PerlEx Future - Update
======================

Based on valuable feedback from our PerlEx customers, ActiveState is pleased
to announce a modified plan for the future of PerlEx. The plan is divided
into three phases.

Phase 1
Effective: Immediately
Scope: Existing customers
Solution: ActiveState will provide unlimited license installers for PerlEx
to existing customers who require continuation of internal use, or use on
behalf of their customers, at zero cost. Installers will be accompanied by
an updated End User License Agreement (EULA) governing the use of PerlEx.
Goal: To alleviate problems encountered by customers for whom lack of new
licenses creates an immediate issue

Phase 2
Effective: By December 31, 2004
Scope: Existing customers
Solution: ActiveState will provide existing customers with new builds of
PerlEx for ActivePerl 5.6 and 5.8, with license checking removed and a new
EULA.
Goal: To simplify deployment

Phase 3
Effective: Q1 2005
Scope: General availability
Solutions:
 A) ActiveState will replace the existing PerlIS in ActivePerl 5.8 with a
modified version of PerlEx. Default behavior will be similar to PerlIS, but
most existing PerlEx capabilities will be available. Limited bug fixes are
expected to be included in this release. Maintenance for the 5.8-compatible
PerlEx will included with ongoing maintenance of ActivePerl. As no major
features are planned, the focus is on Perl and Windows compatibility. Web
services support will be removed, and support for non-IIS web servers
discontinued.
 B) ActiveState will publicly release an unsupported PerlEx for ActivePerl
5.6. This is expected to include a limited set of final bug fixes.
Goal: To provide ongoing but limited support

Q&A
===

Q: Does this mean I can use PerlEx in any way I want?
A: No, PerlEx will be released under the ActiveState Community License
(ACL). This is the same license under which ActivePerl is released, and the
same restrictions apply.

Q: Can I redistribute PerlEx as part of my own product?
A: Yes, the standard ActivePerl OEM licensing option covers PerlEx
redistribution.

Q: Is there a cost to OEM licensing?
A: In general, yes, but it varies with intended use. ActiveState supports
education, books and similar initiatives with zero-cost licensing. Use in
commercial products requires a minimal fee. Revenue from these fees directly
supports ActivePerl maintenance.

Q: So, internal-use of PerlEx will be free?
A: Yes, just like the rest of ActivePerl.

Q: Why did ActiveState do this?
A: Customer feedback following the end-of-life announcement reflected an
unexpected breadth of commitment to the PerlEx technology.

Q: Why didn't ActiveState open-source PerlEx?
A: It's not possible to open-source PerlEx at this time, as some PerlEx
technology is used in ActiveState's commercial products.

Q: Won't ActiveState make less money now that PerlEx is free? So why do it?
A: Yes. ActiveState needs to reduce the development load the PerlEx
represented as a commercial point product.

Q: What problems did this solution address?
A: This addresses two main issues: first, existing customers needed
immediate access to additional licenses for ongoing growth of their
business; second, PerlEx users want a minimum level of maintenance for
PerlEx for at least a few years.

Q: What's the catch?
A: ActiveState plans to reduce the level of maintenance that it provides to
PerlEx, by not pursuing major new features or enhancements.
Maintenance will focus on compatibility with new versions of Perl and
Windows.

Q: What if there is something we _really_ need supported in PerlEx?
A: ActiveState will consider sponsorship of specific features. Any sponsored
enhancements will automatically become part of the standard free version.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

We hope that this addresses the concerns you may have had since the original
end-of-life announcement.

Thanks for your patience and feedback, it made a big difference.

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions and feedback.

Sincerely,

-Matt

-----------
Matt Herdon
Director, Product Management
ActiveState
a division of Sophos
604.484.6455
www.ActiveState.com
www.Sophos.com

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