Maybe this helps:

The return value is the exit status of the program as returned by the [id://perlfunc:wait|wait()] call. To get the actual exit value divide by 256. See also exec.

See perldoc -f system

See also Perl 5.8.4 perldoc system where the new page says: "To get the actual exit value shift right by eight (see below)."

In reply to Re: How to get system -function negative return value? by Happy-the-monk
in thread How to get system -function negative return value? by Anonymous Monk

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