=head1 NAME

ObjStore - Perl Extension For C<ObjectStore> OODBMS

=head1 SYNOPSIS

Like perl?  Sick of SQL?  Ready to try something new?  This extension
implements databases that look exactly like normal perl.  The same can
also be extended with arbitrary C++ objects (!).


=head1 PREREQUISITES

- ObjectStore 5.1 (see http://www.odi.com; evaluations are available!)

- Perl 5.005 (5.004_04 might still work too)

- Tree::Fat perl extension

- 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 IS THIS PERL ONLY?

On Mon, 21 Sep 1998 tp@mccall.com wrote:
> I was sort of hoping I'd be able to use perl to write quick-and-dirty data
> manipulation scripts to mess around with my databases that are used by my
> C++ applications. I don't know if I'd ever need that, but it sounded like
> a useful thing to have in the toolbox, so to speak.

My experience with ObjectStore is that it is very low-level.  This is
an advantage for applications that require the highest level of
performance.  However, there is nothing that I do with databases that
needs such extreme degrees of optimization.

Rather, I value ease of use and ease of change slightly above raw
performance.  When I designed the perl interface, I was always trying
to optimize for these priorities.  For example, I decided to start
with a generic schema.  This gained some big advantages:  All perl
databases are compatible.  All perl databases will never I<require>
schema evolution.  All perl databases can be edited with a standard
perl shell.

Even so, ObjectStore's recent support of DLL schemas allows the
seemless integration of application specific C++ objects.  For
example, a code generator is available (L<ObjStore-REP-HashRecord>)
that creates optimized records (ordered, typed list of fields like a C
structure).  Recently, I also got PDL properly integrated
(L<ObjStore-Lib-PDL>).  PDL is a perl extension for matrix
mathematics.

I believe the uncommon ability to integrate with everything at the
lowest level (C) while still remaining maximally generic is unique
among database architectures.


=head1 R!CENT CHANGES


** 11-05-98 RELEASE 1.50

- Fixed order of PUTBACK/POPSTACK.


** 11-04-98 RELEASE 1.49

- Stargate reengineering for ObjStore::Lib::PDL.

- MIN_PERL_DEFINE clean up for 5.005_53.

- Various API improvements.  Safer safe_rv().  osp_pathexam fixes.

- Safer typemap code.  Added debugging mode for dynacasts. Resolved
serious name conflict by renaming ObjStore::Server to
ObjStore::ServerInfo (Gack!!).

- Various tweaks & fixes.


** 10-13-98 RELEASE 1.48

- The transient memory leak is finally fixed!!  A patch for 5.005_02
is bundled with this distribution (see patches/leak.fix).  The patch
is also planned to be included by default in 5.005_5x.

- Many updates for Event 0.20+.

- Integrated osp_keypack1 into the API.

- Reduced maximum number of keys from eight to four.


see ./INSTALL for hints on installation
see ./UPGRADE if you are starting from a prior releases
see ./TODO for a list of stuff in the tuit queue
see ./CHANGES for a visionary perspective


Send any questions or comments to perl-objectstore@parallax.co.uk.

If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list, send email to
majordomo@parallax.co.uk.  Thanks!

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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)
