my $ref;
if($asset->{related_files}){
 $ref = decode_json($asset->{related_files});
}else{
 $ref = [];
}


##</code><code>##

## simpler shorthand-code doesn't work, why?
eval {
   my $ref = defined($asset->{related_files}) ? decode_json($asset->{related_files}) : [];
};
if($@){
 print "error"
}