Re: TkDesk 1.2

[Andy S. <sp...@be...>]

> Basically, N things suck, but since there's always N+1 things that
> could suck, I'm trying to make the best of it.

I hear that. It's bad all over :(

> > In case you don't happen to remember me (no reason you should, really), I'm 
> > maintaining the FreeBSD port of TkDesk, and there were a couple of things I 
> > thought I'd run past you FYI.
> 
> I not only remember you, but I've still got copies of our last 
> correspondence.  Still using Exmh?  :-)

Sure, it still sucks less than anything else I've found for my particular set 
of criteria, prejudices & preferences :)

> > Firstly, I snaffled a few ideas from people on the TkDesk list, and I thought
> > that you might like to know that I successfully got TkDesk to compile & work 
> > in conjunction with Tcl/Tk 8.3, itcl 3.2 etc. (since Feb 2001).
> > 
> > Secondly, I note that you're still at version 1.2 with additional patches, if
> > you'd thinking of releasing 1.3 anytime soon I'd be happy to provide the 
> > necessary patches to make TkDesk run with an up-to-date Tcl/Tk, itcl & BLT.
> > 
> > Perhaps rolling all the patches in would be a good excuse for a point release?
> > 
> > There's people running TkDesk, judging by the fact that they email me when it
> > breaks on FreeBSD for some reason :-)
> > 
> > -- End of excerpt from Andy Sparrow
> 
> I'm always interested in patches.  Most people just send me bugs.  My
> TkDesk maintenance has, in a word, sucked.  I had hoped to have a point
> release out before the end of 2000, but here it is 2002 already...
> I have done some work on it... CVS, new web site, etc., but nothing
> you'd call immediately useful.  Having recently been given the opportunity
> to pursue other employment opportunities (cough, cough) I've had some more
> time on my hands and I'm trying to get into a bug-fixing mode.  Your patches
> sound like they should go into any new release, so please send them.

Sure, see below.

> There's a nasty segv bug that has to be fixed before the next release, and
> some install problems (perhaps your patches address those?).

No, actually I've never noticed an install problem AFAIK... Perhaps that and 
the SEGV only happen with the CVS version?

>  Mostly, I'd
> just like to get a new dist. out with the updated web-site, maintainer info,
> and segv bugfix in it.  Hopefully, that'll help build some momentum.
> 
> In case you haven't seen the new site, it's tkdesk.sourceforge.net.

Yup, I updated that in the ports information when I patched for itcl 3.2 
(although not in 'pkg-descr', as someone just recently pointed out to me in 
private email).

> There's new user and developer mailing lists has well.  Perhaps you'd
> like to subscribe to the developer's list?

Actually, I think I will. I like TkDesk, but haven't used it much of late. 
However, I've just about had it up to here with the whole GNOME bloat-ware 
thing, and TkDesk is pretty functional, without being heavy.

There are, however, a few things I'd like to see in it, and certainly a few 
local FreeBSD customisations I always meant to look at to make it sit more 
comfortably on that OS (like the PPP control thing etc.)

>  There's a whopping two of us
> on there now.  You can find the subscription info on the "Developers" page.
> Matter of fact, I think I'll cc: this to the list... (Hi, Lester)
> 
> By the way, I'm currently running TkDesk with tcl 8.3 and itcl 3.1, so
> I'm curious to see what fixes you've had to make.

Well, I can't claim any credit for them, although it's a while ago I'm pretty 
sure I lifted them directly from the TkDesk mailing list and frobbed them 
in... I'd credit the original author if I could find who they were...

The patches for FreeBSD are contained in the /usr/ports/x11-fm/tkdesk/files 
directory, if you can't browse these locally you can use:

	http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/ports/x11-fm/tkdesk/files/

Here's a quick description of what they seem to be:

patch-aa:		Fixes to configure to add tcl 8.3/itcl 3.2
patch-ab:		Fixes to Makefile (wish 8.3 shell specification)
patch-ac:		Fixes to update URLs in AppBar, use 'vipw' to edit passwd
patch-ad:		Fixes to Be-ish AppBar_Be
patch-ae:		Fixes to System for FreeBSD (du -k)
patch-af:		Fix to appbar.tcl
patch-ag:		Fix to delete.tcl
patch-ah:		Fix to tkdesk.main (D&D patch?)
patch-ai:		Fix to find.tcl (file selection patch?)
patch-aj:		Fxi to tixImgXpm.c

So, only patch-aa, patch-ab, patch-ac & patch-aj aren't the "standard" 
patches, and patch-aa, patch-ab & 50% of patch-ac probably aren't of interest 
on non-BSD systems...

I'm pretty sure that the tixImgXpm.c file is the interesting one from your 
perpective (e.g. for the itcl mods).


> Anyway, thanks for the interest.  Don't take two years to reply. :-)

I won't :)

I'll be out of touch for a while probably - I'm flying to upstate Nooo York 
tomorrow, and I'm not sure that they have internet there ;)

Cheers,

AS