1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML 3.0//EN">
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<!--
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$Id: announce.html.in,v 1.70 2008/11/02 01:03:05 tom Exp $
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****************************************************************************
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* Copyright (c) 1998-2006,2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc. *
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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* *
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* Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a *
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* copy of this software and associated documentation files (the *
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* "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including *
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* without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, *
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* distribute, distribute with modifications, sublicense, and/or sell *
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* copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is *
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* furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: *
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* *
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* The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included *
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* in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. *
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* *
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* THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS *
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* OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF *
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* MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. *
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* IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ABOVE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, *
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* *
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* Except as contained in this notice, the name(s) of the above copyright *
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* holders shall not be used in advertising or otherwise to promote the *
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* sale, use or other dealings in this Software without prior written *
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* authorization. *
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****************************************************************************
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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-->
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<HTML>
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<HEAD>
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<TITLE>Announcing ncurses @VERSION@</TITLE>
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<link rev=made href="mailto:bug-ncurses@gnu.org">
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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</HEAD>
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<BODY>
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<H1>Announcing ncurses @VERSION@</H1>
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The ncurses (new curses) library is a free software emulation of
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curses in System V Release 4.0, and more. It uses terminfo format,
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supports pads and color
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and multiple highlights and forms characters and function-key mapping,
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and has all the other SYSV-curses enhancements over BSD curses.<P>
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In mid-June 1995, the maintainer of 4.4BSD curses declared that he
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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considered 4.4BSD curses obsolete, and encouraged the keepers of
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Unix releases such as BSD/OS, FreeBSD and NetBSD to switch over to
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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ncurses.<P>
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2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
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The ncurses code was developed under GNU/Linux.
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It has been in use for some time with OpenBSD as the system curses library,
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and on FreeBSD and NetBSD as an external package.
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It should port easily to any ANSI/POSIX-conforming UNIX.
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It has even been ported to OS/2 Warp!<P>
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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The distribution includes the library and support utilities, including a
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terminfo compiler tic(1), a decompiler infocmp(1), clear(1), tput(1), tset(1),
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and a termcap conversion tool captoinfo(1). Full manual pages are provided for
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the library and tools.<P>
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The ncurses distribution is available via anonymous FTP at
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the GNU distribution site
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ncurses/">ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ncurses/</A> .
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<br>It is also available at
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<A HREF="ftp://invisible-island.net/ncurses/">ftp://invisible-island.net/ncurses/</A> .
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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<H1>Release Notes</H1>
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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This release is designed to be upward compatible from ncurses 5.0 through 5.6;
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very few applications will require recompilation, depending on the platform.
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These are the highlights from the change-log since ncurses 5.6 release.
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<p>
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Interface changes:
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<ul>
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<li>generate linkable stubs for some macros:
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<br>
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getattrs
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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</ul>
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2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
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New features and improvements:
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<ul>
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<li>library
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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<ul>
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<li>new flavor of the ncurses library provides rudimentary
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support for POSIX threads. Several functions are
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reentrant, but most require either a window-level or
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screen-level mutex.<br>
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(This is <em>API</em>-compatible,
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but not <em>ABI</em>-compatible with the normal library).
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<li>add <code>NCURSES_OPAQUE</code> symbol to curses.h, will
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use to make structs opaque in selected configurations.
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<li>add <code>NCURSES_EXT_FUNCS</code> and
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<code>NCURSES_EXT_COLORS</code> symbols to curses.h to make
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it simpler to tell if the extended functions and/or colors
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are declared.
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<li>add wresize() to C++ binding
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<li>eliminate fixed-buffer vsprintf() calls in C++ binding.
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<li>add several functions to C++ binding which wrap C functions
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that pass a WINDOW* parameter.
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<li>adapt mouse-handling code from menu library in form-library
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<li>improve tracing for form library, showing created forms,
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fields, etc.
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<li>make $NCURSES_NO_PADDING feature work for termcap interface .
