[LV] I'm looking into what steps I need to take if I want to add an extension into [kitten]. * Discussions can take place on the [starkit] mailing list. * Content questions * What kinds of extensions/scripts, etc. should go into kitten? * Or perhaps the better question, should everything go here, or should there be a series of developer starkits which have particular themes? * Build Issues * Is a particular compiler required or preferred - are there incompatibilities between compilers on Solaris/Windows/Linux? * Does one need to specify a --prefix or --exec-prefix ? * What platforms should be included? * Installation Issues * How are new items added into the kitten.vfs web repository? * How should updated packages be handled? How to coordinate updating? * Documentation Issues * How can reference material for the extensions be added to the kitten.tkd so that developers have access? * Other issues * Might the US government regard the extension as illegal, treasonous, libelous, ...? This is not as absurd as might first appear (see [http://www.skypoint.com/members/gimonca/philzim2.html], for example). I don't understand - kitten contains nothing that falls under munitions act. Also, kitten is not a US software product. Answer: having an [encryption] module in kitten potentially brings it into a category that's a problem for US residents. No, kitten doesn't have one now. It's not clear that it ever would be feasible, just because of the arcane US restrictions. And of course, there are the restrictions in other countries, which in some cases are said to make it illegal to even '''have''' encryption software on one's computer. 05nov02 [jcw] - Is the US Munitions Act still applicable? DES and 128-bit encryption have been taken out of it, AFAIK. Ed Suominen, though not a lawyer, points out the following link to regulations (hopefully still current) making this a non-issue for free, open-source software: http://eepatents.com/privaria/exporting.html [GPS]: As long as the encryption isn't too powerful it's allowed. The US government wants the ability to crack the code for encrypted files or else it's illegal. Although this could have changed with the new American KGB (Homeland Security Office). This is part of the reason the US government is interested in new types of computer processors that would help code cracking, because they realize that at the moment they don't have the power to crack codes by people using strong encryption with the existing technology. As long as the US continues to have people that say "If you're not doing anything wrong why are you concerned?" this silly restriction will be in place. (Note: I obey the laws of the US as I'm an American citizen, but I don't agree with some of them.) ---- ''George, look at the section of the Federal Register that Ed quotes. After the government took a public black eye on the Zimmerman prosecution, the regulations were significantly changed. You're reporting how it once was.'' 1984 Ignorance is strength. Freedom is slavery. War is peace. ---- ''[DKF] -'' As I understand it, if all you want to do is put in a module for ''signing'' some file (as opposed to encrypting it) then the US Govt isn't too worried. Probably because they've got better things to do than spending all day pretending to be Joe Schmoe from Bad Breath, Nebraska... ---- [Category Tclkit]