Index: doc/NEWS.texi
===================================================================
--- doc/NEWS.texi	(revision 88632dcde76505e53695b6c27be3e94c4fa301d2)
+++ doc/NEWS.texi	(revision 537c4921e520c5ed3b2d82e38afb4d555df76c01)
@@ -22,455 +22,8 @@
 @heading News for version @value{VERSION}
 
-@heading User defined types
-New types can be defined, see @nref{User defined types}.
+The version 4-0-0 is the first in the new
+release series version 4-0.
 
-@heading Handling objects from @code{python}
-(Experimental) The new data type @code{pyobject} allows to access some
-@code{python} funtionality within @sc{Singular}, see @nref{pyobject}.
-
-Currently, it is only available for those who build Singular from the sources:
-Please activate it by typing @code{./configure --with-python}
-See @code{./configure --help} for details.
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} functions
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new command: @code{factmodd} (see @nref{factmodd})
-@item
-new command: @code{waitall} (see @nref{waitall})
-@item
-new command: @code{waitfirst} (see @nref{waitfirst})
-@end itemize
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} libraries
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new library: cisimplicial.lib (see @nref{cisimplicial_lib}: Is the toric ideal of
-a simplicial toric variety a complete intersection?) - extends and susbtitute cimonom.lib
-@item
-new library: grobcov.lib (see @nref{grobcov_lib}: Groebner Cover for parametric ideals, extends and susbtitutes redcgs.lib
-@item
-renamed @code{resbin.lib} to @code{resbinomial.lib}, see @nref{resbinomial_lib}.
-@end itemize
-
-@heading --------------------------------------------------------------------
-@heading Older versions:
-@heading News for version 3-1-2
-
-This version starts some reorganization: a section for new libraries:
-(see @nref{Experimental libraries}), preparations for parallel computations
-(see @nref{modstd_lib}, @nref{Ssi links}), some linear algebra (see below),
-many new libaries, 
-many bug fixes etc.
-(especially factorization stuff and memory management).
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} functions
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new command: @code{datetime} (see @nref{datetime})
-@item
-new command: @code{ludecomp} (see @nref{ludecomp})
-@item
-new command: @code{luinverse} (see @nref{luinverse})
-@item
-new command: @code{lusolve} (see @nref{lusolve})
-@item
-new command: @code{primefactors} (see @nref{primefactors})
-@item
-new command: @code{rank} (see @nref{rank})
-@end itemize
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} link types
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-@code{ssi}: experimental Singular-Singular interface (see @nref{Ssi links})
-@item
-@code{pipe}: string based interface to any program (see @nref{Pipe links})
-@end itemize
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} libraries
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new library: finitediff.lib (see @nref{finitediff_lib}:  finite difference schemes for
-linear differential equations)
-@item
-new library: fpadim.lib (see @nref{fpadim_lib}:  Algorithms for quotient algebras in the letterplace case)
-@item
-new library: integralbasis.lib (see @nref{integralbasis_lib}: Integral basis in algebraic function fields)
-@item
-new library: monomialideal.lib (see @nref{monomialideal_lib}: operation for monomial ideals)
-@item
-new library: multigrading.lib (see @nref{multigrading_lib}: multigradings and related computations)
-@item
-new library: ncfactor.lib (see @nref{ncfactor_lib}:Tools for factorization in some noncommutative algebras)
-@item
-new library: paraplanecurves.lib (see @nref{paraplanecurves_lib}: Rational parametrization of rational plane curves)
-@item
-new library: primdecint.lib (see @nref{primdecint_lib}: primary decomposition over the integers)
-@item
-new library: resbinomial.lib (see @nref{resbinomial_lib}: resolution of singularities of binomial ideals
-@item
-new library: resjung.lib (see @nref{resjung_lib}: resolution of surface singularities by Jung's Algorithm
-@item
-new library: surfacesignature.lib (see @nref{surfacesignature_lib}: signature of irreducible surface singularities
-@end itemize
-
-@heading Changed @sc{Singular} libraries
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-changed library: dmodapp.lib (see @nref{dmodapp_lib}: Applications of algebraic D-modules
-@item
-changed library: dmodvar.lib (see @nref{dmodvar_lib}: algebraic D-modules for varieties
-@item
-extended library: modstd.lib (see @nref{modstd_lib}: Groebner basis via modular methods
-@item
-extended library: normal.lib (see @nref{normal_lib}:Normalization of Affine Rings)
-@item
-rewritten library: sagbi.lib (see @nref{sagbi_lib}: subalgebra bases analogous to Groebner bases for ideals)
-@end itemize
-
-@heading Internal Changes
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new gcd code
-@item
-new factorization code
-@end itemize
-
-@heading News for version 3-1-1
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new option @code{qringNF}, see @nref{option}.
