Purpose: Discuss what it takes for a softare author to create a Tcl extension that can be used by others.


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   * See the [Tcl Core Team] 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?
   * If compiled language only, what are the core issues to consider?
      * Which compiler?
         * ANSI C only?
         * Portable C?
         * ANSI C++ ?
         * ''Portable'' C++ ?
         * Other (FORTRAN, Ada, ...)?
      * Be certain to use Tcl functions when available, to gain as much cross platform help as possible
      * Be certain to use Tcl's compat library when your platform(s) functions are broken
      * Provide your own compat library functions when you need to replace the functions on a particular plaforms
      * Propose new Tcl cross platform library functions when you need something that isn't already in Tcl.  See [TIP] for this process.
      
   * Tools for writing extensions: [SWIG], mktclapp [http://www.hwaci.com/sw/mktclapp/]
   * the so-called RTFS system

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LV: What is RTFS?
MS: RTF source, I guess.

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'''[Building Tcl DLL's for Windows]'''