ReddRadar
Agent skill
perl-lint
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.
Stars
33
Forks
4
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/Jamie-BitFlight/claude_skills/tree/main/plugins/perl-development/skills/perl-lint
SKILL.md
Perl Linting and Formatting
Run Perl::Critic analysis and perltidy formatting with automatic tool detection.
Workflow
- Check if perlcritic/perltidy are installed
- Run analysis on specified files
- Report findings with severity levels
- 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
| Level | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gentle | Obvious, unambiguous issues |
| 4 | Stern | Usually bad practices |
| 3 | Harsh | Controversial but recommended |
| 2 | Cruel | Pickier about style |
| 1 | Brutal | Maximum strictness |
Common Policies
| Policy | Severity | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| RequireUseStrict | 5 | Missing use strict |
| RequireUseWarnings | 4 | Missing use warnings |
| ProhibitBarewordFileHandles | 5 | Using bareword filehandles |
| ProhibitTwoArgOpen | 5 | Two-argument open() |
| ProhibitStringyEval | 5 | Using eval with string |
| RequireTidyCode | 1 | Code 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
| Level | Output Format |
|---|---|
| 1 | Line only |
| 4 | Line + Column |
| 8 | Line + Policy + Severity |
| 10 | Full explanation |
| 11 | With 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
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
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