Different versions of Perl are often not binary compatible so compiling a module for one version doesn't give you something that will work with another. Usually Perl stays binary compatible between minor versions. And usually you have the option of building a new major version of Perl to have binary compatibility with the previous major version -- but doing so usually involves not getting some of the new features of the new major version.

ActiveState really wanted some of the new features of Perl 5.6.0 so they didn't build it to be binary compatible with Perl 5.005_0x.

Now, modules that don't include C code should be installable on any version of Perl. If there are PPM packages of such modules in a 5.005 PPM archive, then you should still be able to use those under 5.6.0. [ Update: Unless PPM isn't smart enough to know the difference -- which appears to be the case (according to Guildenstern's testing). ]

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")