Issue the perl command, writing your script line by line via -e switches on the command line:

perl -e 'print "Hello, world
"'    # Unix
perl -e "print "Hello, world
""  # Win32 or Unix
perl -e "print qq[Hello, world
]"  # Also Win32

Issue the perl command, passing Perl the name of your script as the first parameter (after any switches):

perl testpgm

On Unix systems that support the #! notation, specify the Perl command on the #! line, make your script executable, and invoke it from the shell (as described above).

Pass your script to Perl via standard input. For example, under Unix:

echo "print 'Hello, world'" | perl -
% perl
print "Hello, world
";
^D

On Win32 systems, you can associate an extension (e.g., .plx) with a file type and double-click on the icon for a Perl script with that file type. Or, as mentioned earlier, do this:

(open a "DOS" window)
C:> (edit your Perl program in your favorite editor)
C:> pl2bat yourprog.plx
C:> .yourprog.bat
(program output here)

If you are using the ActiveState version of Win32 Perl, the installer normally prompts you to create the association.

On Win32 systems, if you double-click on the icon for the Perl executable, you’ll find yourself in a command-prompt window with a blinking cursor. You can enter your Perl commands, indicating the end of your input with Ctrl-Z, and Perl will compile and execute your script.