[xmlroff] xmlroff status -- 2003-03-21

[Tony G. <Ton...@Su...>]

Recent releases

   xmlroff 0.2.2, dated 2003-03-05

Changes in CVS

    - Added libtool library versioning to .so library file

    - Added pkg-config data file

    - Added libfo directory with header files and source code for
      simple and GObject-based interfaces to libfo

    - Added example xmlroff applications using new interfaces

    - Added FoMarkerParent type as half-step towards not failing on
      fo:marker elements

SourceForge site

   As of 2003-03-19, the xmlroff project had 3,226 page views and 442
   downloads and was ranked 2571 (which doesn't say much for the other
   55,674 projects on SourceForge).

   Corresponding statistics for PangoPDF are 910, 290, and 4664 (which
   really doesn't say much for the other 53,581 projects on
   SourceForge).

xml...@li...

   The list has 22 subscribers and has had about 50 messages to date.

   When posting to the list, please only quote the parts of the
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xmlroff Wiki

   I have recently added pages about debugging xmlroff, the fo:marker
   formatting object, and building xmlroff.

   I am currently the only contributor to the Wiki.  Does anybody read
   the Wiki?

Sun and xmlroff

   The xmlroff project was conceived by Sun as an open-source project.

   The full name of the project is "Sun xmlroff XSL Formatter".  Among
   other things, the name format allays concerns about 'xmlroff' being
   someone's trademark.

   While Sun remains the main contributor to xmlroff (and, to date, is
   the only contributor to xmlroff), there's really no reason to
   change the name.

   A by-product of xmlroff being open-source is that I am scheduled to
   taper off my involvement with xmlroff over the six months following
   its release: if xmlroff hasn't been picked up other developers
   within six months, Sun isn't going to prop it up.

   I will remain involved with xmlroff, however.  Besides minor
   involvement in my Sun capacity, I am also registered on SourceForge
   in my private capacity.

Future Work

   There are 'To Do' lists on the xmlroff Wiki and in the source code
   distribution.  Does anybody read them?

   I am currently working on the font embedding feature request by
   Noah Levitt.  That's turning into a revamp of the
   PangoPDFLIBFontMap type.  I intend to post my thoughts on changing
   that to the PangoPDF Wiki.

   The areas that I want to work on after that are:

    - Improving the top-level API to support, e.g., reading and
      writing from filehandles and buffers

    - The 'border' property and other border shorthands

    - fo:static-content

    - The FO and Area Tree browser idea.

   I will be in Australia for all of April, combining both work and
   vacation. (I am also passing through Japan.)  I will, of course, be
   working on xmlroff while I'm working, and I will, at least, monitor
   this mailing list at other times.


Regards,


Tony Graham
------------------------------------------------------------------------
XML Technology Center - Dublin
Sun Microsystems Ireland Ltd                       Phone: +353 1 8199708
Hamilton House, East Point Business Park, Dublin 3            x(70)19708