From: Paul Guyot (pguyot_at_kallisys.net)
Date: Sun Mar 28 2004 - 23:52:04 PST
Hi all,
This is an announcement of the work currently performed on the
Desktop Connection Library towards the 1.1 milestone.
What is the Desktop Connection Library?
---------------------------------------
The DCL is a C++/Obj-C multi-platform framework for Newton data
manipulation on desktop computers and data exchange between desktop
computers and Newtons using the built-in Dock protocol (the protocol
used by the NewtonOS 2.1 Dock application and the NewtonOS 1.x and
2.0 Connection application).
The DCL currently compiles on Linux and MacOS X. We haven't checked
recently, but it very probably compiles on FreeBSD as well. NetBSD
users will have to wait until posix threads are brought into the
kernel to fully take advantage of the DCL. We're still looking for
Windows and BeOS developers.
What will DCL 1.1 bring?
------------------------
The 1.1 milestone of the DCL shall include:
- package-related capabilities
- handling of styled text in NewtWorks and Notes formats
- handling of sounds
- built-in synchronization protocol
- a modular interface for data exchange and synchronization
- Escale 1.1 and Delivery 1.1
Some of these features are already checked in into the CVS repository
and are available through nightly builds.
How can I help the development of the DCL?
------------------------------------------
There are many ways to help us with the development of the DCL and
they can be ordered by the amount of time and skills required.
1/ The easiest one is to download a nightly build of the DCL for your
platform here:
http://www.kallisys.com/files/newton/DCL/nightlies/celebrimbor/ (MacOS X)
http://www.kallisys.com/files/newton/DCL/nightlies/misato/ (Linux x86)
and to test applications and sample codes and send us feedback.
Anyone with a MacOS X or a Linux x86 application and a big bandwidth
to download the heavy nightly builds can help us with feedback.
Bugs can be reported via our bug interface:
http://bugs.kallisys.com/
2/ The second way is to test applications and sample codes and design
graphical user interface-level test suites. Our automated tests focus
on the lower layer of the DCL and many annoying bugs are related to
the interface. Hence, gathering a suite of tests of the higher layer
will help us release a very stable version of the applications by
defining tests to perform before any release.
3/ The third way is to port the DCL to other platforms, including
just checking that it does compile on another platform and maybe
provide us with nightly builds for such a platform.
4/ The fourth way is to provide us with a translation in your
language of sample applications and to volunteer for maintaining the
translation through updates of these applications.
5/ The fifth way to help us is to jump into the code and to provide
us with patches to extend the DCL or to fix bugs. If you want to join
us, please discuss your goals with us first to make sure that we do
not work on the same bits at the same time.
Thanks in advance for any help you could provide.
About the DCL Group
-------------------
Like several other successful Newton projects such as Waba and NPDS,
the DCL is open source since day one. It is brought to you by the DCL
group that gathers:
- Michael Vacík, Czech Republic <mici_at_metastasis.net>
- Nicolas Zinovieff, France <krugazor_at_poulet.org>
- Paul Guyot, France <pguyot_at_kallisys.net>
-- Philosophie de baignoire - consultations sur rendez-vous. NPDS/NewtonOS: http://newton.kallisys.net:8080/ Apache/FreeBSD: http://www.kallisys.com/ -- This is the NewtonTalk list - http://www.newtontalk.net/ for all inquiries Official Newton FAQ: http://www.chuma.org/newton/faq/ WikiWikiNewt for all kinds of articles: http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Mon Mar 29 2004 - 14:00:03 PST