...and $? is zero, so I can't get a return code.

close waits for the subprocess and sets $?: 

my $pid = open X, '-|', 'echo foo; exit 42' or die $!;
my $out = <X>;
my $ok = close X;

print  STDERR "out=$out";
printf STDERR "\$?=%s\n", $? >> 8 unless $ok;

__END__
out=foo
$?=42

[download]

See close for details.

In reply to Re: Execute command, show realtime output and get exit code by Eliya
in thread Execute command, show realtime output and get exit code by afunix

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