tuxpaint-devel

Re: [Tuxpaint-devel] [Tuxmath-devel] 2008 Google Summer of Code program

[Bill K. <nb...@so...>]

On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 03:53:29AM +0200, Ahmad Sayed wrote:
>    I have a question regarding, adding native svg support i did not get what
>    the word native means,  i think as far as tuxmath is written in c so doing
>    so will be by using libsvg and/or libsvg_sdl is this consifer native
>    support or you expect something else.

Hi, this is Bill Kendrick from the Tux Paint project.  I actually didn't have
much luck with the SDL+SVG libraries I tried, so I ended up writing my own
code -- twice.  First I ended up using libCairo and libSVG, but then discovered
that it was deprecated, and ended up going down the libRSVG route (so that
it would work out-of-the-box with modern Debian and Ubuntu systems).

The fortunate thing about the Cairo code was that we can use it (albeit with
some rendering bugs, for some SVGs) on platforms for which RSVG is not
supported (e.g., Win95, I believe).


>    I'd like also to propose support for bidirection language like arabic,
>    hebrew and thai tuxpaint and tuxtype support bidi language by using
>    SDL_Pango which is good but I prefer other approach is to use fribidi
>    directly, SDL_Pango require a lot of dependencies on pango and gtk
>    libraries and make the porting harder, specially for MAC so using fribidi
>    is better considering that Pango itself uses fribidi
>    http://webcvs.freedesktop.org/fribidi/fribidi2/USERS?view=co
>    I already followed this method in Opensource SDL game (globulation2), i
>    start by using SDL_Pango but later on after some discussions which was a
>    poritng issue rasied by mac  osx user, i replace it with fribidi.

What were the porting issues?  The Pango-based code is used by Tux Paint
on the current OSX builds.  Does fribidi deal with other languages for which
we're benefiting from Pango? (e.g., Telugu)


>    My Last question is regarding the policy  not technical :) ?
>    could a student submit a propsal(s) for more than one idea, to work on all
>    of them if he is accepted.

I don't think there are hard and fast GSoC rules about this, and from my
standpoint, I think it would be fine. :)

Cc'ing tuxpaint-devel so they can see, too. :)

-- 
-bill!
bi...@ne...
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/

Re: [Tuxpaint-devel] [Tuxmath-devel] 2008 Google Summer of Code program

[Ahmad S. <ahm...@gm...>]

> Hi, this is Bill Kendrick from the Tux Paint project.
Hi Bill, i actually keep my eye on Tux Paint and Tux type as refrences and
if they have any thing similar to be used in tuxmath.

>  I actually didn't have
> much luck with the SDL+SVG libraries I tried, so I ended up writing my own
> code -- twice.  First I ended up using libCairo and libSVG, but then
discovered
> that it was deprecated, and ended up going down the libRSVG route (so that
> it would work out-of-the-box with modern Debian and Ubuntu systems).

> The fortunate thing about the Cairo code was that we can use it (albeit
with
> some rendering bugs, for some SVGs) on platforms for which RSVG is not
> supported (e.g., Win95, I believe).


I got your point, and i'm not sure what is the problems you face when trying
to SDL+SVG, I'll do more investigation in this issue, and the libraries, but
I am sure the tuxpaint source will be my main reference.

> What were the porting issues?  The Pango-based code is used by Tux Paint
> on the current OSX builds.

sure porting will be possible if you using  SDL_Pango, but the issue raised
in glob2 mailing list, during my work, that SDL_Pango will depend on pango
and some other dependencies and as SDL_Pango site itself mentions it require
careful design in your installer, unlike fribidi which virtually has no
dependencies, so mac osx user was just afraid of delaying the release to
resolve dependcies issues, a logistic fears :-D.

> Does fribidi deal with other languages for which we're benefiting from
Pango? (e.g., Telugu)
Not sure, but i don't think so for simple reason, that Pango itself uses
fribidi to handle bidi language, so the expected output from fribidi is same
as Pango, and before fribidi2 and arabic and persian character shaping was
not supported by fribidi but it is now working correclty.

Finally, SDL_pango is very  good and easy to use may be easier than fribidi,
at least in glob2 code not sure, about tuxmath, so If you prefer to
standardize  the method and libraries for all of your tux4kids projects, and
have enough experience with porting SDL_Pango to other plateforms, I think
these are enough reasons to go on with it.

Best regards,
asayed