base-tcl

ActiveTcl uses the term base-tcl in a fashion similar to tclkit.

A base-tcl interpreter is a stand alone, Tcl only, interpreter which includes the following package names:

• ActiveTcl
• globfind
• http
• Mk4tcl
• mk4vfs
• msgcat
• opt
• platform
• pwb
• rechan
• starkit
• Tcl
• tcl::tommath
• tclkitpath
• tcltest
• Thread
• trsync
• Ttrace
• Vfs (as well as vfs!)
• vfs::ftp
• vfs::http
• vfs::mk4
• vfs::ns
• vfs::tar
• vfs::template as well as vfs::template::collate,vfs::template::fish,vfs::template::quota,vfs::template::version,vfs::template::version::delta
• vfs::test
• vfs::tk
• vfs::urltype
• vfs::webdav
• vfs::zip
• vfslib
• zipvfs
• zlib

So there are a number of differences in terms of what packages one will find by default in a base-tcl versus a tclkit.

The base-tcl and base-tk, just like the tclsh that comes as part of ActiveTcl, include an array which provides build information.

 parray ::activestate::ActiveTcl

Anyone have information on other differences? One thing to notice is that Tk isn't in the list. For that package, check on base-tk, which is another application in ActiveTcl.

Another difference is that itcl is missing. That means there will be some starkits which won't run with the base-tcl alone.

MHo: What about registry?

LV: I don't have access, currently, to being able to run base-tcl or base-tk on any platform other than Solaris. If someone else wants to update this page for the other platforms, be my guest.

TWu 2025-01-27: Package registry is only included in Windows builds, then in all base-files (tcl, tk and tclsvc) in each versions from 8.4.x up to 8.6.x.
The ActiveState installer lists in a page which packages are included (updated and/or new), or not (later versions without batteries loaded, install these using teacup tool).

Note that even though one gets a base-tcl or base-tk with ActiveTcl that doesn't mean that these executables knows about the local teapot repository of packages. All you have, by default, are the packages mentioned above.