Perl: A script that contains valid Perl and Python code

Perl has a cool runtime option named -x that causes Perl to scan a file for the first shebang line with perl in it, and start executing there. This allows you to embed Perl in other files, like text files, or email files.

This got me thinking about embedding a working Perl script in another file. Python allows you to have large multi-line comment blocks using triple quotes """ blocks around your text. Using these comment blocks I was able to embed Perl code inside of a Python script. Effectively you can have a single file that is executable by Perl (with -x) and Python. I wrote up a quick proof-of-concept dual language script.

python dual-perl-python.py
perl -x dual-perl-python.py

Gives varying output:

Hello world from Python v3.8.7
Hello world from Perl v5.30.3


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