$_.=s/<--date\/\/>/$date/;

[download]

You probably meant 

    $_ =~ s/<--date\/\/>/$date/;
    ...

[download]

or just (as $_ is the default anyway) 

    s/<--date\/\/>/$date/;
    ...

[download]

s/// returns the number of substitutions made, so as you have it, you're appending that number to $_.

In reply to Re^4: How to use __DATA__ efficiently, help! by Anonyrnous Monk
in thread How to use __DATA__ efficiently, help! by Anonymous Monk

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