@c -*- texinfo -*-
@chapter ANNOUNCE
@ifset TEXT-ONLY
@include version.texi
@end ifset

The GNUstep Database Library, version @value{GDL-VERSION}, is now
available.

@section What is the GNUstep Database Library?

The GNUstep Database Library is a hierarchy of Objective-C classes that
provide a three-tiered architecture for developing database applications.

The three-tier architecture is a flexible paradigm for building robust
and scalable client/server applications; the three tiers refer to the
database, the Application Objects, and the user interface.  The
separation of the database from the user interface through intermediary
Application Objects allows the data to be distributed appropriately
across database servers and still have the user interface display data
cohesively for the end-user.  Business logic, as implemented in the
Application Objects, provides the mechanism for consistency and
reusability across all your business applications.

Entity-relationship modelling is used for describing the Application
Objects and how they are mapped to database fields.  The GNUstep
Database Library represents these models as plain ASCII text files; this
allows external programs to be used for constructing and maintaining the
models separate from the applications which use them.

@section What Databases are supported?

The GNUstep Database Library has adaptors written and tested for these
databases:

@itemize @bullet

@item PostgreSQL, tested on the Linux/GNU operating system.

@item Sybase Server, tested on the NEXTSTEP operating system.

@item Microsoft SQL Server, tested on the Windows NT operating system.

@item Oracle

@end itemize

If your database is not listed above then please consider writing and
donating an adaptor; there is written documentation regarding what
classes and methods need to be implemented for a database adaptor.

@section How can I get support for this software?

We currently do not have any mailing lists setup explicitly for the
GNUstep Database Library; however, you may wish to use the GNUstep
discussion mailing list for general questions and discussion.  Look at
the GNUstep Web Pages for more information regarding GNUstep resources
@url{http://www.gnustep.org}

@set ANNOUNCE-ONLY
@include news.texi
@clear ANNOUNCE-ONLY

@section Where can you get it?  How can you compile it?

@ifset GDL-FTP-MACHINE
The gstep-db-@value{GDL-VERSION}.tar.gz distribution
file has been placed on @samp{@value{GDL-FTP-MACHINE}} in
@samp{@value{GDL-FTP-DIRECTORY}}.
@end ifset
@ifclear GDL-FTP-MACHINE
The gstep-db-@value{GDL-VERSION}.tar.gz distribution
file has not been made available by anonymous ftp.
@end ifclear

The GNUstep Database Library requires GCC @samp{@value{GDL-GCC-VERSION}}
or higher.

It also requires a FoundationKit library as specified by the OpenStep
specification.  The FoundationKit libraries known to work are NeXT's as
provided with the NEXTSTEP and OPENSTEP operating systems, libFoundation
version @samp{@value{GDL-LIBFOUNDATION}}, or the GNUstep Base Library
version @samp{@value{GDL-GNUSTEP-BASE}}.

Depending upon your FoundationKit library, you may need the
FoundationExtensions library as well.  Users of the GNUstep Base Library
should get version @samp{@value{GDL-FOUNDATION-EXT}} or higher of
FoundationExtensions.

@section Where do I send bug reports?

Bug reports can be sent to the GNUstep bug list
@email{bug-gnustep@@gnu.org} or see
@url{http://www.gnustep.org/developers/bugs.html} for information on how
to submit a report via GNATS.

