$ /usr/local/bin/perl -v
This is perl 5, version 12, subversion 1 (v5.12.1) built for x86_64-li
+nux-ld
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$ /usr/local/bin/perl -e '@ARGV = qw(foo);
foo(@ARGV);
sub foo {
    my $x = shift(@ARGV);
    my $y = shift;
}'
panic: attempt to copy freed scalar 13280e0 to 133a630 at -e line 5.
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I don't have a 5.13 handy to test with and it's too late to build one :(

update:

Of course, it could be an entirely different problem. It would be helpful if you could provide a minimal example of your program that exhibits the same panic.

That would be the result of a bug in Perl itself or a bug in an XS module. (Specifically what, I don't know, but I could try to find out.) Do you get the error with 5.10.1 or better yet 5.12.1?

Using a debug build and gdb should help you determine which scalar is problematic. valgrind should also be useful with this kind of problem.

this is what I think too but can "prove" it my ISP DreamHosts is taking "hands off" when it comes to code. I will talk to them about upgrading to 5.10.1 or 5.12.1. thank you bill

Or just install Perl into your home directory.

• The bug is still present in blead, which is currently very nearly 5.13.2
• It first appeared between 5.8.8 and 5.8.9