But that's only useful if you don't control the assignment of $VERSION itself (like $ExtUtils::MakeMaker::VERSION). If you want to put a numerical value in a variable, then:

our $var = 'string looking like a number';
$var = eval $var;
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is not the way to earn brownie points. Suggest that during a job interview with me, and I won't recommend to my boss to hire you. You want a number inside your variable? Omit the quotes, don't use eval:

our $VERSION = 0.08;
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