Since the database can be built on unix, is there
any discussion about building a driver or api to
access the database from unix/linux? My understanding
is the driver only works on Windows.

I would like to tie the TTPR data in with other repositories
on Unix dynamically(no flat files or nightly feeds) without having to do it all from Unix.

Also is there any thought about making the db backend open
to users so they can choose whatever database they want to use?

The TestTrack Pro database is currently using an xBase backend. There are several tools out there for Unix/Linux that can be used to query the DB, the one I am most familiar with is the Perl xBase module.

We do also sell an SOAP based API that can be used on any platform supported by TestTrack Pro.

}>Patrick Burma
Product Specialist
Seapine Software, Inc
support@seapine.com

---------------------------
Patrick Burma
Product Specialist
Seapine Software, Inc
support@seapine.com

I wanted to add some more:

"Also is there any thought about making the db backend open
to users so they can choose whatever database they want to use?"

We think about this often. We've been planning on adding ODBC support to the backend for some time and will try and get implementation of that in before the end of 2003. On Linux/UNIX systems, I think you'll still need to use the xBase backend for a while.

We probably would not do native support for a bunch of different UNIX DB's, but we are looking at a UNIX based ODBC driver that may allow us to port OBDC configurable to the backend in future versions. This is a perilous proposition because ODBC on UNIX is relatively new and unstable (in my experience) with multiple ODBC DB Managers like iODBC and unixODBC that have their own minor deviations from the standard which makes it harder to develop for.

So yes we have thought about it, we have found many more negatives than positives, but it is something we want to offer and are still exploring the possibilities.

}>Patrick Burma
Product Specialist
Seapine Software, Inc
support@seapine.com

---------------------------
Patrick Burma
Product Specialist
Seapine Software, Inc
support@seapine.com

Starting in version 7.0, TestTrack Pro's database format is now configurable, allowing you to store data in the native TestTrack Pro database, Oracle, or SQL Server format. Oracle or SQL Server licenses must be purchased separately. Under Linux and Mac OS X, integration with Oracle and SQL Server is performed through an iODBC connection.

The following Knowledgebase article specifies which database versions are supported...
http://www.seapine.com/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=169

The following Knowledgebase article porvides advice for selecting a TestTrack database format...
http://www.seapine.com/kb/index.php?page=index_v2&id=172

Sincerely,
Seapine Development

I'm missing information on using Sybase ASE for Linux.

Is it possible?

Sybase ASE is similiar enough to Microsoft's database (not so strange considering the history) for one to be used instead of the other with no change whatsoever in many cases.