Important: Upcoming Changes - Version 2.0 and PHP 8.4 Requirement

[MayMeow]

Dear Developers

I am excited to announce that **Version 2.0 is on the horizon, bringing significant updates and improvements.

Important Compatibility Notice:

Version 2.0 introduces a new minimum PHP version requirement: PHP 8.4. This is a major change that may break existing functionality in your application if you are currently running an older PHP version. I highly recommend reviewing your environment and planning for this upgrade.

• PHP 8.4 Release Date: PHP 8.4 was released on November 21, 2024.
• Key Changes in PHP 8.4: check: https://stitcher.io/blog/new-in-php-84

Maintenance for Version 1.0.x:

To ensure a smooth transition, I am moving Version 1.0.x into a maintenance-only mode. This means:

• No new features will be added to the 1.0.x branch.
• I will continue to provide critical bug fixes and security updates for 1.0.x until the release of Version 3.0.

I encourage you to begin planning your upgrade to Version 2.0 soon to take advantage of the new features and ensure compatibility with the latest PHP advancements.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

May Meow

[MayMeow]

Important

Licensing Change: From MIT to AGPLv3

To better align m my commitment to open-source principles and to support the sustained development of this library, I am changing the license from MIT to AGPLv3 (Affero General Public License v3), effective with Version 2.0.

Why the change?

Ensuring Openness: The AGPLv3 ensures that if anyone modifies my software and provides it as a service over a network, they are obligated to share their modified source code with the users of that service. This promotes transparency and encourages contributions back to the open-source community, which is crucial for the health and evolution of the project.

Sustainable Development: For companies or entities that cannot or do not wish to comply with the AGPLv3's strong copyleft requirements (e.g., they need to keep their modifications proprietary for commercial reasons), I will offer a separate, commercial license. This model allows me to generate income to fund ongoing development, maintenance, and support, ensuring the longevity and continued innovation to this project.

If you plan to use this library in a commercial project that involves network interaction and requires keeping your modifications proprietary, I will provide contact information later, when we can discuss commercial licensing options. Stay tuned.