This comment is dead on, to extend the metaphor

# check for a pilot action
if ($red_button_pressed) {
  eject_seat();
}

eject_seat() if $massive_failure; # check for exceptional behavior

# sub returns true/false if the seat was ejected
return $red_button_pressed && $massive_failure && 1; # fixed to put th
+e && 1 on the end, in the original it was at the start
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The '1' is a perl-ism. Perl will return the value of the last true value in the boolean. To prevent people from taking shortcuts and expecting the sub to return false or the value of $red_button_pressed or $massive_failure we return one. Sooner or later it will no longer return what they think it does, and their code will melt (see also bitrot).

-jackdied