Re: [Plplot-devel] Next release

[Joao C. <jc...@fe...>]

On Thursday 27 February 2003 20:49, Rafael Laboissiere wrote:
> * Jo=E3o Cardoso <jc...@fe...> [2003-02-27 19:07]:
> > But now I'm starting to think that a newer release will only happen i=
n
> > within a year, as we usually only release once a year, given our
> > limited human resources.
> > I thus think that's a pity that my improvements will only reach users=
 in
> > 2004. Also, the "bug fix" turned out to be a major configuration
> > redesign.
> >
> > My question is if we should not abandon the bug fix release, and take
> > the April opportunity to make a new real release instead.
>
> I think that Alan will agree with me on this: what determines the relea=
se
> number is the improvement in CVS, not the reverse.  So, if your changes=
 are
> integrated and if they build and work correctly until April, I do not s=
ee
> any problem in committing it.  We should just be careful to not put HEA=
D in
> a severe bad state.

Well, they were working after 5.2.0 but before your configuration changes=
=2E As=20
a matter of fact I'm expecting  your help with the configuration issue.

> > plgriddata() takes non-uniformly sampled data and will resample it us=
ing
> > several techniques, returning gridded data ready for use with our 3D
> > data APIs.
> >
> > The new function requires access to an well know external library, Qh=
ull
> >  (that Rafael knows well), http://www.thesa.com/software/qhull/,
> > and to other simple libraries, libnn and libcsa,
> > http://www.marine.csiro.au/~sakov/
>
> Sounds great.
>
> > libnn and libcsa are small libraries not widely know and its
> > configuration does not supports shared libraries. libnn also needs a
> > patch to work with Qhull, because by default it works with "triangle"=
,
> > http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~quake/triangle.html, which is a non-free
> > program.
> >
> > I think that the most effective way of using libnn and libcsa is to
> > incorporate them into our source tree. I have already asked to libcsa=
 and
> > libnn author's permission, and he agreed.
>
> I would avoid this if possible.

Me too, but we would have to distribute nn and csa ourself, which would p=
ut an=20
extra configuration/maintenance burden on ourself.
Also, libnn needs a patch, and it is not reasonable in the auto-everythin=
g=20
world to ask users to do it for us ;-)

>  I took a look at libnn.  It compiles fine,
> but generates only a static lib.  I agree with you that integrating it =
in
> our source tree is probably the best thing to do.

The way how I setup them in my sources was to create two subdirectories i=
n=20
src, one to hold a striped version of nn and another subdir to hold a str=
iped=20
csa. csa can always be built, as it depends on nothing, while nn should o=
nly=20
be built if Qhull is available. In the src directory there is a new file,=
=20
plgriddata.c, which is always built.

As I said in another mail, I don't have much time now, but I can try to u=
se=20
the Carnival holiday to update my setup to your configuration changes (th=
at=20
you will latter hopefully fix :) and commit them.

I will commit my other changes latter.

Joao