>
>
>***
>
>This discussion takes us to new dimensions of gnuplot -- and the end of year
>is almost here ... thus I would propose the following:
>
>- add this command "raise" as I proposed, with a simple X11 implementation
>as proposed
>
I could write a patch this weekend some time.
>- release gnuplot 3.8k next week, and gnuplot 4.0 in January
>
I would say that the "raise" isn't essential to a release. It could
remain as a patch. Since it will likely be a small patch, my guess is
that it won't be as susceptible to changes in CVS and won't need
updating so much.
But certainly, moving toward a 4.0 release is a good idea. (If I
understand correctly, 4.0 will be an "official" release, not a beta sort
of thing.)
>- do all these nice interactive terminal changes afterwards, with enough
>time for discussions
>
Well, I guess this was my idea. But I myself am not totally sold on
this. Doing this is sort of a big change, or addition, to the paradigm,
and I'm afraid that it may take things down a path of people requesting
additional support, and soon we have something that is more than
intended and perhaps totally different from a better scheme. (Maybe the
scheme Hans discussed where there are multiple plots.**) I guess it is
the syntax that is really the "standard" in Gnuplot [Changing things
behind the scenes isn't always so crucial... "ignore that man behind the
curtain" ;)], and 'raise' seems the logical choice. But still. I see
the beta releases as being ways of putting those patches that are
clearly desirable into the code then allowing developers to try them
out, suggest changes and knock the rough edges off of them. [Case in
point is the image patch. Having Petr's and Ethan's feedback has made
it much nicer than what I originally did.] I would say aim for 4.0, tag
the version, then start introducing some of the new ideas and let things
destabilize a bit.
Dan
** But that is a BIG change. It would require saving the actual plot
commands in a linked list, not too bad. But also it would require the
capturing of the state of the system "set variables" before any change
in the terminal window. I assume that would mean organizing all those
variables into a nice table format.
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