Do you know how I can find out more about the timeout not working when I use the `<system command>` method?

You might want to look at your local (ActiveState?) perl documentation about the alarm function. Perhaps it's not implemented, or partially implemented? Or Google. Don't know what else to tell you.

Do you know what makes this method playing with fire?

Using symbolic references is generally considered a bit risky, unless you really know what you are doing, because (among other reasons) you can cause some very hard to find bugs when you start using them. Do a Super Search for 'symbolic references' (or 'refs', etc.) to find out what other Monks have to say about them. Here is a recent thread about them, to get you started: variables names used to define variables. Basically, they can be a handy feature, but only if you're careful, and there is frequently a better way to do things.

--
edan (formerly known as 3dan)

In reply to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Passing function to a function using \&<function name> method by edan
in thread Passing function to a function using \&<function name> method by rich_d_thomas

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