sub compatible { my ($s1, $s2) = @_; my $m = length($s1) - 1; ($s1 . $s2) !~ /^.{0,$m}?([^_]).{$m}(?!\1)[^_]/; } printf "%s v %s ? %s\n", @$_, compatible( @$_ ) ? 1 : 0 for [ qw[ _8__3__19 48____7__ ] ], # compat [ qw[ _8__3__19 4_8___7__ ] ], # compat [ qw[ _8__3__19 48_____7_ ] ]; # clash