To help corporate developers add directory services to extranet applications, Netscape Communications Corp has released PerLDAP software modules. These combine the emerging Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) with the Perl scripting language. Many custom web sites are held together by small Perl scripts running on the free Apache web server. PerLDAP should make it far easier for the webmasters of sites like those to write directory-enabled applications. Like Perl and Apache, PerLDAP will remain a part of the open source movement. Netscape says it will make PerLDAP’s source code available for free through the mozilla.org web site and through the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network, CPAN. The modules even boast an impeccable pedigree. To develop PerLDAP, Netscape retained the services of respected open source developer Clayton Donley.
