I would change the client side

#!/usr/local/bin/perl
use IO::Socket;

# create a tcp connection to the specified host and port
$server = IO::Socket::INET->new( Proto     => "tcp",
PeerAddr  => 'localhost',
PeerPort  => '6969' ),
or die "can't connect to server: $!";


print "[Client $0 connected to server]\n";

print $server "READY\n";

while (defined ($this_line = <$server>)) {
    print STDOUT $this_line;
    if ($this_line =~ /STOP/i) { last; }
}
close $server;
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connects ok. On the server side I like to run with autoflush on. e.g. adding use FileHandle; and then $server->autoflush(1); after you have opened the socket. I believe select $server;$|=1 will do the same thing. <BR

"We are all prompted by the same motives, all deceived by the same fallacies, all animated by hope, obstructed by danger, entangled by desire, and seduced by pleasure." - Samuel Johnson