The database package that time forgot: DB

I've been thinking about writing this message for a couple of months now, but with the (belated) release of DB 1.7.13, I think this is probably the right time. I believe that with the upcoming EOL of PHP4, it may be time to consider retiring DB into the sunset to push users towards its more featureful (and active) successor in MDB2. At present, I think the final security-fix date of PHP4 -- the 8th of August, 2008 -- might be a good date to close the book on DB with, if needed, a final release for any outstanding major bugs or security problems. (Hell, by then, we might even have figured out how we're going to load code in PEAR2 and have some sort of database implementation in that. :) So, I guess I have a few questions: - Does this need to go through an RFC in PEPr? - Are there any violent objections to this course of action? If so, what are they? - If the EOL happens, how can we get the message out that MDB2 is the new hotness? - _Is_ MDB2 the new hotness? Are there plans for a PEAR2 database package that I don't know about? If so, would that have any effect on an EOL date? - What should happen after the EOL date? Should we leave the DB page active with an appropriate message, or remove the package altogether from the Web site and PEAR installer a month or two after the date, thereby giving people a chance to grab the final version if needed, or some combination of the above? I know there's a lot of history to DB, and I don't propose this lightly. The truth, though, is that I think the continued existance of DB is actively hindering uptake of MDB2, even though DB has effectively been on life support for a couple of years now -- the fact that DB downloads continue to outpace MDB2 downloads is evidence of that. In spite of the above, if there's a majority opinion that DB should remain alive in its current fixes-only state beyond next August, I don't mind continuing to maintain it, but as I said at the top, I think it's time. Adam -- Adam Harvey PEAR Profile: <http://pear.php.net/user/aharvey> Blog: <http://xn--9bi.net/>