Perl offers three slightly different mechanisms for executing external commands:
  1. system
  2. exec
  3. Backticks or qx//
  1. Using system 

    system($command, @arguments);

# For example:
system( "sh", "script.sh", "--help" );
system("sh script.sh --help");

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    System will execute the $command with @arguments and return to your script when finished. You may check $! for certain errors passed to the OS by the external application.

    Read the documentation for system for the nuances of how various invocations are slightly different.

  2. Using exec

    This is very similar to the use of system, but it will terminate your script upon execution. Again, read the documentation for exec for more.

  3. Using backticks or qx// 

    my $output = `script.sh --option`;
my $output = qx/script.sh --option/;

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    The backtick operator and it's equivalent qx// excute the command and options inside the operator and return that commands output to STDOUT when it finishes.

There are also ways to run external applications through creative use of open, but this is advanced use; read the documentation for more.

In reply to Re: How to run a shell script from a Perl program? by radiantmatrix
in thread How to run a shell script from a Perl program? by Anonymous Monk

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