SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                OCTOBER 17, 2003
                                 Date of Report
                        (Date of earliest event reported)


                           PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

      000-25857                                           94-3138935
(Commission File Number)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


                     1720 SOUTH AMPHLETT BLVD., THIRD FLOOR
                           SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA 94402
             (Address of principal executive offices, with zip code)

                                 (650) 372-3600
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

         (a) Not applicable.

         (b) Not applicable.

         (c) Exhibits:

         99.1     Press Release of Persistence Software, Inc. dated October 17,
                  2003.

ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

         In accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8216, the following information,
which is intended to be furnished under "Item 12. Results of Operations and
Financial Condition," is instead being furnished under "Item 9. Regulation FD
Disclosure." The following information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by
specific reference in such a filing.

         On October 17, 2003, Persistence Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Persistence"), issued a press release of the financial results for the nine
month period ended September 30, 2003. A copy of Persistence's press release is
attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated by reference into this Form
8-K.




                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                                PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE, INC.


Date: October 17, 2003                            By:  /s/ Christine Russell
                                                     -----------------------
                                                     Christine Russell
                                                     Chief Financial Officer




                           PERSISTENCE SOFTWARE, INC.

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit Number                       Description
- --------------                       -----------

    99.1         Press Release of Persistence Software, Inc. dated October 17,
                 2003.