XML::Config - a simple XML Configuration file reader. Preface: This is stupendously simple. Given a well formed configuration file like this: A Key it returns: {A_variable => 'A Key'} I whipped this together for internal use is some of our applications, and it does the trick. It will attempt to parse a .bak file in the same directory as the config file you specify if there is an error. See the manpage for details.