# $HOME/.my.cnf

# Here are some general options
[client]
socket=/tmp/mysql.sock
port=3306

# the following are specific to each application

[mysqldump]
user=dumpuser
password=not_my_pwd

[backup]
user=bkpuser
password=not_my_real_one

[usage]
user=simpleguy
password=not_this_one

[readonly]
user=poorguy
password=don_t_try_it

[myapp]
user=specialguy
password=something_different

##</code><code>##

my $dbh = DBI->connect("DBI:mysql:test"
    . ";mysql_read_default_file=$ENV{HOME}/.my.cnf"
    .';mysql_read_default_group=myapp',
    undef, 
    undef
   ) or die "something went wrong ($DBI::errstr)";

##</code><code>##

my $profile = shift || 'usage';

my $dbh = DBI->connect("DBI:mysql:test"
    . ";mysql_read_default_file=$ENV{HOME}/.my.cnf"
    .";mysql_read_default_group=$profile",
    undef, 
    undef
   ) or die "something went wrong ($DBI::errstr)";