diff --git a/.classpath b/.classpath
deleted file mode 100644
index 4bbecdf4..00000000
--- a/.classpath
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<classpath>
-	<classpathentry kind="output" path="bin"/>
-	<classpathentry kind="src" path="src/main/java"/>
-	<classpathentry kind="src" path="src/main/resources"/>
-	<classpathentry kind="src" path="src/test/java"/>
-	<classpathentry kind="src" path="src/test/resources"/>
-	<classpathentry kind="con" path="org.eclipse.jdt.launching.JRE_CONTAINER" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.mockito/mockito-core/sources/mockito-core-1.8.5-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.mockito/mockito-core/jars/mockito-core-1.8.5.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-tx/sources/spring-tx-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-tx/jars/spring-tx-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.slf4j/slf4j-log4j12/sources/slf4j-log4j12-1.6.1-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.slf4j/slf4j-log4j12/jars/slf4j-log4j12-1.6.1.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/antlr/antlr/jars/antlr-2.7.7.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-test/sources/spring-test-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-test/jars/spring-test-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/log4j/log4j/sources/log4j-1.2.16-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/log4j/log4j/bundles/log4j-1.2.16.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/com.gemstone.gemfire/gemfire/jars/gemfire-6.6.1.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.hamcrest/hamcrest-core/sources/hamcrest-core-1.1-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.hamcrest/hamcrest-core/jars/hamcrest-core-1.1.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-core/sources/spring-core-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-core/jars/spring-core-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-aop/sources/spring-aop-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-aop/jars/spring-aop-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.objenesis/objenesis/sources/objenesis-1.0-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.objenesis/objenesis/jars/objenesis-1.0.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-context/sources/spring-context-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-context/jars/spring-context-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-beans/sources/spring-beans-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-beans/jars/spring-beans-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-context-support/sources/spring-context-support-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-context-support/jars/spring-context-support-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/javax.annotation/jsr250-api/sources/jsr250-api-1.0-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/javax.annotation/jsr250-api/jars/jsr250-api-1.0.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/aopalliance/aopalliance/sources/aopalliance-1.0-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/aopalliance/aopalliance/jars/aopalliance-1.0.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.slf4j/slf4j-api/sources/slf4j-api-1.6.1-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.slf4j/slf4j-api/jars/slf4j-api-1.6.1.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-expression/sources/spring-expression-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-expression/jars/spring-expression-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/junit/junit/sources/junit-4.8.1-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/junit/junit/jars/junit-4.8.1.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.slf4j/jcl-over-slf4j/sources/jcl-over-slf4j-1.6.1-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.slf4j/jcl-over-slf4j/jars/jcl-over-slf4j-1.6.1.jar" exported="true"/>
-	<classpathentry sourcepath="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-asm/sources/spring-asm-3.1.0.RELEASE-sources.jar" kind="lib" path="C:/Users/costin/.gradle/cache/org.springframework/spring-asm/jars/spring-asm-3.1.0.RELEASE.jar" exported="true"/>
-</classpath>
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index fed086c6..effab4c9 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ pom.xml
 *.ipr
 *.iws
 *.log
+.classpath
 
 /samples/hello-world/vf.gf.dmn-events.cfg
 /samples/hello-world/vf.gf.dmn-license.cfg
diff --git a/.project b/.project
deleted file mode 100644
index 45540b08..00000000
--- a/.project
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<projectDescription>
-	<name>spring-data-gemfire</name>
-	<comment>Spring Data GemFire</comment>
-	<projects/>
-	<natures>
-		<nature>org.eclipse.jdt.core.javanature</nature>
-	</natures>
-	<buildSpec>
-		<buildCommand>
-			<name>org.eclipse.jdt.core.javabuilder</name>
-			<arguments/>
-		</buildCommand>
-	</buildSpec>
-	<linkedResources/>
-</projectDescription>
diff --git a/.settings/org.eclipse.jdt.core.prefs b/.settings/org.eclipse.jdt.core.prefs
deleted file mode 100644
index 19ddd247..00000000
--- a/.settings/org.eclipse.jdt.core.prefs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-#
-#Tue Dec 13 21:19:50 EET 2011
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.debug.localVariable=generate
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.compliance=1.5
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.codegen.unusedLocal=preserve
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.debug.sourceFile=generate
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.codegen.targetPlatform=1.5
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.problem.enumIdentifier=error
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.debug.lineNumber=generate
-eclipse.preferences.version=1
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.codegen.inlineJsrBytecode=enabled
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.source=1.5
-org.eclipse.jdt.core.compiler.problem.assertIdentifier=error
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 77915e27..30afbd0f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@ Spring Data GemFire
 The primary goal of the [Spring GemFire](http://www.springsource.org/spring-gemfire) project is to make it easier to build highly scalable Spring-powered applications using 
 [GemFire](http://www.gemstone.com/products/gemfire) as a distributed [data management](http://www.springsource.com/products/data-management) platform.
 
-Examples
---------
+# Examples
+
 For examples on using the Spring GemFire, see the samples project.
 
-Getting Help
-------------
+# Getting Help
+
 
 Read the main project [website](http://www.springsource.org/spring-gemfire) and the [User Guide](http://static.springsource.org/spring-gemfire/docs/current/reference/html/). Look at the source code and the [JavaDocs](http://static.springsource.org/spring-gemfire/docs/current/api/). For more detailed questions, use the [forum](http://forum.springsource.org/forumdisplay.php?f=80). If you are new to Spring as well as to Spring GemFire, look for information about [Spring projects](http://www.springsource.org/projects). 
 
@@ -92,8 +92,24 @@ region.put(Long.valueOf(1), new Person("Jane", "Smith"));
 template.query("person = 1");
 ~~~~~
 
-Contributing to Spring GemFire
-------------------------------
+# Building
+
+Spring GemFire uses Gradle as its building system. To compile the project, simply type from the root folder
+
+    gradlew
+
+To generate IDE-specific files, use
+
+    gradlew eclipse
+ 
+or
+
+    gradlew idea 
+    
+depending on your editor.
+
+# Contributing
+
 
 Here are some ways for you to get involved in the community:
 
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 68d70513..abf494ea 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Logging
 log4jVersion = 1.2.16
-slf4jVersion = 1.6.1
+slf4jVersion = 1.6.4
 
 # Common libraries
 springVersion = 3.1.0.RELEASE
@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ gemfire.range = "[6.5, 7.0)"
 # --------------------
 # Project wide version
 # --------------------
-springGemfireVersion=1.1.0.BUILD-SNAPSHOT
\ No newline at end of file
+springGemfireVersion=1.1.0.RELEASE
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/samples/hello-world/gradle.properties b/samples/hello-world/gradle.properties
index 968c85ca..965ffbed 100644
--- a/samples/hello-world/gradle.properties
+++ b/samples/hello-world/gradle.properties
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 junitVersion = 4.8.1
-springVersion = 3.1.0.RC1
-version = 1.1.0.BUILD-SNAPSHOT
+springVersion = 3.1.0.RELEASE
+version = 1.1.0.RELEASE