@comment -*-texinfo-*-
@comment $Id: NEWS.texi,v 1.59 2006-06-28 07:55:32 Singular Exp $
@comment this file contains the News about Singular versions
@comment Unix
@ifclear VERSION
@include version.texi
@end ifclear

@majorheading NEWS in SINGULAR @value{VERSION}

@ifclear singularmanual
@macro nref{what}
\what\
@end macro
@end ifclear

@ifset singularmanual
@macro nref{what}
@ref{\what\}
@end macro
@end ifset

@heading Updates for version @value{VERSION}

The current version @value{VERSION} is mainly a bug fix release,
but it contains also some new features:
@itemize @bullet
@item
factory, libfac updated for gcc 4.1.x
@item
configure/speed improved for 64bit architectures
@item
new library: dmod.lib (@nref{dmod_lib})
@item
new library: perron.lib (@nref{perron_lib})
@item
improved center.lib (@nref{center_lib}): revised implementation, new functions (sa_reduce etc.)
@item
revised ncalg.lib (@nref{ncalg_lib}): new algebras, U(sl_n) and U(g_2) changed to conform GAP.
@item
new algorithms in primdec.lib (@nref{primdec_lib}): radical et al.
@item
improved version of @nref{slimgb}, incorporated into @nref{groebner}
@item
improved module generator (@code{modgen})
@item
experimental: new type @nref{bigint}
@item
experimental: @code{python} / @code{ipython} interface
@item
more architectures: Solaris on x86 ...
@end itemize

@heading NEWS in version 3-0-1
The version  3-0-1 is mainly a bug fix release,
but it contains also some new features:
@itemize @bullet
@item
NTL upgraded to version 5.4
@item
new library: absfact.lib @nref{absfact_lib}
@item
new procedures in primdec.lib: @nref{absPrimdecGTZ}
@item
new procedures in standard.lib: @nref{weightKB}
@item
build process improved: new make target @code{install_all}
@item
improved version of @nref{slimgb}, incorporated into @nref{groebner}
@item
arithmetic in Z/pZ for architecture x84_64 improved (by 25 %)
@end itemize

@heading NEWS in version 3-0-0

The version 3-0-0 is the first in the new
release series version 3-0. 

Singular version 3 has a greater functionality and an improved architecture.
Major new features are:
@itemize
@item
@nref{Dynamic modules}
@item
non-commutative extension @nref{PLURAL}
@item
name spaces (@nref{package})
@item
easy manipulation of rings (@nref{ringlist})
@item
improved speed of maps (@nref{subst}, @nref{map})
@item
a new algorithm for Groebner base computations: @nref{slimgb}.
@item
improved factorization (integration of NTL, factorization over algebraic extensions,
zeroset.lib)
@item
improved gcd of polynomials (including bug fixes)
@item
ports to more architectures including automatic building from source (fink on Mac, ebuild on Gentoo)
@item
more help browsers supported, user extendable (help.cnf)
@item
better support of graded modules
@item
many bugs fixed
@end itemize
Besides theses internal changes, Singular version 3 offers many new
features and functionalities (which were partly already incorporated in
the 2-1 pre-release series).

@heading Factorizing algorithms revisited
Starting with version 2-0-4, we use NTL (of Victor Shoup) for factoring
univariate polynomials. The multivariate factorization code in libfac/factory
now also works over algebraic extension fields.

@heading New @sc{Singular} libraries

@table @asis
@item @nref{control_lib} 
algebraic analysis tools for System and Control Theory
@item @nref{mregular_lib}    
procedures for computing the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity
@item @nref{mprimdec_lib}    
procedures for primary decomposition of modules
@item @nref{gmspoly_lib}, @nref{gmssing_lib}   
procedures for the Gauss-Manin connection of a singularity
@item @nref{resolve_lib}, @nref{reszeta_lib}
resolution of singularities and applications
@item @nref{rootsmr_lib}
counting the number of real roots
@item @nref{sheafcoh_lib}
computing cohomology of sheaves and Tate resolution
@item @nref{signcond_lib}
computing realizable sign conditions
@item @nref{rootsur_lib}
counting number of real roots of univariate polynomial
@item @nref{grwalk_lib}
Groebner and Pertubation walk
@end table

@heading Changes in @sc{Singular} libraries
Many procedures were moved into different libraries,
the documentation of libraries was generally improved.

All procedures which used to change the current ring return now
the newly created ring.
@table @asis
@end table

@heading New @sc{Singular} functions

@table @asis
@item @nref{ringlist}
manipulation of rings
@item @nref{slimgb}
a new algorithm to compute Groebner bases
@item @nref{exportto}
transfer an identifier to the specified package
@item @nref{importfrom}
generate a copy of an identifier from the specified package in the current package
@item @nref{frwalk}
fractal walk to change monomial orderings
@end table

@heading @sc{Singular} functions whose syntax/semantics has changed
@table @asis
@item @nref{degree}
outputs degree and dimension instead of returning an int
@item @nref{attrib}
new attribute: @code{rowShift}
@end table

@heading Noncommutative Extension @sc{Plural}

Starting with version 3-0-0, @sc{Singular} features a
noncommutative extension @sc{Plural}. It allows to 
set and to compute within noncommutative algebras
 with PBW basis. Among available algorithms are Groebner
bases for left modules, syzygies and resolutions.

Together with @sc{Plural} come the following libraries:

@table @asis
@item @nref{center_lib}
computes generators of the center and centralizer subalgebras up
to a given degree resp. up to a given number of generators
@item @nref{involut_lib}
determines linear antiautomorphisms (involutions) and automorphisms
@item @nref{gkdim_lib}
computes a Gel'fand-Kirillov dimension for modules
@item @nref{ncalg_lib}
includes ready-to-use funtions for defining many important
 noncommutative algebras
@item @nref{ncdecomp_lib}
computes a decomposition of module by its central characters
@item @nref{ncalg_lib}, @nref{nctools_lib}
contain numerous useful tools for noncommutative algebras
@item @nref{qmatrix_lib}
procedures, related to quantum matrices and minors
@end table

@heading Internal Changes
@table @asis
@item new mapping code
@c @item non-commutative extension (Plural)
@item factory revised
(gcd, factorizing polynomial over algebraic extension fields,...)
@end table

@heading Porting

@itemize @bullet
@item Singular is available for ix86-Linux, HPUX_10,
SunOS-5, IRIX-6, ix86-Win (runs on Windows 95/98/NT4/2000/XP),
FreeBSD, MacOS X, DecAlpha-Linux, x86_64-Linux (AMD64/Opteron/EM64T),
IA64-Linux
@end itemize