/proc/$$/ can be replaced by the fixed path /proc/self/ . The self entry is a rather magical symlink.

Additionally, /proc/self/status is a human-readable form of stat which gives names to the data, all set to make a hash from. Here's the command line version:

$ perl -e 'open STATUS, "< /proc/self/status";
my $status = {map {split /:\s*/} <STATUS>};
close(STATUS);print "$_ => $status->{$_}" for keys %$status'
Groups => 501 101 102 
SigCgt => 0000000000000000
SigIgn => 8000000000000000
State => R (running)
Name => perl
Uid => 501    501    501    501
CapPrm => 0000000000000000
CapEff => 0000000000000000
SigPnd => 0000000000000000
VmExe => 488 kB
FDSize => 256
PPid => 1341
CapInh => 0000000000000000
Gid => 501    501    501    501
VmStk => 20 kB
VmLib => 1240 kB
VmRSS => 1148 kB
SigBlk => 0000000000000000
Pid => 10847
VmLck => 0 kB
VmData => 316 kB
TracerPid => 0
VmSize => 2280 kB
[download]

There are lots of treasures in Linux /proc . That makes ordinary filesystem access a viable alternative to the Proc:: family of CPAN modules.

After Compline,
Zaxo