On 20/10/2008, at 10:48 AM, John M McIntosh wrote:
Well for one thing it requires then implementing the freetype plugin
on the iPhone, so it's a barrier to entry for VM developers who are
dealing with platforms that may or may not
have freetype on them to enable the running of a pharo image.
In that is the case, then I think a stated requirement for Pharo
should be a list of platforms, or an explicit statement that it must
be usable without FreeType.
I'm making two unrelated points:
1. Who not use only FreeType and/or native metrics/rendering. I'm not
talking ATSUI, just the kind of simply metrics and character rendering
that Squeak has now i.e. char widths, kerning pairs, no ligatures, no
bidi etc).
2. Have a clear specification of Pharo's target/constraints/
requirements/intended users/use cases/task applicability, next to the
manifesto. What existing code/packages must continue to run? What
features must be retained?
Although the iPhone does have freetype buried somewhere on it, I'm
not sure if this is a one hour change or will take all week to
enable it.
Would it matter if it were a week? Wouldn't the simplification of that
part of Pharo be a worthwhile tradeoff? In the scope of a 3 year
project, this would seem a simple decision.
Or, alternatively, use a metrics/rendering system that uses the native
API, with a fallback to FreeType, which IMO would be better, and would
work in the iPhone.
IMO a clearer statement of goals and constraints would enable better
decision making and targeting of effort. Maybe 99% of the problem is
Morphic, and a quicker solution would be a native control interface
ala SWT. For the purposes of the tools, esp OB, this might be a better
outcome for the same effort (OB uses very few controls), especially if
the purpose of Pharo is a better Smalltalk playground, rather than an
improved Morphic playground.
One strategy (which I am following) is to improve OB, get all tools
into OB (sans Workspace/Transcript), and then move OB off Morphic.
Antony Blakey
-------------
CTO, Linkuistics Pty Ltd
Ph: 0438 840 787
Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.
-- J. M. Barre
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