Reading your posts, I am a little unclear as to your point of view. regarding your position on modules, is it: A. Internet access is difficult or near impossible, so by default, you're remanded to rolling your own, unless included with whatever distro you're running? B. You're a "purist", and regardless of internet connectivity, you'd prefer to do without? If you're answer is B, then why not politely tell us, "Thanks but this is how I feel", and move on. If it's A, then you've got options. Also, I'm having a hard time understanding where your sense of urgency fits in. I really can't comment on some of the points you make regarding specific modules and PPT, never having used them, but while criticizing them, remember that the folks who wrote these, did so primarily in their spare time, and provided them to the Perl community freely. Yes, there are problems, but rather than just complaining and becoming part of the problem, become a pro-active part of some solution, like submitting cohesive, accurate bug-reports to the respective maintainers of the software you're having problems with. Better yet, if you have the skills, time, etc., volunteer to help fix or modify the problematic code! Don't like GIMP::Perl docs? Write 'em! "Wishing" will accomplish nothing.