On 24 Sep 99, at 18:40, Jukka Santala wrote:
> Yes, I agree the main client should be a console application.
I'm with you on that ...
> I'm wondering if it's
> possible to build an executable that runs both console and X, though..?
Why would you _want_ to do that? (See below...)
> The big problem is that we don't have enough data outside of the program
> to draw almost any graphics...
_This_ is the problem.
What needs to be agreed is the data which the "main client" should
make available to any graphics front-end, and any control information
to be fed back in the opposite direction. Having done that, the main
client just (optionally) outputs data as required to a virtual device
(possibly just a shared memory block) for the front end to use, and
monitors the controls for any change needing action. This need not be
any heavier than the action of the current Prime95 client, or mprime
run with the -d switch, writing the iteration data to the (virtual)
console.
Actually the NT service client, NTPrime, already does something
similar to this (in a more limited way - but the ideas are the same).
It uses an independent program (NTSetup) to control PrimeNet
settings, local options, etc., however it just so happens that
NTSetup is built to look similar to the Prime95 front end.
The point here is that doing it this way means that the clients can
use a common message block specification, so the GUI can be written
by somebody who doesn't need to know the intimate details of the
client - the message block specification is enough to work from. This
allows X & Windoze hackers to roll their own fancy GUI without
needing to be able to compile the whole client - making infinite
variety of presentation possible, without losing control over the
client code. (We _need_ that control for reasons of maintaining faith
in the integrity of the results we are producing).
Regards
Brian Beesley
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