Learning from Perl Golf (II) 

• '$' variables I'd never really used

• but...

• write $_ out in full (except small loops)

• perldoc perlvar

• use 'English'

use English;
$_ equiv $ARG;
$/ equiv $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR;
$\ equiv $OUTPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR;
$| equiv $OUTPUT_AUTOFLUSH;
$@ equiv $EVAL_ERROR;

• also remember, $`, $' and $& create performance hits