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<li>add check to trace-file open, if the given name is a
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directory, add ".log" to the name and try again.
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<li>several new manpages: curs_legacy.3x, curs_memleaks.3x,
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curs_opaque.3x and curs_threads.3x
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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</ul>
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2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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<li>programs:
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<ul>
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>modified three test-programs to demonstrate the threading
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support in this version: ditto, rain, worm.
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2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>several new test-programs: demo_panels, dots_mvcur,
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inch_wide, inchs, key_name, key_names, savescreen,
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savescreen.sh test_arrays, test_get_wstr, test_getstr,
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test_instr, test_inwstr and test_opaque.
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2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>add <code>adacurses-config</code> to the Ada95 install.
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2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>modify tic <code>-f</code> option to format spaces as
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<code>\s</code> to prevent them from being lost when that
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is read back in unformatted strings.
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2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>The <code>tack</code> program is now distributed separately
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from ncurses.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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</ul>
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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<li>terminal database
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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<ul>
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<li>added entries:
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<ul>
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<li><code>Eterm-256color</code>,
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<code>Eterm-88color</code> and
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<code>rxvt-88color</code>
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<li><code>aterm</code>
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<li><code>konsole-256color</code>
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<li><code>mrxvt</code>
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<li><code>screen.mlterm</code>
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<li><code>screen.rxvt</code>
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<li><code>teraterm4.59</code> is now the primary primary
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teraterm entry, renamed original to
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<code>teraterm2.3</code>
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<li><code>9term</code> terminal
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<li>Newbury Data entries
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</ul>
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<li>updated/improved entries:
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<ul>
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<li><code>gnome</code> to version 2.22.3
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<li><code>h19</code>, <code>z100</code>
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<li><code>konsole</code> to version 1.6.6
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<li><code>mlterm</code>, <code>mlterm+pcfkeys</code>
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<li><code>xterm</code>, and building-blocks for function-keys
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to <a href="http://invisible-island.net/xterm/xterm.log.html#xterm_230">xterm patch #230</a>.
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</ul>
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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</ul>
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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</ul>
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Major bug fixes:
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<ul>
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>add logic to tic for cancelling strings in user-defined
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capabilities
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(this is <em>needed</em> for
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current <code>konsole</code> terminfo entry).
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<li>modify <code>mk-1st.awk</code> so the generated makefile rules for
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linking or installing shared libraries do not first remove the
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library, in case it is in use, e.g., <code>libncurses.so</code> by
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<code>/bin/sh</code>.
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<li>correct check for notimeout() in wgetch().
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<li>fix a sign-extension bug in infocmp's repair_acsc() function.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>change winnstr() to stop at the end of the line.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>make Ada95 demo_panels() example work.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>fix for adding a non-spacing character at the beginning of a line.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>fill in extended-color pair to make colors work
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for wide-characters using extended-colors.
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2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>improve refresh of window on top of multi-column characters,
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taking into account split characters on left/right window
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boundaries.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>modify <code>win_wchnstr()</code> to ensure that only a base cell
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is returned for each multi-column character.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>improve <code>waddch()</code> and <code>winsch()</code> handling of
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EILSEQ from <code>mbrtowc()</code> by using <code>unctrl()</code>
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to display illegal bytes rather than trying to append further bytes
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to make up a valid sequence.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>restore <code>curs_set()</code> state after
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<code>endwin()</code>/<code>refresh()</code>
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>modify <code>keyname()</code> to use "^X" form only if
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<code>meta()</code> has been called, or if <code>keyname()</code>
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is called without initializing curses, e.g., via
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<code>initscr()</code> or <code>newterm()</code>.
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>modify <code>unctrl()</code> to check codes in 128-255 range versus
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<code>isprint()</code>.
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If they are not printable, and locale was set, use a "M-" or "~"
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sequence.
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>improve <code>resizeterm()</code> by moving ripped-off lines, and
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repainting the soft-keys.