-@item
-new system command @code{system("cpu")}, see @nref{system}.
-@end itemize
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} functions
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new command: @code{farey}: lifting to Q  (see @nref{farey})
-@item
-new command: @code{monomial} (see @nref{monomial})
-@item
-command extended: @code{liftstd} also computes syzygies.  (see @nref{liftstd})
-@item
-command extended: @code{minor} has more options.  (see @nref{minor})
-@item
-command extended: @code{opposite} (see @nref{opposite})
-@end itemize
-
-@heading Internal Changes
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new minor code
-@item
-removed @code{EXTGCD} (use @code{extgcd})
-@item
-moved mp_set_memory_functions-call from kernel/mminit.cc to tesths.cc:main
-  (in order not to call it for libsingular)
-@end itemize
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} libraries
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new library: normaliz.lib (see @nref{normaliz_lib}: Interface to Normaliz 2.2)
-@c @item
-@c new library: binresol.lib (see @nref{binresol_lib}: binomial ideals)
-@c @item
-@c new library: finitediff.lib (see @nref{finitediff_lib}: finite difference schemes)
-@end itemize
-
-@heading Changed @sc{Singular} libraries
-@itemize
-@item
-homolog.lib (@nref{homolog_lib}): canonMap
-@item
-dmod.lib (@nref{dmod_lib}): operatorModulo
-@end itemize
-
-@heading News for version 3-1-0
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new coefficients: Z, Z/m, Z/(2^n) (see @nref{Rings and orderings})
-@item
-new handling of the default argument in libraries (see @nref{Parameter list})
-@item
-@code{ESingular} updated for emacs 22
-@item
-licences for all parts of @sc{Singular} clarified (see @nref{Preface})
-@end itemize
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} functions
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-new command: kernel (see @nref{kernel})
-@item
-new command: sqrfree (see @nref{sqrfree})
-@item
-command changed: the first argument to @code{monitor} should be an ASCII link.
-(see @nref{monitor})
-@item
-command extended: eliminate: variables to eliminate may also be given as intvec.
-(see @nref{eliminate})
-@end itemize
-
-@heading Internal Changes
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-handling of large input for std improved
-@item
-@nref{interred} implemented in a different way
-@item
-@nref{kbase} honors the attribute "isHomog"
-@item
-@nref{jacob} accepts modules and matrices
-
-@item
-@nref{gcd} over algebraic extensions of the rationals implemented in a different way
-@item new build target: libsingular.a (for gfan etc.)
-@item code variants now depend on CPU type, not OS
-@item better test for built-in limits (see @nref{Limitations})
-@item
-operator @code{new(size_t,const std::nothrow_t&)} now also overloaded
-@end itemize
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} libraries
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-surfex: new version 0.90 (see @nref{surfex_lib}).
-@item
-new library: redcgs.lib (see @code{redcgs_lib}: Reduced Comprehensive Groebner Systems)
-@item
-new library: tropical.lib (see @nref{tropical_lib}: Computations in Tropical Geometry)
-@item
-new library: oldpolymake.lib (see @nref{oldpolymake_lib}:
-Computations with polytopes and fans, interface to polymake and TOPCOM)
-@item
-new library: sing4ti2.lib (see @nref{sing4ti2_lib}:
-interface to 4ti2
-@item
-new library: decodegb.lib (see @nref{decodegb_lib}: Generating and solving systems of polynomial equations for decoding and finding the minimum distance of linear codes)
-@item
-new library: dmodapp.lib (see @nref{dmodapp_lib}: applications of D-modules)
-@item
-new library: bfun.lib global (see @nref{bfun_lib}: Bernstein-Sato polynomial)
-@item 
-new library: freegb.lib (see @nref{freegb_lib}): Twosided Non-commutative Groebner bases in Free Algebras
-@item
-new library: jacobson.lib (see @nref{jacobson_lib}): Algorithms for Smith and Jacobson Normal Form
-@item
-contributed library: cimonom.lib (see cimonom_lib): determines if the toric ideal of an affine monomial curve is a complete intersection
-@item
-contributed library: phindex.lib (see @nref{phindex_lib}): Poincare-Hopf index of a real analytic vector field
-@end itemize
-
-@heading Changed @sc{Singular} libraries
-@itemize
-@item
-normal.lib (@nref{normal_lib}): changed structure of the result,
-@* new algorithms have been implemented which improve the performance
-@item
-elim.lib (@nref{elim_lib}): @nref{elim}, @nref{nselect}, @nref{select}, @nref{select1}: changed syntax
-@item
-homolog.lib: kernel renamed to @nref{hom_kernel}. 
