“Can't use string (”package“) as a HASH ref while ”strict refs"

SunilHn has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Here is my code.

my $hash1 = $hash0->{unknown}{unknown};
while ( my ( $var, $hash2 ) = each %$hash1 ) {
    ...
}
[download]

Am hitting the error "Can't use string ("package") as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use" when I try to access my $hash1 = $hash0->{unknown}{unknown}from the below hash.

print Dumper $hash0;

$VAR1 = 
bless( {
    'branch' => bless( {
         'lib/sample/sp.pm' => bless( {
             'branch' => bless( {
                 'lib/sample/sp.pm'=>     bless( {
                     'sample::sp' => '1'
                 }, 'DBM::Deep::Hash' )
             }, 'DBM::Deep::Hash' ),
         'branch' => $VAR1->{'branch'}{'lib/sample/sp.pm'}{'branch'}
         }, 'DBM::Deep::Hash' )
                     }, 'DBM::Deep::Hash' ),
'main' => bless( {}, 'DBM::Deep::Hash' ),
'main' => $VAR1->{'main'}
}, 'DBM::Deep::Hash' );
[download]

I went through many forums and my understanding on this error is, will hit this when $hash->{unknown}{unknown} has a string instead of hash (I am dereferencing $hash1 in next step of my code). But I don't see any string values('package' as indicated in error message) in the hash but still it complains. Am getting this error for the statement my $hash1 = $hash0->{unknown}{unknown}; Can some one please help me in understanding the issue.

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Re: “Can't use string (”package“) as a HASH ref while ”strict refs" by Random_Walk (Prior) on Aug 09, 2013 at 06:28 UTC
The code given is a fragment. We don't see how $hash0 was made. Can you post a minimal piece of code that will generate the same error that you are getting, when we run it. The above fragment runs just fine and does nothing. If I add strictures and warnings it fails as $hash0 is not defined. Often when going through the process of creating a minimal failing program, you will find enlightenment. Cheers, R. Pereant, qui ante nos nostra dixerunt!	[reply]
Re: “Can't use string (”package“) as a HASH ref while ”strict refs" by Anonymous Monk on Aug 09, 2013 at 07:51 UTC
crossposted to http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18055587/need-clarification-on-error-cant-use-string-package-as-a-hash-ref-while-s , you should cross-link cross-postings for maximum collaboration efficiency FWIW, you got some good advice on stackoverflow -- use Carp::Always; post real code.	[reply]
Re: “Can't use string (”package“) as a HASH ref while ”strict refs" by tobyink (Canon) on Aug 09, 2013 at 07:45 UTC
DBM::Deep uses loads of ties and overloading, so I wouldn't necessarily trust the output of Data::Dumper to provide you with any sort of useful representation of its contents. `package Cow { use Moo; has name => (is => 'lazy', default => sub { 'Mooington' }) } say Cow->new->name`	[reply]
Re^2: “Can't use string (”package“) as a HASH ref while ”strict refs" by Anonymous Monk on Aug 09, 2013 at 08:11 UTC
DBM::Deep uses loads of ties and overloading, so I wouldn't necessarily trust the output of Data::Dumper to provide you with any sort of useful representation of its contents. Why not? FWIW , the op's dumper output shows circular references , so I'd suspect the OPs real code before I'd worry about Data::Dumper getting something wrong	[reply]