Re: [TCLCORE] New tip #722

[Christian W. <Chr...@t-...>]

On 05/19/2025 05:24 PM, Donald G Porter via Tcl-Core wrote:
> On 5/19/25 11:10, Christian Werner wrote:
>> On 5/19/25 14:31, Christian Werner wrote:

>>  …
>> Massimo Manghi gave me his proposal "package names -loaded" which IMO is
>> a very good choice as it smoothly fits into the current implementation of
>> "package names". So the "-loaded" option simply modifies the if-condition
>> whose block appends to the result list. Streamlined.
>
> The existing command is [package names] with no arguments accepted.
>
> What do you think of adding two optional argument values:
>
> [package names provided] -- return names of packages provided in the current interp.
>
> [package names available] -- return names of packages where some "ifneeded" script has been found.
>
> and
>
> [package names] -- continue to return the union of the lists described above.
>
> This reuses the "provide" verbiage already part of [package], and avoids confusion
> with the "-loaded" term that better belongs with [load], etc.

Good point, Don. So may I ask Ashok again to update the TIP entry to

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# TIP 722: Improve **package names** subcommand
     Author:         Christian Werner <und...@gm...>
     Tcl-Version:    9.1
     State:          Draft
     Type:           Project
     Created:        19-May-2025
     Keywords:       Tcl,package
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# Abstract

This TIP proposes to improve the **package names** subcommand such
that its result list can be filtered with respect to packages which are
provided (i.e. present) and packages which are not provided,
but for which a **package ifneeded** script is available.

# Rationale

Although the **package names** subcommand returns a list of all currently
provided and available packages there's no equivalent to retrieve only the
list of currently provided (i.e. present) packages. However, the latter can
be of use e.g. to build a software bill of materials of an application or
to help in generating a package dependency graph.

# Specification

For **package names** without any further arguments (current default
mode of operation) the result list is made up of package names which are
provided or for which a **package ifneeded** script is available.

For **package names available** the list contains only the packages
which are not provided (i.e. not present) but for which a **package ifneeded**
script is available.

For **package names provided** the list contains only the currently provided
(i.e. present) packages.

# Implementation

TBD.

# Copyright

This document has been placed in the public domain.

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Thank you,
Christian