in reply to Tie::File with absolute path of the file
Tie::File can also write to the file. Maybe you don't have write permissions. Check the $! variable
tie my @content, 'Tie::File', $file or die "$file: $!";
Tip #7 from the Basic debugging checklist. Also, it looks strange to chain file test operators together like that. It might work, but I don't remember seeing it done that way.
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