Since you are on linux, you can use MidnightCommander, "mc", to do your writing and testing. It is very easy, and it's editor gives very good Perl syntax highlighting. When you start mc, you get a directory/file browser. Highlight your script and press Enter,to run it, or F4 to edit it.

When I'm working, I edit with F4, hit Esc (twice fast) to exit the editor, then a quick Enter runs it. By now, I don't even think about it, it's automatic. :-)

Of course vi and emacs are far superior than mc's internal editor, but for 99% of all script work, it does just fine.