
%\subsection{Why Link?}
%\input{rational}
%\subsection{System Architecture}
%\input{architecture}

%\section{Getting Started with Link}

\subsection{Getting Link}

LINK is maintained at The Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical
Computer Science (DIMACS) at Rutgers University.  The system and this
manual are available on the World-Wide Web at \verb+http://dimacs.rutgers.edu+
and via anonymous ftp at /ftp://dimacs.rutgers.edu/pub/berryj.
For example, the following commands will obtain it:
\begin{verbatim}
          %ftp dimacs.rutgers.edu  (log in as ``anonymous'')
          >cd pub/berryj
          >get link.tar.gz 
          %gunzip link.tar
          %tar xf link.tar
\end{verbatim}

The result is a directory hierarchy containing all the essential elements
of LINK.

\subsection{Installing Link}

LINK depends on the following software:

\begin{itemize}
\item {\bf g++2.6.3/libg++2.6.2 (or later)} The system has been tested with this
version of the gnu compiler (Note: for versions 2.6.X, compiler patch is 
required in order to instantiate templates.  The patch is found at:
{\em ftp.cygnus.com:pub/g++/gcc-2.6.3-template-fix}.  Your systems
administrator may have it already installed).
LINK has been designed to be portable to other compilers, but the actual
ports have not been tried, so there is probably more work in store before
it builds with any other compiler.

\item {\bf flex and bison}  These should be available on your system.
\item {\bf Scheme/Tk (STk)} This free software is available from
\verb+ftp://kaolin.unice.fr/pub+ or \verb+ftp://cs.nyu.edu/pub/local/fox/stk+,
and runs on many Unix systems.  Ports are being made to various Microsoft
Windows versions, and Link will follow eventually.

\end{itemize}

There is a file called INSTALL in the root directory of the LINK distribution
giving the installation details.  Often the process will be as simple as the
following:

\begin{verbatim}
          %./configure
          %make 
          %make libs
\end{verbatim}

However, small changes to a file called {\em Config.mk} may be necessary.
NOTE: Link uses some large template instantiation files.  This puts a 
strain on PC's running linux which will probably require the user or 
administrator to increase the swap space.  The compilation may take 
many hours on machines with 16MB or less.  The setup will be improved
to better accomodate PC installations, possibly in the near future.

The disk space used by the system varies.  If debugging information
is requested, all object files and libraries are left to sit around, 
and the executable is not stripped, the distribution can approach 100MB.
However, if -O2 is used during compilation and the executable is stripped,
the system can take approximately 27MB.  From there, the removal of
object files and libraries drastically reduces the space requirements.

\subsection{Mailing List}

There is a mailing list for LINK users.  This list will be useful
for reporting bugs and sharing tips.  Mail should be sent to
\begin{verbatim} 
              link-list@dimacs.rutgers.edu+.
\end{verbatim} 
To subscribe (unsubscribe), send mail to:
\begin{verbatim} 
              link-list-request@dimacs.rutgers.edu+.
\end{verbatim}
with ``subscribe''  (``unsubscribe'') on the subject line.