-@*(See also @nref{kernel}, @nref{alg_kernel}).
-@item
-matrix.lib (@nref{matrix_lib}): new commands for computing symmetric/exterior powers/bases
-@item
-surf.lib: new command @code{surfer}: interface to program @code{surfer}
-@*(See @nref{surf_lib}).
-@item
-teachstd.lib (@nref{teachstd_lib}): spoly works now in non-commutative algebras and @nref{standard} can thus be used there.
-However, since product criterion is a priori not applicable in the non-commutative case,
-one may want to disable it first (see @code{prodcrit} for details).
-@item
-many changes of names in libraries (to have a more consistent naming scheme)
-@end itemize
-
-@heading News for version 3-0-4
-
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-licence changed: due to the need to use stuff under (L)GPL3,
-all parts of @sc{Singular} are licenced under GPL (resp. LGPL) version 2, or (at your option) version 3
-@item
-new command: (@nref{univariate}): test polynomials for being univariate.
-@item
-new command: (@nref{variables}): ideal of all variables occurring in a polynomial, ideal or matrix.
-@item
-syntax change: @nref{ncalgebra} should be substituted by @nref{nc_algebra}.
-@code{ncalgebra} is now depreciated, but still supported
-@item 
-library @nref{nctools_lib} updated to use @code{nc_algebra},@*
-@nref{Weyl}, @nref{Exterior}, @nref{findimAlgebra} do not change the current ring
-but return the new structure
-@item
-kernel: use Conway polynomials and support more finite fields
-@end itemize
-
-@heading News in version 3-0-3
-
-The version 3-0-3 is stabilizing release,
-a result of a long beta test and the integration of a lot of small
-fixes which were on our waiting list for integration.
-
-It contains also  a lot of new features:
-@itemize @bullet
-@item
-licence changed: omalloc and MP are now (also) available under GPL;
-that means that all parts of @sc{Singular} are licenced under GPL (resp. LGPL).
-@item
-factory, libfac, @sc{Singular} updated for gcc 4.1.x
-@item
-kernel updated for the optional use of boost.
-@item
-can now be built as a library.
-@item
-new operator @code{a:b} gives an @code{intvec} of length @code{b} with constant entries @code{a}
-@item
-new command: (@nref{chinrem}): lifting via chinese remainder theorem
-@item
-new command: (@nref{interpolation}): ideal of points with given multiplicities
-@item
-non-commutative kernel subsystem was rewritten in order to support specific algebras more efficiently.
-Implemented algebras at the moment: super-commutative algebras (in particular exterior algebras).
-@item
-@nref{std} et al.: new selection strategy for reductions (@nref{option} (length)).
-@item
-@nref{reduce}: new strategy for selection and normalization.
-@item
-@nref{simplify} slightly changed: does not omit zero polynomial unless
-specified.
-@item
-new library: compregb.lib (@nref{compregb_lib}): comprehensive Groebner base system
-@item
-new library: kskernel.lib (@nref{kskernel_lib}): kernel of the kodaira-spencer map for irreducible plane curve singularities
-@item
-new library: modstd.lib (@nref{modstd_lib}): Groebner base computations
-over the rational numbers via modular computations
-@item
-new library: noether.lib (@nref{noether_lib}): Noether normalization of an ideal(not nessecary homogeneous)
-@item
-new library: atkins.lib (@nref{atkins_lib}): the elliptic curve primality test of Atkin
-@item
-new library: aksaka.lib (@nref{aksaka_lib}): primality testing after Agrawal, Saxena, Kayal
-@item
-new library: arcpoint.lib (@nref{arcpoint_lib}): truncations of arcs at a singular point
-@item
-new library: resgraph.lib (@nref{resgraph_lib}): visualization of resolution data.
-@item
-new library: realrad.lib (@nref{realrad_lib}): computation of the real radical
-over the rational numbers and extensions thereof
-@item
-new library: hyperel.lib (@nref{hyperel_lib}): divisors in the jacobian of hyperelliptic curves
-@item
-new library: curvepar.lib (@nref{curvepar_lib}): space curves
-@item
-new library: sagbi.lib (@nref{sagbi_lib}): subalgebras bases analogous to Groebner bases for ideals
-@item
-new library: surfex.lib (@nref{surfex_lib}): visualizing and rotating surfaces
-@item
-new library: cimonom.lib (cimonom_lib): determines if the toric ideal of an affine monomial curve is a complete intersection.
