If you want more precise diagnostics, don't invoke the shell.

Actually, in my own programs I already use often IPC::Run::run, and I think I will convert the remaining system() calls to the use of either IPC::Run or IPC::System::Simple, but we are here dealing with programmers from many different departments, and it would be a bit restrictive to have everyone drop system(), so I was interested in alternatives. But thanks a lot for the information.