system doesn't return the output of the command, it returns the exit status, as the docs say. To get the output you need to use backticks `` or qx// which are explained in more detail in perldoc perlop.

Also, = is the assignment operator. Use eq to compare strings for equality.

In reply to Re: assigning system command output to a variable by Paladin
in thread assigning system command output to a variable by Anonymous Monk

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