my @values = split m:/:, $path_string;

##</code><code>##

my $hashed_path = {};
for my $path_string (@list_of_paths) {
  my $hpref = $hashed_path;
  for $dir (split m:/:, $path_string) {
    $hpref->{$dir} = {} unless exists $hpref->{$dir};
    $hpref = $hpref->{$dir};
  }
}