Re: mysterious fork() failure

[dws]

    # create new directory here
    if (($pid = fork()) == 0) {
       # remove directory here
    }
    if (!defined($pid)) {
       # log fork() failure here
       # remove directory here
    }

You need to reverse your tests, and check for undef'ness of $pid first. For enlightenment as to why, ponder on   print undef == 0 ? "true!\n" : "false\n";

[Marcello]

So,

if (!defined($pid = fork())) {
   # parent process, fork() failure
}
elsif ($pid == 0) {
   # child process, successful fork()
}
elsif ($justSomeVar == 1) {
   # parent process, successful fork()
}
else {
   # parent process, successful fork()
}

is the way to go?