
Perforce CM distribution on BeOS
--------------------------------
11/27/96

    Perforce Software, Inc.
    info@perforce.com
    http://www.perforce.com
    510-865-8720

    Peter Kreps
    peterk@perforce.com
    510-655-3021

    This directory contains a free distribution of single-user but
    full-function demo versions of the PERFORCE configuration
    management system (Release #2020).  PERFORCE is a connection-based
    client/server system thats runs (fast) on virtually every
    platform including BeOS, Mac, Unix (in a multitude of flavors),
    NT, Windows95, OS/2 and VMS to name a few.  If we have a few
    minutes to spare and an accessible machine we'll port PERFORCE
    to a new box for the fun of it.  Our goal is to provide fast,
    scalable configuration management everywhere.  We do not believe
    in second class environments.

    The BeOS version provided here includes a server and a client.
    The Be server version is a little less than ideal: it is in
    truth actually a one user server (as opposed to being merely
    shackled by license restrictions), there is no file locking or
    multi-user concurrency control.  It is meant primarily to provide
    a self-contained CM environment for a single programmer on a
    BeBox.  The Be client is fully functional with normal capability.
    It can be used to access a server on any platform.

    Included are several other platform versions: Mac, Linux, BSD,
    Solaris, and NT.  The Mac is client-only, all other platform
    versions include a server.

    The Users' Manual is included in HTML and Postscript  versions.
    Consult the manual for instructions on installation and operations.

    Also some of the pages from our web site, including several
    white papers are included for your edification.

    Contents:
    ---------

	bin.*	binaries directories
	doc	Users' Manual and other tidbits
	web	web pages including white papers

    As this CD was put together in late November, 1996, we strongly
    encourage you to visit our web site in person where you will
    find the latest versions of Perforce software for BeOS and
    other platforms.  It is virtually certain that new and improved
    versions will be available by the time this CD hits the streets.

    Notes for Be users
    ------------------

    - The Be P4 client is meant to be run from the shell command
    line in a terminal window.

    - P4 spawns an editor of your choice to gather structured input
    for several commands.  The default is "Edit", the BeOS system
    GUI editor.  Set the $EDITOR environment variable to select a
    different editor.  It is recommended that you set your editor
    for "Multiple Launch".  Do this by invoking IconWorld, drag
    the Edit icon onto the IconWorld window, and change App Info
    settings.  Leaving Edit as a Single Launch application can lead
    to unpredicable results.

    - The BeBox is meant to be used as a single-user machine and the
    running user has essentially super-user permission.  This
    can circumvent the read-only permissions that PERFORCE uses
    to control inadvertant modification of files outside the sphere
    of the CM system.  'p4 diff' can be used effectively to determine if
    any files have been changed in this manner.

    - For quasi-production use it is recommended that you run the
    Perforce server on a stable Unix box running FreeBSD, Linux, or
    Solaris.  Other platform clients and servers are available on
    the Perforce web site.

    Feedback
    --------

    We welcome feedback from users in the Be and Macintosh developer
    communities.  We, as developers ourselves, want to provide a
    tool that improves quality of life (as well as quality of code.)
    If you have any comments, questions, gripes or pats on the
    back for us, please get in touch at the contact adresses above.

    Cheers!

    -Peter Kreps, Perforce Software, Inc.
