From: Martin Chilvers <martin@dstc.edu.au>
Subject: Fnorb 0.6
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 13:29:23 EDT

Greetings Python Friends!

Announcing version 0.6 of 'Fnorb' the Python CORBA ORB.  This release has a
quite a few changes including:-

1) The distribution has been packagised to help stop module name clashes with
   other applications (e.g ILU).
2) Interface Repository (fnifr) implemented and used in IDL compilation.
3) Naming service (fnaming) implemented.
4) DII/DSI implemented (to see how it works look in any stub/skeleton!).
5) Large (up to 33%!) reduction in stub and skeleton sizes! Stubs and
   skeletons now use the DII/DSI.
6) The name of the base class for CORBA exceptions changed from 'Exception'
   (which could cause confusion with the standard base class of Python 1.5
   exceptions) to 'CORBAException'.
7) The building of the extension module has been made cleaner thanks to
   Guido's generic Makefile.
8) Fixed some (relatively obscure) bugs in the TypeCode module!

Because Fnorb is now a 'package' you will need to change any existing import
statements from 'import BOA, CORBA' to 'from Fnorb.orb import BOA, CORBA'
etc. I realise that this is a bit of a pain, but it does make sure that Fnorb
doesn't pollute the module namespace.

Of course, in the grand Fnorb tradition, you will also have to recompile your
IDL to work with the new version. Once again, I realise that this is annoying,
but I think that until the Python/IDL mapping is set in stone, the advantages
of being able to gradually improve Fnorb, outweigh the benefit of forcing
backward compatability.

Get more details and download Fnorb from:-

	http://www.dstc.edu.au/Fnorb

The Fnorb Development Team

c/o

Martin

 _--_|\  Martin Chilvers,                        Voice: +61-7-3365-4310
/      * Research Scientist, Architectures Unit, Fax:   +61-7-3365-4311
\_.--._/ DSTC, Level 7, Gehrmann Laboratories,   Email: martin@dstc.edu.au
      v  The University of Queensland, QLD 4072.

---- From the Fnorb README ----

What is Fnorb?

Fnorb is a CORBA ORB written in Python (with just the eensiest-teensiest bit
of C code for marshalling ;^).

Like ILU from Xerox PARC, Fnorb gives the Python programmer access to the
wonderful world of CORBA. It supports all CORBA 2.0 datatypes (including
Any's) and provides a full implementation of IIOP.  Unlike ILU, Fnorb is
Python and CORBA/IDL specific and hopefully this will make it simple,
light-weight, and easy to install and use (eventually ;^).

Using Fnorb, you no longer have to use <<your least favourite language here -
who said C++ ;^)>> to write CORBA clients and servers - you can now use, yep
you guessed it, Python!  This makes Fnorb ideal for use as a CORBA scripting
tool and for building test harnesses for all your CORBA development projects.
It also makes prototyping of CORBA systems a whole lot easier!

The Python language mapping used by Fnorb is based on the 'living' document
that is being prepared by members of the DO-SIG.  The primary goal of Fnorb is
to allow the Python community to experiment with the mapping before we attempt
to set it in stone via the OMG standardisation process.

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