My script runs a command on a Linux system. For example: 
while ( my $user = <$fh> ) {
    chomp $user;
    my $out = $system->adduser( login => $user );
    if ( $out =~ /something/ ) {
        do this;
    }
}

[download]

Now, in my subroutine I want to run useradd $login and grab the output from the system. If the output is an error (e.g., user already exists), I want to return something like, "ERROR: $login already exists\n", or "ERROR: $login is not a valid UNIX username\n"... If it worked, it should return something like, "SUCCESS: $login added to system" Currently I am croaking if it's not a success, but that destroys my while loop.

Basically, what's the best way to return an error message from a subroutine, and a success message if it succeeds?

I've read the following:
http://www.perlmonks.org/?node_id=113166
http://www.perl.com/pub/2002/11/14/exception.html

While interesting, I know Perl has changed a lot in the past few years, so trying to get an updated opinion on the matter. Thanks!

In reply to Question regarding handling exceptions in subroutine by walkingthecow

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