From:	Daniel Barker <sokal AT holyrood DOT ed DOT ac DOT uk>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject:	Penalty for immature language (PERL/BASH)
Date:	Wed, 28 Feb 2001 23:11:51 +0000
Organization:	Edinburgh University
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To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com
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Reply-To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com

I have encountered a strange and repeatable crash whilst trying to teach
myself PERL. Possibly it's a joke (but not by me)!

DJGPP Packages:
BASH bsh203b
PERL perl552b

Operating system:
Windows 98 (heavily updated)

At the BASH prompt, I launch the following PERL script, prog.pl:

while(<>)
{
`$_`
}

If I give this a single line consisting of the word "poo", BASH performs
an illegal instruction.

Here are the contents of my BASH window:

c:/My\ Documents/perl $ PERL prog.pl
poo

Windows 98 then gives me the following details:

BASH
This program has performed an illegal operation and will be terminated.
Quit all programs, and then restart your computer.

If the program consistently encounters problems, click the Start button,
then select Help, Troubleshooting, and 'If you have trouble running
MS-DOS programs'.

Details: The program tried to execute an invalid instruction.

Fault location: 0F81:018C

I have tried this a few times, and the fault location varies but nothing
else does. Nothing called poo is on my PATH.

I tried using more polite input, i.e., three-letter strings other than
"poo", and the fault does not occur!

-- 
Daniel Barker.

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