I would recommend looking into SQLite (http://www.sqlite.org/), or more specifically, DBD::SQLite by Matt Sargent (available on CPAN). This is a self-contained relational database in a single db file (not to be confused with DB_File - they are in no way related).

A link to it was posted here by merlyn a few days ago, and I'm now seriously considering using it in my next project. It is much more manageable and, with the correct indexes, probably faster than rolling your own databases with someting like DB_File.

At the very least, the module may be useful for prototyping the concept of storing the info in a relational database, before moving onto a fully fledged RDBMS if you discover that it is necessary.

Cheers,

-- Dave :-)