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Editor Mark Hunter, Publisher Dian Schaffhauser, Vice President of Slobber MochaGupta <strong>Pro</strong> is published monthly (12 times per year) by <strong>Pro</strong>Publishing, PO Box 18288, Seattle, WA 98118–0288.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gupta <strong>Pro</strong>, PO Box18288, Seattle, WA 98118–0288.Copyright © 1996 by <strong>Pro</strong> Publishing. All rights reserved. Nopart of this periodical may be used or reproduced in anyfashion whatsoever (except in the case of brief quotationsembodied in critical articles and reviews) without the priorwritten consent of <strong>Pro</strong> Publishing. Printed in the United Statesof America.Gupta <strong>Pro</strong> is a trademark of <strong>Pro</strong> Publishing. Other brand andproduct names are trademarks or registered trademarks oftheir respective holders.This publication is intended as a general guide. It covers ahighly technical and complex subject and should not be usedfor making decisions concerning specific products orapplications. This publication is sold as is, without warranty ofany kind, either express or implied, respecting the contents ofthis publication, including but not limited to implied<strong>Pro</strong>G u p t aWhole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ OnMark HunterWhen we at <strong>Pro</strong> Publishing began planning thisnewsletter, we knew that Gupta Corp.’scustomers were in need of more informationfrom and about the company. As of January 2, that needhas intensified. Virtually everything about Gupta ischanging in a massive restructuring announced that day.Umang Gupta has announced plans for retirement aschairman in May of 1996, and Sam Inman has been namedCEO. The company has laid off 17 percent of itsemployees (engineering is unaffected, according to oursources; the cuts came from other departments). Thecompany’s name will change from Gupta Corporation toCentura Software Corporation. Matt Miller becomes V.P.of Marketing (the position had been empty for manymonths). Press releases are notorious for clichés, but thisone strikes amens from many developers with the phrase,“ . . . transitioning the company from a technology visiondrivenenterprise to one that is more market-driven.”Money talks, and sometimes money screams. Thisrestructuring is likely the result of several consecutivequarters of losses in spite of generally increasing revenue.The company’s stock price has dropped dramatically, andthe call for short-term profit–regardless of the long-termstrategy–is impossible to ignore any longer. How will thatprofit be attained? Mostly by slashing costs, in the form ofpayroll and other expenses.When it comes to revenues, Centura is the great hopeof the company. Gone is the promise made in August (atwarranties for the publication,performance, quality, merchantability, orfitness for any particular purpose. <strong>Pro</strong>Publishing, shall not be liable to thepurchaser or any other person or entitywith respect to any liability, loss, or damagecaused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by thispublication. Articles published in Gupta <strong>Pro</strong> reflect the viewsof their authors; they may or may not reflect the view of <strong>Pro</strong>Publishing.Subscription information: To order, call <strong>Pro</strong> Publishing at206-722-0406. Cost of domestic subscriptions: 12 issues, $129;24 issues, $199. Canada: 12 issues, $144; 24 issues, $229.Outside North America: 12 issues, $159; 24 issues, $259.Individual issues cost $12 ($15 outside the U.S.). All funds mustbe in U.S. currency.Gupta technical support: Call Gupta Corp. at 415-321-4484/If you have other questions, ideas, dog food, or would just loveto chat about what you’re doing with Gupta, contact us viaone of the means at right.the Windows 95 rollout) that there would be a 32-bitSQLWindows in 90 days. Gupta subsequently decidedthat customers would prefer an earlier release of the newCentura tools and could wait until then for 32-bit tools.(They also saved money by not doing a separate, releaseof 32-bit SQLWindows.) The company assures us thatCentura is a new product, deserving of a separate brandname—and a new pricing structure. Existing Guptacustomers will get a discount; customers with current LSScontracts will get an additional discount; but the numbershave yet to be finalized.Centura, we’re told, is full of must-have featuresbeyond those currently found in SQLWindows: a bettercompiler, multi-platform capabilities, Internet integration,support for three-tier architecture, a vastly improvedTeamWindows, and others. As we go to press we’re undernon-disclosure agreements, but upcoming issues of Gupta<strong>Pro</strong> will have in-depth coverage of Centura.Gupta staff are sticking to the company line, whichsays that Centura is an next-generation product. Is itreally a generation ahead of SQLWindows 5.0.2? <strong>Pro</strong>bablynot. But I, for one, am willing to buy into the companyline. SQLWindows has always been an excellent product,and Gupta’s accompanying marketing efforts have alwaysbeen lackluster. An entirely new marketing effort issupposedly being planned for Centura, and it wouldcertainly be welcome. Gupta’s recent visibility has beenquite subdued; one hopes that it’s marshaling itsWe’re Standing By!Editorial Headquarters818-249-1364E-mail71460.3142@compuserve.comFax206-760-9026Mail<strong>Pro</strong> PublishingPO Box 18288Seattle, WA 98118-0288Source CodeGO GUPTA, Library 10Continues on page 152 Gupta <strong>Pro</strong> PREMIER ISSUE