><code>##

$VAR1 = {
          'jblow' => {
                         'uid' => '2195',
                         'gecos' => 'Joe Blow,,,',
                         'gid' => '20',
                         '2195' => {
                                     'gecos' => 'Joe Blow,,,',
                                     'gid' => '20'
                                   }
                       }
        };