Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!samsung!munnari.oz.au!uniwa!fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au!a_dent
From: a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Inside-Out, The Inside Scoop?
Message-ID: <1991Jan22.214751.2806@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.au>
Date: 22 Jan 91 13:47:50 GMT
References: <91016.134820DN5@psuvm.psu.edu> <61882@brunix.UUCP>
Organization: University of Western Australia
Lines: 43

In article <91016.134820DN5@psuvm.psu.edu> DN5@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>For a project I'm doing for Penn State, I need a database engine.  Inside
>Out, by Sierra Software Innovations, was suggested to me.  I called them,
>and I think that they will do what I need.  However, I'd like some more info
>before I lay out the University's bucks for this product.
> 
I've heard that some developers in Australia had problems with Inside Out but
don't know any details.  I don't get on with the people from whom I heard it
so can't chase it up, unfortunately.  One of their gripes was that source code
wasn't available for them to chase their own bugs, I don't know if that's still
the case.

I have been looking at some of the specs for DB Vista III, which is a multi-
platform database engine.  I've spoken to some (OS/2) users here who are very
happy with the product.  It has the major advantages of being multi-platform, 
no runtime license fees and source-code availability.  Contact RAIMA Corp. on
800-327-2462 or (206) 747 5570.

However, I decided it was too much iron for the problem I had and I would also
have to put so much work into using it (to maintain a file of variable-length
objects) that the Australian cost wasn't worth it.

SO, by the end of February I will have a set of objects, useable within the 
THINK Class Library, but probably also anywhere else, that implement a simple
ISAM file.  File structures will be able to be variable length as it will be
used to keep track of variable-length objects (PICTS and others).

Do you think it worth marketing in the US?  And, if so, what software houses are
in the business of marketing objects (if any, yet)?

If a simpler database model will solve your problem I'd be happy to let you have
a "beta" copy.  It would be working (it better be - the program is targeted for
a February delivery) but would be "beta" in the sense of needing extensions and
packaging for the general marketplace.

If I can't scare up any commercial interest I'll gladly give the stuff away
but I have some nifty caching ideas that should make it fly, and I'd like to
see a commercial market in objects get established SOMEDAY :-)

Andy Dent                     A.D. Software phone 09 249 2719
Mac & VAX programmer          94 Bermuda Dve, Ballajura
a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz       Western Australia  6066     
a_dent@fennel.cc.uwa.oz.AU (international)