It's a good idea to RTFM. There are several ways to execute a foreign program: qx// (aka backticks), system(), exec(), open().

It depends on what you want to do with that program: Do you only want to execute it, use system(). Do you only want to start it and leave your own program, use exec(). Do you want to communicate with it, use open(). Do you want to capture its output, use qx//.

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