Purpose: Discuss what it takes to create a Tcl extension that can be used by others ---- * See the Ajuba Solutions team's example extension ftp://ftp.scriptics.com/pub/tcl/examples/tea/ * Read the [TEA] '''T'''cl '''E'''xtension '''A'''rchitecture document [http://dev.scriptics.com/doc/tea/] * Determine whether the extension can and will be cross platform * Is this relevant to your extension? * Are you interested in supporting cross platform? * What needs to be done? * Decide whether you want a script library extension versus compiled (or mixed) library extension. * If script only, what are the core issues to consider? * Portable code - see the Ajuba Solutions style guide * What installation aids do you provide? Options include: * Nothing - let the user figure it out * Text describing what to do * Tcl script to assist in configuration / installation * configure / makefile to assist in configuration * What documentation do you supply? Options include: * None - let the users read the source * * Plain text - everyone has an editor these days * HTML - everyone has a browser these days * *roff man pages - it's what everyone considers * XML - it's the coming thing * Other formats (TeX, texinfo, PostScript, PDF, WinHelp, etc.) * What format is used for MacOS? * What additional issues can be considered? * Tools for writing extensions: [SWIG], mktclapp [http://www.hwaci.com/sw/mktclapp/] * the so-called RTFS system ---- LV: What is RTFS? MS: RTF source, I guess. ---- '''[Building Tcl DLL's for Windows]'''