The simple answer would be that "I hope to create something better". I am aware of the admonition "don't reinvent the wheel, unless you plan on inventing a better wheel". I hope that ultimately I will have created a better wheel, though I'm sure there will be much work involved, and am aware that ultimately Class::DBI may retain its dominance. Despite the possibility of my "failure", though, I would argue that there is much value to the existance of competing modules, as they will each force the other to adapt.