=head1 NAME

ObjStore - Perl Extension For C<ObjectStore> OODBMS

=head1 SYNOPSIS

Enjoy perl?  Sick of SQL?  Ready to try something new?

=head1 DESCRIPTION

ObjectStore is the market leader in object-oriented databases
http://www.odi.com (NASDAQ: ODIS).  They use a unique Cache-Forward
Architecture to make persistent data available in literally the most
efficient manner possible.

Prior to this joining of forces ObjectStore was too radical a design
decision for many applications and perl5 did not have a simple way of
storing complex data persistently.  Now there is an easy way to build
database applications (especially if you are concerned about
preserving your ideals of encapsulation).

=head2 INCLUDED TOOLS

=over 4

=item * ospeek

Prints out databases in Data::Dumper style.

=item * posh & qtposh

Like C<sh>/C<csh>, except that you can I<change directory> B<into>
your database and walk around the data from the inside.  You can also
invoke methods on your objects or write custom reports (in perl, of
course :-).  (Also similar to C<isql>/C<wisql>.)

=item * osperlserver

Provides remote method invokation, database job scheduling, and
server-object collaboration services.  Completely generic!

=back

=head1 PREREQUISITES

You will need:

- ObjectStore OODBMS (see http://www.odi.com; evaluations are available!)

- Perl 5.004_04 (or perl 5.005, once released)

- Tree::Fat & Test perl extensions

- ExtUtils::ExCxx (only needed on Digital UNIX, HP (5.x), OS/2 (3.x),
  or MS Windows NT/95; send email)

See http://www.perl.com/CPAN/authors/id/JPRIT/ !


=head1 R!CENT CHANGES


** 04-23-98 RELEASE 1.38

- Support for multiple threads.  Changed ObjStore::Transaction->new()
to conform the standard method call convention.  While partially
tested (perl 5.004_64 solaris), additional internal reorganization and
testing is still needed.

- osperlserver no longer invokes the 'evolve' method upon restart.

- VERSIONs are not longer required for persistent classes.  Instead
'0.001' is defaulted.  Be aware that you must use a version greater
than '0.001' once you add an explicit version.


** 04-14-98 RELEASE 1.37

- Updated documentation.


see ./INSTALL for hints on installation
see ./UPGRADE to evolve databases from prior releases
see ./TODO for a list of stuff in the queue
see ./CHANGES for a visionary perspective


Perl-ObjectStore mailing list:

majordomo@parallax.co.uk   "subscribe perl-objectstore you@your.company.com"

(If you think you've run into a bug, try running your script with
"perl -MObjStore=PANIC" and mail the output to the mailing list.)

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Copyright © 1997-1998 Joshua Nathaniel Pritikin.  All rights reserved.

This package is free software and is provided "as is" without express
or implied warranty.  It may be used, redistributed and/or modified
under the terms of the Perl Artistic License (see
http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html)
