👉 Perl "fumes" refer to the notoriously complex, error-prone, and verbose nature of Perl code, which can make it difficult for both beginners and experienced programmers to read, understand, and maintain. This complexity stems from Perl's extensive use of hooks (procedural macros), its powerful but often convoluted syntax, and its extensive set of built-in functions and modules that can be hard to master. The language's flexibility, while a strength, often leads to code that is less modular and more prone to side effects, contributing to the "fumes." Additionally, Perl's history of rapid evolution and frequent changes in its core and extensions can introduce bugs and deprecations, further complicating maintenance. Despite these challenges, Perl remains popular for specific tasks like system administration, data processing, and web development, where its unique features offer significant advantages.
