sorry, couldn't resist =]

#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;

sub isEmpty {
  opendir(DIR,shift) or die $!;
  my @files = grep { !m/\A\.{1,2}\Z/} readdir(DIR);
  closedir(DIR);
  @files ? 0 : 1;
}

print isEmpty('./dir') ? "empty\n" : "not empty\n";
[download]

cp
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"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic."