# Additional Libraries

It is expected that implementers, or - indeed - library users too, will offer additional libraries under the Gnu Public Library License as they deem fit. It is expected that these will include general topics such as -

- CORBA - this library would be available as an interface to this standard protocol.
- Devices - both real and virtual (eg a raw keyboard (which delivers key codes) or a virtual one (which delivers character codes)).
- External - for interfacing to libraries written in other languages or for providing Sather library facilities for other languages.
- Graphics - drawing and bitmap/pixmap objects.
- Mathematics - several libraries could be produced for different group of mathematical objects.
- Networks - almost anything from sockets upwards - and downwards. The dividing line between this library and device library objects needs to be carefully thought out to ensure transparent integration.
- Windows/GUI - the original windowing library was based around Tcl/Tk. While this is more or less portable, the overheads are very high. Something both portable and leaner is urgently needed.
- ... and others!

In addition to these generally useful kinds of library, there will need to be libraries for many specific kinds of 'application' - accounting, database, scientific, engineering, literary and compiling are just a few specialisations that could be implemented.

For potential implementers, some notes on the implementation of portable libraries are given in the library documentation of the Sather 1.3 implementation.

Comments or enquiries should be made to Keith Hopper . Page last modified: Tuesday, 17 October 2000. |