# data manager (short separate program)

while( <> ) {
    chomp;
    my ( $command, $value, $address ) = split /\t/;
    if ( $command eq 'insert' or $command eq 'update' ) {
        eval( "$address = $value;" );
    }
    elsif( $command eq 'delete' ) {
        delete $$address;
    }
    else{
        eval "print \$address;"
    }
}

# and the main program:

use IPC::Open2;

my $pid = open2 my $wh, my $rh, 'DataManager.pl';

...

print $wh "insert\t\"fred\"\t" . '$deepthing01{ fred }{ bert }{ pete }[99]';

...