This line is tripping you up: 

open ( LOG, $log ) || warn "  Couldn't open log\n"
    if ($debug);

[download]

It'll only open the file if the $debug flag is true. The if is much higher in precedence than ||. This will work instead: 

open( LOG, $log ) or do
{
    warn "    Couldn't open log: $!\n" if $debug;
};

[download]

In reply to Re: Filehandle open or not - WTF? :( by chromatic
in thread Filehandle open or not - WTF? :( by Rhodium

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