Re^3: is there a way to ensure some code is the last thing that is run?

[RonW]

Morgon, interesting discussion you started.

I think the best you can do is to focus on "seen first, run last" and "end of scope".

Using those 2 points, I think the following is the closest to what you are asking for.

#!perl

# Make this END block the first thing compiled to insure it
# will be the last END block to run.
END {
    # any special clean up goes here
    warn 'END - Bypassing final global Perl clean up';
    # $? is the value passed to exit() unless modified
    # in another END block.
    POSIX::_exit($?);
    # WARNING - Any DESTRUCTions that could not be
    # completed before _exit() is called will NOT
    # be completed
}

# Create an extra layer of scope
{
    use strict;
    use warnings;

    use Some::Module;

    my $s = Some::Module->new();
} # Close extra scope to trigger most of the DESTRUCTion

exit(0);
# Here, the various END blocks will run in reverse order
# of being compiled, concluding with the END block at the
# top of this file.

Disclaimer: Not tested. YMMV.