Re: [TCLCORE] TIP #291: Add the 'platform' Package to Tcl

[Steve L. <st...@di...>]

On 03/11/2006, at 1:28 PM, Joe English wrote:

> Now if the platform package were the kind of thing we could
> get right the first time, then sure, put it in the core and
> _eventually_ everyone could rely on it (some sooner, some later).

And this attitude is why Tcl is (in the eyes of many) a dead or dying  
language. At least the Debianistas understand that "stable" means  
"obsolete" :/

> But it's not: by its very nature, [platform::identifier] is
> going to be perpetually incomplete and frequently out of date.
> No matter how extensive the implementation, it's going to
> be obsolete the moment somebody ports Tcl to a new platform.
>
> Of course putting it in tcllib won't make it universally
> available either, but it *will* make it easier for people
> who need the latest version to get it when they need it.

Like I said, I'm more than happy for it to go into Tcllib, as well as  
be in Tcl itself. Now that I think about it, why is tcltest in Tcl  
and not Tcllib? ;-)

>> Remember that the TIP authors are at the pointy-end of delivery  
>> multi-
>> platform distributions and extensions - and only too aware of the
>> problems that entails.
>
> Y'know, I've done a bit of development and deployment myself.

Indeed - and you know I know that.

Now, before I waste any more time p*ssing into the wind - what's the  
feeling of the TCT re #291. If Joe's attitude is the predominant one  
then I won't bother pushing this. Conversely, if the concept of #291  
is reasonable and just needs refinement then I'm more than happy to  
invest the time.

Just don't make me waste a bunch of time so you can say "hmmmm ...  
maybe not".

Steve