TIP 9: Tk Standard Library

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Author:         Marty Backe <[email protected]>
Author:         Larry W. Virden <[email protected]>
Author:         Jeff Hobbs <[email protected]>
State:          Withdrawn
Type:           Project
Vote:           Pending
Created:        07-Nov-2000
Post-History:   
Tcl-Version:    8.4

Abstract

A Tk standard library shall be bundled with the core Tcl/Tk distribution. The library will consist of general purpose widgets and composite widgets for use in constructing Tcl/Tk applications. The library of Tk components will be written in Tcl/Tk.

Rationale

Although Tcl "ships" with a comprehensive set of native (compiled) base Tk widgets, it lacks a library of composite widgets, from which sophisticated applications can readily be built with minimal reinvention.

Although the Tcl community has created a wealth of general purpose Tk widgets, generally they are not centrally located or distributed, making their use problematic. This requires that Tcl programs which make use of such widgets must either distribute them or direct the end user on their acquisition and installation. Arguably, the success and higher visibility of other "competing" scripting languages can be attributed in some part to their extensive libraries. Tcl/Tk should continue this trend.

Tcl is perhaps unique in that it is considered both a graphical (Tk) and non-graphical (Tcl) programming language. Work has begun in implementing a standard library for Tcl. It could be argued that Tcl/Tk's largest base, and its largest growth area, is with regards to graphical applications. To this end, Tcl needs a comprehensive, and well maintained Tk standard library.

Finally, to lower the barrier of using the Tk libraries, they should be Tcl/Tk based. This helps to assure cross platform independence without requiring the user to compile code against a source distribution.

Specification

Notes

A tklib module has been created next to the aforementioned tcllib at http://tcllib.sf.net/ This creates the basic infrastructure for people to work in, but does not set any status related to the core as yet.


Larry W. Virden writes:

It appears to me that tklib isn't going to be bundled with the tk source code distribution any more than tcllib getting distributed with the tcl core distribution.

If the TCT concurs that this is the case, then I would propose that this TIP be withdrawn. tklib exists now, and to date, submissions are extremely rare.

Here we are, some time later, and no action still on either withdrawing or rejecting this TIP. Perhaps some action could be taken on this TIP?


Copyright

This document has been placed in the public domain.