Michael, et al I take your point entirely regarding on how a normal flow goes for project development. HEAD is "where it's at" in normal cases. What I'm trying to get across is a different thinking for contrib maintainers only. Think like this, you have 5 or 6 modules and you are actively trying to add new features to just two (you want to release) and you are tracking Core HEAD. First off, what about the 4 modules you don't want to "distract you" whilst working on two. If you are tracking Core and you don't update all your modules things will catch up with you. Then, Dries commits Chx's latest greatest improvement with the strap line "Head is broken". Well, that's just great! Add to this that, although chx produced some great docs (I remember reviewing them a while back) the docs may not be fully mature. So, if you are tracking Core you have a lot of juggling to do, nearly all the time. The method (for contrib only) I use isolates you from that all that till the dust settles a little and more support is available. This is CVS development for "one person and his computer, at home, part time" style. It's just a different mentality or thought process. Basically, it does mean "code freeze" is manic time too if you are not careful, but at least you know where /all/ your modules are relative to Core Head. So, point taken that HEAD is where it's at. But if you have a number of modules, that's a number of HEADs too :) My contrib method just makes my life a little easier in terms of management of the whole process. I want to code more manage less, I'm just one bloke (well, with several computers). One last point, it doesn't matter how much doc work Derek does, if you are not use to the software development cycles and use of CVS in general then staying in your branch till you are ready to branch out (pun intended) is a good place to be just for your sanity. For a lot of PHP developers, CVS is quite a new thing. Some sensible starting guide lines that make life easy is a good idea till you find your feet and start to push out a little more. /2p --Andy