     [file version.texi not included]

NEWS in SINGULAR VERSION
************************

Updates for version VERSION
===========================

The current version VERSION is mainly a bug fix release, but it contains also some new features:

  * factory, libfac updated for gcc 4.1.x

  * configure/speed improved for 64bit architectures

  * new library: dmod.lib dmod_lib

  * new algorithms in primdec.lib: radical et al.

  * improved version of slimgb, incorporated into groebner

  * experimental: new type bigint

  * experimental: python / ipython interface

NEWS in version 3-0-1
=====================

The version  3-0-1 is mainly a bug fix release, but it contains also some new features:

  * NTL upgraded to version 5.4

  * new library: absfact.lib absfact_lib

  * new procedures in primdec.lib: absPrimdecGTZ

  * new procedures in standard.lib: weightKB

  * build process improved: new make target install_all

  * improved version of slimgb, incorporated into groebner

  * arithmetic in Z/pZ for architecture x84_64 improved (by 25 %)

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:

  * Dynamic modules

  * non-commutative extension PLURAL

  * name spaces (package)

  * easy manipulation of rings (ringlist)

  * improved speed of maps (subst, map)

  * a new algorithm for Groebner base computations: slimgb.

  * improved factorization (integration of NTL, factorization over algebraic extensions, zeroset.lib)

  * improved gcd of polynomials (including bug fixes)

  * ports to more architectures including automatic building from source (fink on Mac, ebuild on Gentoo)

  * more help browsers supported, user extendable (help.cnf)

  * better support of graded modules

  * many bugs fixed

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).

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.

New SINGULAR libraries
======================

control_lib
     algebraic analysis tools for System and Control Theory

mregular_lib
     procedures for computing the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity

mprimdec_lib
     procedures for primary decomposition of modules

gmspoly_lib, gmssing_lib
     procedures for the Gauss-Manin connection of a singularity

resolve_lib, reszeta_lib
     resolution of singularities and applications

rootsmr_lib
     counting the number of real roots

sheafcoh_lib
     computing cohomology of sheaves and Tate resolution

signcond_lib
     computing realizable sign conditions

rootsur_lib
     counting number of real roots of univariate polynomial

grwalk_lib
     Groebner and Pertubation walk

Changes in 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.

New SINGULAR functions
======================

ringlist
     manipulation of rings

slimgb
     a new algorithm to compute Groebner bases

exportto
     transfer an identifier to the specified package

importfrom
     generate a copy of an identifier from the specified package in the current package

frwalk
     fractal walk to change monomial orderings

SINGULAR functions whose syntax/semantics has changed
=====================================================

degree
     outputs degree and dimension instead of returning an int

attrib
     new attribute: rowShift

Noncommutative Extension PLURAL
===============================

Starting with version 3-0-0, SINGULAR features a noncommutative extension 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 PLURAL come the following libraries:

center_lib
     computes generators of the center and centralizer subalgebras up to a given degree resp. up to a given number of generators

involut_lib
     determines linear antiautomorphisms (involutions) and automorphisms

gkdim_lib
     computes a Gel'fand-Kirillov dimension for modules

ncalg_lib
     includes ready-to-use funtions for defining many important noncommutative algebras

ncdecomp_lib
     computes a decomposition of module by its central characters

ncalg_lib, nctools_lib
     contain numerous useful tools for noncommutative algebras

qmatrix_lib
     procedures, related to quantum matrices and minors

Internal Changes
================

new mapping code

factory revised
     (gcd, factorizing polynomial over algebraic extension fields,...)

Porting
=======

  * 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