-@item
-@nref{sheafcoh_lib}: new experimental functions, in particular @nref{sheafCohBGG2}
-@item
-library @code{ncall.lib} merged into @nref{all_lib}
-@item
-library center.lib (@code{center_lib}) renamed to @code{central.lib} (@nref{central_lib})
-@item
-@nref{nctools_lib}: new functions for super-commutative algebras (i.e. @nref{superCommutative}, @nref{IsSCA}, @nref{AltVarStart}, @nref{AltVarEnd})
-@item
-resolve.lib: blow ups revised (@nref{resolve_lib})
-@item
-new algorithms in primdec.lib (@nref{primdec_lib}): radical et al.
-@item
-improved version of @nref{slimgb}, incorporated into @nref{groebner},
-strategy change in groebner
-@item
-finvar.lib: the algorithm of @nref{secondary_char0} is now used in general in the
-non-modular case (@nref{finvar_lib})
-@item
-finvar.lib: new algorithm for @nref{irred_secondary_char0} (@nref{finvar_lib})
-@item
-finvar.lib: new function @nref{irred_secondary_no_molien} (@nref{finvar_lib})
-@item
-finvar.lib: new functions for computing minimal generating sets of
-invariant rings of finite groups in the non-modular case: @nref{invariant_algebra_reynolds} for finite
-matrix groups and @nref{invariant_algebra_perm} for permutation groups (@nref{finvar_lib})
-@item
-operation for sparse matrices improved: multiplication, prune, conversion to module
-@c @item
-@c experimental: @code{python} / @code{ipython} interface
-@end itemize
-
-@heading News in version 3-0-2
-
-The version 3-0-2 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: 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
-finvar.lib: new algorithm for @nref{secondary_char0}, which is a drastic improvement
-(@nref{finvar_lib}).
-@item
-finvar.lib: new function @nref{irred_secondary_char0} (@nref{finvar_lib}).
-@item
-finvar.lib: new function @nref{rel_orbit_variety}, complementing @nref{relative_orbit_variety}
-(@nref{finvar_lib}).
-@item
-improved module generator (@code{modgen})
-@item
-experimental: new type @nref{bigint}
-@c @item
-@c experimental: @code{python} / @code{ipython} interface
-@item
-more architectures: Solaris on x86/opteron, ...
-@item
-build process improved: builds automatically without patches on 64bit architectures
-@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.
-
-@sc{Singular} version 3 has a greater functionality and an improved architecture.
+@sc{Singular} version 4 has a greater functionality and an improved architecture.
 Major new features are:
 @itemize
@@ -481,126 +34,8 @@
 @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, @sc{Singular} version 3 offers many new
+Besides theses internal changes, @sc{Singular} version 4 offers many new
 features and functionalities (which were partly already incorporated in
-the 2-1 pre-release series).
-
-@heading Factorizing algorithms revisited (3-0-0)
-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 field extension.
-
-@heading New @sc{Singular} libraries (3-0-0)
-
-@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 (3-0-0)
-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 (3-0-0)
-
-@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 (3-0-0)
-@table @asis
-@item @nref{degree}
-outputs degree and dimension instead of returning an int
-@item @nref{attrib}
-new attribute: @code{rowShift}
-@end table
-
-@heading Non-commutative Extension @sc{Plural} (3-0-0)
-
-Starting with version 3-0-0, @sc{Singular} features the
-non-commutative extension @sc{Plural}. It allows to
-set and to compute within non-commutative algebras
- with PBW basis. Among available algorithms are Groebner
-bases for left modules, syzygies and resolutions.
-
-The following libraries come together with @sc{Plural}:
-
-@table @asis
-@item @code{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
- non-commutative algebras
-@item @nref{ncdecomp_lib}
-computes a decomposition of a module by its central characters
-@item @nref{ncalg_lib}, @nref{nctools_lib}
-contain numerous useful tools for non-commutative algebras
-@item @nref{qmatrix_lib}
-procedures, related to quantum matrices and minors
-@end table
-
-@heading Internal Changes (3-0-0)
-@table @asis
-@item new mapping code
-@c @item non-commutative extension (Plural)
-@item factory revised
-(gcd, factorizing polynomial over algebraic extension fields,...)
-@end table
+the 3-1-6 pre-release series).
 
 @heading Porting
@@ -608,5 +43,5 @@
 @itemize @bullet
 @item @sc{Singular} is available for ix86-Linux,
-SunOS-5, IRIX-6, ix86-Win (runs on Windows 95/98/NT4/2000/XP/Vista),
+SunOS-5, ix86-Win (runs on Windows),
 FreeBSD, Mac OS X, x86_64-Linux (AMD64/Opteron/EM64T),
 IA64-Linux
