Today IBPhoenix introduced the IBPhoenix Firebird Developer Pack - a set of tools for developing Firebird applications with Visual Studio, Delphi/C++ Builder and other tools. This pack was created in collaboration with Upscene, IBSurgeon, SQLLY and Fast Report.

It’s good to see leading companies uniting to create a universal solution for Firebird developers. Firebird (and InterBase too) have suffered from the lack of a comprehensive solution for an all-in-one solution for development, management and maintenance, now it exists.

It seems important for us that Visual Studio support is specially highlighted in IBPhoenix Firebird Developer Pack (it’s a bit long name, let’s call it IFDP): if a developer is using the free Microsoft Visual Studio Express for development, it’s obvious choice to use free Firebird for deployment.

While focusing IFDP at development, IBPhoenix also offers solutions for maintenance: replication and backup/recovery automation, optimization and recovery tools.

The next logical step from IBPhoenix can be similar solution for InterBase developers who suffer from similar problems with the distribution of InterBase too.

The owners of the InterBase and Firebird Developer Magazine iBase.ru and IBPhoenix today agreed to collaborate in producing future issues of the magazine. Under the agreement, free copies of the magazine will be distributed to IBPhoenix Support and Subscription customers automatically in advance of publication.

Other readers wishing to read the latest version will be able to purchase and download their copies from our web shops. As new issues are published, back-issues will be released publicly for free download.

iBase.ru and IBPhoenix plan to combine efforts and resources to ensure that the authors who write for the magazine will continue to produce articles that are interesting and informative to users of Firebird and InterBase.

If you are interested in discussing an article that you would like to contribute, please write a brief outline and contact the new editor-in-chief, Helen Borrie, by email at or by leaving a message for ICQ # 251-674-117 (shakepeac).

For advertising in the magazine, please contact Paul Beach by email at

Using new Google Coop technology we built InterBase-focused search. Try it here:

http://ibknowledgebase.com

Rock band “The Lost Century” recorded single “Firebird”, which based on AC/DC “T h u n d e r s t r u c k”. You can download it here.

Lyrics:
Firebird
Fire, Fire, Fire!!, Fire!
It was old very complex unresolved task
Low budget, too weak chips, and complete time lack
People said with no doubt - it’s impossible to do
But I knew with the fire inside I can do

Yeah, it’s alright, we’re doin’ right
Yeah, it’s alright, we’re doin’ fine, fine, fine
Firebird,
Firebird, Firebird
Firebird, baby, baby
Firebird, you’ve been Firebird!

Dear Friends,

IBase, Inc is glad to announce The 1st Russian Firebird Conference. It will take place in Moscow, Russia, October 14, 2006.
Firebird Core developers, vendors of many related products and well-known enthusiasts will be there to present the most recent news and plans regarding Firebird 2, new versions of developers products and so on.

Check-in to conference (in Russian):
http://www.ibase.ru/conf2006_reg.htm

If you have any questions regarding participation or sponsorship please feel free to email conf@ibase.ru.

With best regards,
Alexey Kovyazin
IBase.ru
IBSurgeon.com

Dear Readers!
We are glad to inform you that “The InterBase and Firebird Developer Magazine” #4 is available for free download. Please download it from following locations:

• Download location 1
• Download location 2
• Download location 3

Paper version of 4th issue of “The InterBase and Firebird Developer Magazine” is available at our on-demand-publisher lulu.com.
http://www.lulu.com/content/321958
Price is USD$14.99 without shipping.

I guess some of our readers have become a bit tired of waiting and wondering when the new issue would be released. I am really sorry about the long delay, but there have been some serious financial and time issues holding up production.

We’ve come to realise that producing the magazine with only advertising and sponsors to support it is impossible. We’ve decided to change our business model slightly. We are going to run special proprietary editions of each issue with bonus articles. These special editions will be available in electronic (printable PDF) and paper versions. From this issue forward, the latest issue will be available only for purchase for a period—say one or two weeks from publication—and will be fully released afterwards for everyone, minus the bonus articles.

You can download free preview of issue 4 here, or buy electronic version (instant access to full PDF, including bonus article), USD$9.99/EUR9.99.

Paper version will be also available very soon.

Are you ready for TPC-C based test results? Are you looking forward to know who is the winner?! Be prepared - 4th issue of IBDeveloper is coming soon!

There is a recent announcement in Firebird-developer conference where Jim told that his company Netfrastructure was bought by MySQL AG. We wish Jim the best of luck!

By Jim Starkey, 18.02.2006:

My company, Netfrastructure, Inc., has been acquired by MySQL, AB. As part of the agreement, I will be working full time for MySQL. I expect to lurk on the architecture list from time to time and may contribute the occasional wolf-o-gram, but I will not be taking an active part in Firebird development. Although Ann will work for MySQL, part time, translating from wolf to English, she will continue to be active in the Firebird project.

My decision to join MySQL has almost nothing to do with Firebird and everything to do with Netfrastructure. The Netfrastructure platform represents what I feel about contemporary computing hardware and future application requirements, and has been the center of my technical heart and soul for six year. Some aspects of Netfrastructure technology have already been contributed to the Vulcan project, but Firebird and Netfrastructure are architecturally incompatible. An attempt to integrate the technologies would be unlikely to meet the goals of either project.

MySQL and Firebird have never seen each other as competitors and I doubt this will change in the future. The projects have different open source philosophies, different technologies, different customer bases, and different sweet spots. The ideas behind the two projects are, happily, public and available to all. If MySQL and Firebird compete, it is only competition in offering the best possible support to their respective customers.

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to finish the Vulcan project. The combination of Vulcan SMP and architecture combined the rich feature set of Firebird 2 will make a solid release and a superb platform for future development.

I wish the Firebird project all the best in years to come. And if you need an opinion, please feel free to call.