perl-lint

Original：🇺🇸 English
Translated

This skill should be used when the user asks to lint Perl code, run perlcritic, check Perl style, format Perl code, run perltidy, or mentions Perl Critic policies, code formatting, or style checking.

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Sourcejamie-bitflight/claude_skills
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NPX Install

npx skill4agent add jamie-bitflight/claude_skills perl-lint

Tags

Translated version includes tags in frontmatter
perl-lintingperl-code-formattingperlcriticperltidystatic-code-analysis

SKILL.md Content

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Perl Linting and Formatting

Run Perl::Critic analysis and perltidy formatting with automatic tool detection.

Workflow

  1. Check if perlcritic/perltidy are installed
  2. Run analysis on specified files
  3. Report findings with severity levels
  4. Suggest fixes or format code

Tool Detection

First, verify tools are available:
bash
# Check perlcritic
command -v perlcritic >/dev/null && echo "perlcritic available" || echo "Install: cpanm Perl::Critic"

# Check perltidy
command -v perltidy >/dev/null && echo "perltidy available" || echo "Install: cpanm Perl::Tidy"

Perl::Critic Analysis

Running perlcritic

bash
# Default analysis (severity 5 - gentle)
perlcritic script.pl

# All severities (1 = strictest)
perlcritic --severity 1 script.pl

# Specific severity level
perlcritic --severity 3 script.pl

# With verbose explanations
perlcritic --verbose 11 script.pl

# Single policy
perlcritic --single-policy RequireUseStrict script.pl

# Exclude policies
perlcritic --exclude RequireUseWarnings script.pl

Severity Levels

LevelNameDescription
5GentleObvious, unambiguous issues
4SternUsually bad practices
3HarshControversial but recommended
2CruelPickier about style
1BrutalMaximum strictness

Common Policies

PolicySeverityIssue
RequireUseStrict5Missing 
use strict
RequireUseWarnings4Missing 
use warnings
ProhibitBarewordFileHandles5Using bareword filehandles
ProhibitTwoArgOpen5Two-argument open()
ProhibitStringyEval5Using eval with string
RequireTidyCode1Code not formatted

Configuration File

Create 
.perlcriticrc
in project root:
ini
# .perlcriticrc
severity = 3
verbose = 8
theme = core

# Exclude specific policies
[-Documentation::RequirePodSections]
[-InputOutput::RequireBriefOpen]

# Configure specific policy
[CodeLayout::RequireTidyCode]
perltidyrc = .perltidyrc

[Variables::ProhibitPackageVars]
packages = Data::Dumper File::Find

[TestingAndDebugging::ProhibitNoStrict]
allow = refs

Verbose Formats

LevelOutput Format
1Line only
4Line + Column
8Line + Policy + Severity
10Full explanation
11With PBP page reference

Perltidy Formatting

Basic Usage

bash
# Format file (creates .bak backup)
perltidy script.pl

# Format to stdout (no backup)
perltidy -st script.pl

# In-place edit (no backup)
perltidy -b -nst script.pl

# Check if tidy (exit code)
perltidy -st script.pl | diff -q - script.pl

Common Options

bash
# Basic formatting
perltidy -i=4 -ci=4 -l=100 script.pl

# Full command with common options
perltidy \
    --indent-columns=4 \
    --continuation-indentation=4 \
    --maximum-line-length=100 \
    --vertical-tightness=2 \
    --paren-tightness=1 \
    --brace-tightness=1 \
    script.pl

Configuration File

Create 
.perltidyrc
in project root:
text
# .perltidyrc

# Indentation
--indent-columns=4
--continuation-indentation=4

# Line length
--maximum-line-length=100

# Blank lines
--blank-lines-before-subs=1
--blank-lines-after-block-opening=0

# Spaces
--paren-tightness=1
--brace-tightness=1
--square-bracket-tightness=1

# Vertical alignment
--no-outdent-long-quotes
--no-outdent-long-comments

# Output
--backup-and-modify-in-place
--backup-file-extension=/

Combined Workflow

Lint and Fix

bash
#!/bin/bash
# lint-perl.sh

FILE="$1"

if [[ ! -f "$FILE" ]]; then
    echo "Usage: lint-perl.sh <file.pl>"
    exit 1
fi

echo "=== Syntax Check ==="
perl -c "$FILE" || exit 1

echo ""
echo "=== Perl::Critic ==="
if command -v perlcritic >/dev/null; then
    perlcritic --severity 4 "$FILE"
else
    echo "perlcritic not installed. Run: cpanm Perl::Critic"
fi

echo ""
echo "=== Formatting Check ==="
if command -v perltidy >/dev/null; then
    if ! perltidy -st "$FILE" | diff -q - "$FILE" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
        echo "File needs formatting. Run: perltidy $FILE"
    else
        echo "File is properly formatted."
    fi
else
    echo "perltidy not installed. Run: cpanm Perl::Tidy"
fi

Interpreting Results

Severity 5 (Critical)

Must fix immediately:
text
Bareword file handle opened at line 10, column 1.
Two-argument "open" used at line 15, column 5.
Fix:
perl
# Wrong
open FILE, $filename;

# Correct
open my $fh, '<', $filename;

Severity 4 (Important)

Should fix:
text
Code before strictures are enabled at line 1.
Fix:
perl
# Add at top
use strict;
use warnings;

Severity 3 (Recommended)

Consider fixing:
text
Regular expression without "/x" flag at line 25.

Installation

If tools are missing:
bash
# Install both tools
cpanm Perl::Critic Perl::Tidy

# Verify installation
perlcritic --version
perltidy --version

Quick Commands

Lint specific file:
bash
perlcritic --severity 4 --verbose 8 path/to/file.pl
Lint all Perl files in directory:
bash
find . -name '*.pl' -o -name '*.pm' | xargs perlcritic --severity 4
Format all files:
bash
find . -name '*.pl' -o -name '*.pm' | xargs perltidy -b