TIP 50: Bundle [incr Tcl] with the Core Tcl distribution

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Author:         Kevin Kenny <[email protected]>
Author:         Mark Harrison <[email protected]>
Author:         Jeff Hobbs <[email protected]>
Author:         Andreas Kupries <[email protected]>
Author:         Karl Lehenbauer <[email protected]>
Author:         Michael McLennan <[email protected]>
Author:         Don Porter <[email protected]>
Author:         Brent Welch <[email protected]>
State:          Final
Type:           Informative
Vote:           Done
Created:        27-Jul-2001
Post-History:   

Abstract

A "town meeting" discussion in which users were given the opportunity to question the Tcl Core Team at the 2001 Open Source Convention has revealed a great popular demand for bundling an object system with the distribution of the Tcl Core. This TIP presents a compromise proposal for including [incr Tcl] that was acceptable to all eight TCT members present.

Proposal

Rationale

The lack of a standard object and data abstraction system continues to hinder Tcl development.

"Lets face it, not including any sort of OO system is one of the major failings of Tcl. Indexing into global arrays is a sad hack when compared to a real OO system." - Mo DeJong [email protected]

Moreover, the argument that "Tcl is not object oriented" continues to hamper Tcl marketing. Including at least one object system with the Tcl core, so that it is dependably available unless the user has built from source, would address this objection.

Since an earler proposal ([6]) to incorporate [incr Tcl] into the Core failed to garner the necessary votes, at least in part because participants were uncertain of the rationales, it seems wise to discuss the individual points in further detail.

Alternatives

Implementation

Jeff Hobbs has volunteered to lead the implementation effort with the assistance of all volunteers who want to help.

Notes

Eight members of the Tcl Core Team (Harrison, Hobbs, Kenny, Kupries, Lehenbauer, McLennan, Porter and Welch) agreed orally to this proposal at the 2001 Open Source Convention. Since not all have had the opportunity to read the formal written version of the proposal, that vote shall not be considered binding.

References

Copyright

This document has been placed in the public domain.