Questions connecting to PostgreSQL.

This is my first message to the list so hello everybody !!

I want to develop a database application with Borland C++ Builder. I
want to access a PostgreSQL sited in a remote Linux, and I have many
general questions to solve before starting:

1.- ¿What ways can I use to connect to the database? (ODBC ...¿?)
I would like not using ODBC because it is too slow. I have heard about
sockets connections. Ideas? Doc available?

2.- I want to transmit data in encrypted way. Is it true that ODBC
doesn't send data encryted? Is there a kwown solution for it?

3.- I have asked many other people about using the socket way (I like it
the most, 'cause it is the fastest way for communications, and I could
encrypt data). But these people said to me that I must do the next:
* Implemment a UNIX daemon listening for the data arriving in the
database machine.
* Immplement an application to pick the data up from this daemon and
sending it to PostgreSQL.
* In the Window$ side, two ways:
- Develop a DLL in an application server way, implementing my
own 'ODBC', that prepares data for my data controls from the VCL
(Borland C++ Builder controls), ie. DBList, DBText, etc ...
- Develop my own classes based on VCL components, implemmentin
its own methods for data manipulating, ie. MyDBList, MyDBText, etc ...
The question is: Is it true? Am I messing too much :D ?

4.- I have heard about the libpq++ classes. But, are them only for
Linux, or can I use them from the Borland C++ Builder?

5.- Turning back to the question 1 (and considering the other
questions), is there anything that solves what I am looking for? I
suppose that I am not the first person that looks for it, so perhaps all
this is already done. What am I overlooking?

I would be thankfull for your help or any reference to documentation
that tells this. I am really confused since I have not even configured
PostgreSQL yet in my Linux. I had never installed it, so I have a long
way to run :D

Thanks:
Juan Carlos Muro
The Gseq Team