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File name:	UPDATE.TXT			Revision date:	1999.04.16
File author:	Ronald Andersson		Creation date:	1999.04.12
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During 1998 and early 1999 several developments have been made that make
STinG considerably more powerful than it previously was. This meant that
many things were changed in a way that made changes of all STinG parts
necessary before a new release. That is the major reason it took so long
for this release to be made...

NB_1:  Old STinG components, such as STING.PRG and STXs etc, can't be mixed
       with the new ones.  That could cause malfunction, or even 'bombs'.
       This does not mean clients of course, since they are independent of
       internal changes of the STinG standard. Clients remain compatible.

NB_2:  There are other UPDATE.TXT files in this release, in various folders.
       Each contains vital information on the files in the same folder, so
       make sure that you read _all_ of them, as well as all of this one.

NB_3:  STING.HYP is not fully updated yet.  It lacks some new information.
       TCPCLOSE.TXT gives the missing info on the TCP_close function which
       has been enhanced in the enclosed TCP.STX, so as to allow fully
       unblocking operation during TCP_close negotistions.  MASQUE.HYP
       is the doc of the latest Masquerade module.

Peculiar circumstances of this release:
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In early January of 1999, Peter Rottengatter suddenly lost his ISP account.
His last normal Email to the STiK and STinG beta testers was sent on the
14th of January.  Since then frantic attempts to contact him has resulted
in one 'web-mail' reply from him, explaining some of his problems.  Thus,
we have only had one communication from him in the last three months.

Under these circumstances, and knowing that he does not want STinG to be
abandoned by users for (seeming) lack of support, I have decided to make
an 'interim' release.  This contains long-tested STinG beta components,
as well as a recently improved TCP module.  That is still mainly written
by Peter of course.  I have merely taken the liberty of adding/changing
some things as needed in his absence.

The legal position of such a release may be questionable, but I believe
it is well justified by three potent arguments.

1:  STinG is and always has been FREEWARE.  Peter has always maintained
    his intention to keep it so.  I share that intention fully, so none
    will be making any profit on the release.

2:  I have been contributing to STinG development almost as long as it
    has existed.  I believe that none other is better suited than I am
    for judging whether or not Peter would want this release to be made.
    It is my judgement that he would.

3:  My contribution to this release is not copyrighted by me, except for
    the modules that I have created, and even they are also FREEWARE.
    My work on all other parts are volunteer contributions not in any
    way affecting Peter's copyright to those parts.  It remains unchanged.

No 'proper' release is possible without Peter's participation, so please
keep looking for updates to this one.  I hope that Peter will soon have
a new ISP account so he can again coordinate the STinG development. When
this happens I expect he will want to make a new public release to add
things he has been working on while out of touch, and to integrate the
package better than I can do (lacking some of his sources).
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End of file:	UPDATE.TXT
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