Have you taken a look at Data::Denter? Although the output format is not evalable (it has to be "undented"), I believe it handles circular references. I'm not sure if it deals with all the cases mentioned here, but it would be a good idea to make sure you're not reinventing a reinvented wheel :-) 
   MeowChow                                   
               s aamecha.s a..a\u$&owag.print

In reply to (MeowChow) Re: Reinventing the wheel: Dumper Difficulties by MeowChow
in thread Reinventing the wheel: Dumper Difficulties by demerphq

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