$time = timelocal($sec,$min,$hours,$mday,$mon,$year);

  use Time::Local;
  $time = timelocal(0,0,0,'3','08','2000');
  

search & replace in several files

 #!/usr/bin/perl -w
 #
 # More scripts and tips can be found at
 # http://www.edlin.org/
 #
 # Search and replace in several files
 #
 # I throw this file in my ~/bin/
 # Edit the variables $search, $replace and perhaps you want to change the globbing
 # then I jump to the directory with the files and just execute msr.pl (make sure that ~/bin is in your $PATH)
 
 use strict;
 
 my @infiles = glob("*.html");
 
 my $search ='dilbert';
 my $replace ='wally';
 
 # Here we go.........
 
 foreach my $file (@infiles){
   print "Processing $file\n";
   open(FH,$file) || die "Cannot load $file";
   my @lines=<FH>;
   close(FH);
   my $match=0;
   foreach my $line (@lines){
     if($line =~ s/$search/$replace/g){
       $match=1;
     }
   }
 
   if($match){
     print "...Saving $file\n";
     open(FS,">$file") || die "Cannot save $file";
     print FS @lines;
     close(FS);
   }
 } 
 

output

 print "$0: Some output from script $0\n";
 

random integers

 my $dilbert = int ( rand(10) ) ;
 

 srand;
 
 my $dilbert = int ( rand(10) ) ;
 

crypt

 #!/usr/bin/perl
 
 my $passwd = crypt("mypasswd","dilbertwallyrandomtext");
 
 print "$passwd\n";