Judging by the information below, taken *directly* from PostgreSQL, Inc.
website, it appears that they will be releasing all code into the main
source code branch -- with the exception of "Advanced Replication and
Distributed Information capabilities" (to which capabilities they are
referring is not made clear) which may remain proprietary for up to 24
months "in order to assist us in recovering development costs and continue
to provide funding for our other Open Source contributions."

I have interpreted this to mean that basic replication (server -> server,
server -> client, possibly more)  will be available shortly for Postgres
(with the release of 7.1?) and that those more advanced features will
follow behind.  This is one of the last features that was missing from
Postgres (along with recordset returning functions and clusters, among
others) that was holding it back from the enterprise market -- and I do
not blame PostgreSQL, Inc. one bit for withholding some of the more
advanced features to recoup their development costs -- it was *their time*
and *their money* they spent developing the *product* and it must be
recoup'ed for projects like this to make sense in the future (who knows,
maybe next they will implement RS returning SP's or clusters, projects
that are funded with their profit off the advanced replication and
distributed information capabilities that they *may* withhold -- would
people still be whining then?)

Michael Fork - CCNA - MCP - A+ 
Network Support - Toledo Internet Access - Toledo Ohio

(http://www.pgsql.com/press/PR_5.html)
"At the moment we are limiting our test groups to our existing Platinum
Partners and those clients whose requirements include these
features." advises Jeff MacDonald, VP of Support Services. "We expect to
have the source code tested and ready to contribute to the open source
community before the middle of October. Until that time we are considering
requests from a number of development companies and venture capital groups
to join us in this process."

Davidson explains, "These initial Replication functions are important to
almost every commercial user of PostgreSQL. While we've fully funded all
of this development ourselves, we will be immediately donating these
capabilities to the open source PostgreSQL Global Development Project as
part of our ongoing commitment to the PostgreSQL community." 

http://www.erserver.com/
eRServer development is currently concentrating on core, universal
functions that will enable individuals and IT professionals to implement
PostgreSQL ORDBMS solutions for mission critical datawarehousing,
datamining, and eCommerce requirements. These initial developments will be
published under the PostgreSQL Open Source license, and made available
through our sites, Certified Platinum Partners, and others in PostgreSQL
community.

Advanced Replication and Distributed Information capabilities are also
under development to meet specific business and competitive requirements
for both PostgreSQL, Inc. and clients. Several of these enhanced
PostgreSQL, Inc. developments may remain proprietary for up to 24 months,
with availability limited to clients and partners, in order to assist us
in recovering development costs and continue to provide funding for our
other Open Source contributions. 

On Sun, 3 Dec 2000, Hannu Krosing wrote:

> The Hermit Hacker wrote:
> IIRC, this thread woke up on someone complaining about PostgreSQl inc
> promising 
> to release some code for replication in mid-october and asking for
> confirmation 
> that this is just a schedule slip and that the project is still going on
> and 
> going to be released as open source.
> 
> What seems to be the answer is: "NO, we will keep the replication code
> proprietary".
> 
> I have not seen this answer myself, but i've got this impression from
> the contents 
> of the whole discussion.
> 
> Do you know if this is the case ?
> 
> -----------
> Hannu
> 









Mon, 4 Dec 2000 08:25:54 -0500 (EST)
Michael Fork <mfork@toledolink.com>
Re: beta testing version