Right. "require" happens at runtime, where as "use" happens at compile-time

So at the point that the compilation occurs, perl sees the strict, but not the contents of the required files.

This soudns more like a personal choice and/or project dependent choice, so I don't know what is the better way for you to do this.

But if this required file only declares variables that are used in a particular CGI script, you might as well declare them in the scope that they are used at...