http://www.perlmonks.org?node_id=304051


in reply to Response from system or Exec

Just an addition, since you're mentioning exec() in the subject of your question.

While system() returns a value, be aware that exec() never returns, but replaces your program with the one you are calling using exec().

Michele.

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Re: Response from system or Exec
by Abigail-II (Bishop) on Nov 03, 2003 at 09:59 UTC
    Actually, exec might return, if 1) perl doesn't need to call the shell to execute the command (that is, exec is either given more than one argument, or a string which has no characters (except whitespace) that are special to the shell), and hence will call execvp directly, and 2) the command can't be called (usually because the file doesn't exists, or due to permission problems).

    See perldoc -f exec.

    Abigail