ITP: libW11

Charles Wilson cygwin@cwilson.fastmail.fm
Tue Mar 21 07:02:00 GMT 2006


libW11 is a Xlib compatible library for Cygwin that calls native
Win32 functions rather than using an X server.  It is not complete,
but eventually may provide enough services for a workable
rxvt-unicode-W.  This can be installed alongside rxvt's "libW11.dll" 
without conflict.


This version of libW11 is based on the sourceforge CVS as of the last
commit (e.g. 20050610).  However, I've made a lot of changes and
additions to at least get SOME decent functionality out of an rxvt
terminal.  Some of these changes are derived from libw11.free.fr and
from the bundled W11 in rxvt-2.7.10 (see below).


This library mostly works in that all of the test applications seem 
okay.  Also, a simple PNG viewer app (derived from Greg Roelof's 'rpng' 
from O'Reilly's "PNG: The Definitive Guide.") and included in the 
package also works.  In addition, see the libXpm-W11 [upcoming ITP] 
package for a similar test app that works, and displays XPM images. 
(Although in both PNG and XPM cases, transparency and alpha support is 
issing).


Finally, a partially working version of rxvt-2.7.10 is possible using 
this library.  Known failures:
   * no clipboard support
   * 100% CPU usage
What works:
   * colors, text, command I/O
   * background pixmap
   * "inheritPixmap" pseudo-transparentcy [partial: scaling incorrect]


So, at present, rxvt-2.7.10 using libW11 is a step backwards from 
rxvt-2.7.10 using its own bundled W11.  However, it is my hope that with 
assistance, libW11 may eventually surpass that version, and even provide 
sufficient support for a native-windowing rxvt-unicode.


Therefore, this ITP is actually a request for a semi-permanent 'test' 
mode status, so that I can invite others to help complete it.  Maybe 
even host the code on cygwin-apps, as sf development is dead.  There are 
two other packages along these lines: libXpm-W11 and rxvt-W.


Why? Again, all part of my diabolical plan, described here:
http://cygwin.com/ml/cygwin-apps/2006-03/msg00119.html


http://cygutils.fruitbat.org/ITP/libW11-20060305-1-src.tar.bz2
http://cygutils.fruitbat.org/ITP/libW11-20060305-1.tar.bz2
http://cygutils.fruitbat.org/ITP/libW11-devel-20060305-1.tar.bz2
http://cygutils.fruitbat.org/ITP/libW11_6-20060305-1.tar.bz2
http://cygutils.fruitbat.org/ITP/libW11.hint
http://cygutils.fruitbat.org/ITP/libW11-devel.hint
http://cygutils.fruitbat.org/ITP/libW11_6.hint


Obviously, no linux distro includes this package, so full voting 
procedures in effect -- especially as this library is not *fully* 
functional: defined by me to mean 'rxvt-W works as well as current rxvt 
in native mode'.


--
Chuck

----------- libW11.hint --------------
sdesc: "An Xlib compatible library for Cygwin that calls native Win32 
functions"
ldesc: "libW11 provides an Xlib interface but does not rely on an 
Xserver; all
constructs are drawn on the local machine's desktop, without using the X 
wire
protocol.  This implies that programs which use this library are 
somewhat limited,
but in certain contexts that is an acceptable tradeoff."
category: Devel Libs
requires: cygwin libW11_6
--------------------------------------

----------- libW11-devel.hint --------------
sdesc: "Development components for libW11"
ldesc: "libW11 provides an Xlib interface but does not rely on an 
Xserver; all
constructs are drawn on the local machine's desktop, without using the X 
wire
protocol.  This implies that programs which use this library are 
somewhat limited,
but in certain contexts that is an acceptable tradeoff."
category: Devel Libs
requires: cygwin libW11_6
external-source: libW11
--------------------------------------

----------- libW11_6.hint --------------
sdesc: "Runtime component of libW11"
ldesc: "libW11 provides an Xlib interface but does not rely on an 
Xserver; all
constructs are drawn on the local machine's desktop, without using the X 
wire
protocol.  This implies that programs which use this library are 
somewhat limited,
but in certain contexts that is an acceptable tradeoff."
category: Devel Libs
requires: cygwin
external-source: libW11
--------------------------------------



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