# ------------------------------------------------------------------------ # # /BriefCase(tm) Release 3.5 BETA # # Copyright 1992,2004 Applied Computer Sciences, inc. # # /BriefCase(tm) is Copyrighted by Applied Computer Sciences, inc. and # distributed under the terms and conditions of the Free Software # Foundation's General Public License (GPL). # # --------------------------------------------------------------------- # # Release 3.5 CONTENTS: # # - INSTALL - installation instructions/notes # - README (this file) # - BriefCase-3.5.tgz - the gzip'd tar install archive # - updates.html - table of file revisions # - versions.html - list of release file revisions # # ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Major Enhancements in Release 3.5 include: 1. Updated and expanded documentation: installation instructions, up- grade guidelines have been updated to reflect major enhancements and how they can be used to assist with software release management and product life cycle. The /BriefCase/docs/TechNotes contains documentation for major features not yet incorporated in the User's Guide plus elaboration on some updated features. 2. Implemetation of a new /BriefCase installation directory infrastructure to accomdate concurrent installation and use of multiple releases of the /BriefCase toolkit to facilitate installation and testing of new releases prior to full deployment. 3. Advanced configuration features support sharing of multiple, geographically diverse repository "mirrors" for high-availability. 4. Support for non-NFS /BriefCase server access, using scp, rcp or ftp to transfer information between client and server hosts. See the /BriefCase/docs/TechNotes files: NO-NFShowto.txt, SSHhowto.txt and config_1.troff for details. For remote repository access, ssh/scp are preferred. For in-house networks, the less secure rcp/rsh are somewhat faster. FTP is the slowest and least reliable data transfer mechanism and either ssh or rsh is still required to invoke the server-side scripts so, although it is supported, I have found no reason to use it. WARNING: because non-NFS client/server configurations necessarily have separate client and server installations of /BriefCase, care must be taken to configure the INSTALLATION_ID case for the remote /BriefCase server in the local /BriefCase/BCconfig file to reflect the server-side paths for the RCS binaries (RCSBIN) and the /BriefCase binaries (BCBIN). Also, since the /BriefCase scripts do yet handle different BC_PRIVATE settings on the client and server, it is necessary for both the client and server installations to have the same BC_PRIVATE setting. At the moment, the BC_REPOSITORY enhancements further complicate matters, but as this feature matures I hope to resolve these problems. NOTE: For a historical reasons, /BriefCase uses the "nawk" command for all awk-type scripts and, for the moment, both client and server must have the nawk command in the same place (usually /bin). This is most easily accomplished with appropriate symlinks. On Linux and BSD systems, point the /bin/nawk sym.onk to the GNU awk (gawk) command which is sufficently (backward) compatible. 5. Support for cross-project export (BCpublish) and import (vximport) of tagged releases. This is useful for sharing releases of code libraries and associated files (e.g. header files) across several /BriefCase projects. Projects importing specific library releases are insulated from subsequently published updates until they choose to update their vximport statement(s) (usually in a Makefile) to import an updated release tag. This faciltiy can be used to build shared code 'projects' where developers can deposit generic, well-tested function libraries for general use, as constrained by the normal /BriefCase project access controls. 6. Minor enhancements to many commands (new flags, improved behavior) are reflected in the help message (displayed by invoking with the "--" flag) for each command. Please review carefully the output of the "nsummary" command, which lists complete help info for all /BriefCase commands. 7. Enhanced installation test scripts in the /BriefCase/testing directory and detailed testing instructions in the INSTALL file. /BriefCase 3 is the only OpenSource, RCS-based SCM package known to support project work tree replication with cross-replica/client-host lock integrity and both administrative and private user tag mechanisms. Note that since release 3.4b, the tag assignment commands (ntag, nretag and ntag_alias) have replaced the mytag, myretag and mytag_alias commands for assigning private user tags (tags with the user's userid appended) and the commands admtag, admretag and admtag_alias have been added to assign administrative tags (no userid appended). ----------------------------------------------------------------- Since 1988, ACSi has provided expert software design, devel- opment, consulting and training services to the Unix/Linux software development industry. For information on service quotations, including /BriefCase support, training and customization contracts, please contact: Applied Computer Sciences, inc. PO Box 7166 Prospect, CT 06712 Attn: Contract Services (voice) 203-217-7019 (email) admin@applied-cs-inc.com /BriefCase(tm) is an original work by David M. Knight, Founder of Applied Computer Sciences, inc.