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>modify form library to accept control characters such as newline
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in set_field_buffer(), which is compatible with Solaris.
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>use <code>NCURSES_MOUSE_MASK()</code> in definition of
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<code>BUTTON_RELEASE()</code>, etc., to make those work properly
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with the <code>--enable-ext-mouse</code> configuration
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<li>correct some functions in Ada95 binding which were using return
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value from C where none was returned.
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<li>reviewed/fixed issues reported by Coverity and Klocwork tools.
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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</ul>
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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Portability:
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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<ul>
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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<li>configure script:
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<ul>
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<li>new options:
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<dl>
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
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<dt>--disable-big-strings
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<dd>control whether static string tables are generated as single
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large strings (to improve startup performance), or as array
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of individual strings.
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<dt>--disable-relink
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<dd>control whether shared libraries are relinked (during install)
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when rpath is enabled.
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<dt>--disable-tic-depends
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<dd>make explicit whether tic library depends on ncurses/ncursesw
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library.
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<dt>--enable-mixed-case
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<dd>override the configure script's check if the filesystem
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supports mixed-case filenames.
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This allows one to control how the terminal database
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maps to the filesystem.
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For filesystems that do not support mixed-case, the library
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uses generate 2-character (hexadecimal) codes for the
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lower-level of the filesystem terminfo database
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<dt>--enable-reentrant
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<dd>builds a different flavor of the ncurses library (ncursest)
|
|
|
|
|
which improves reentrant use of the
|
|
|
|
|
library by reducing global and static variables
|
|
|
|
|
(see the "--with-pthread" option for the threaded support).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<dt>--enable-weak-symbols
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>use weak-symbols for linking to the POSIX thread library,
|
|
|
|
|
and use the same soname for the ncurses shared library
|
|
|
|
|
as the normal library (caveat: the ABI is for the threaded
|
|
|
|
|
library, which makes global data accessed via functions).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<dt>--with-pthread
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>build with the POSIX thread library (tested with AIX,
|
|
|
|
|
Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, HPUX, IRIX64, Solaris, Tru64).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<dt>--with-ticlib
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>build/install the tic-support functions in a separate library
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
</dl>
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<li>improved options:
|
|
|
|
|
<dl>
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<dt>--enable-ext-colors
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>requires the wide-character configuration.
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<dt>--with-chtype
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>ignore option value "unsigned" is always added to
|
|
|
|
|
the type in curses.h; do the same for --with-mmask-t.
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<dt>--with-dmalloc
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>build-fix for redefinition of <code>strndup</code>.
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<dt>--with-hashed-db
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>accepts a parameter which is the install-prefix of a given
|
|
|
|
|
Berkeley Database.
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<dt>--with-hashed-db
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>the $LIBS environment variable overrides the search for the db
|
|
|
|
|
library.
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<dt>--without-hashed-db
|
|
|
|
|
<dd>assumed when "--disable-database" is used.
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
</dl>
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
</ul>
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<li>other configure/build issues:
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>build-fixes for LynxOS
|
|
|
|
|
<li>modify shared-library rules to allow FreeBSD 3.x to use rpath.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>build-fix for FreeBSD "contemporary" TTY interface.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>build-fixes for AIX with libtool.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>build-fixes for Darwin and libtool.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>modify BeOS-specific ifdef's to build on Haiku.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>corrected gcc options for building shared libraries on Solaris
|
|
|
|
|
and IRIX64.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>change shared-library configuration for OpenBSD, make rpath work.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>build-fixes for using libutf8, e.g., on OpenBSD 3.7
|
|
|
|
|
<li>add "-e" option in ncurses/Makefile.in when generating source-files
|
|
|
|
|
to force earlier exit if the build environment fails unexpectedly.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>add support for shared libraries for QNX.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>change delimiter in <code>MKlib_gen.sh</code> from '%' to '@', to
|
|
|
|
|
avoid substitution by IBM xlc to '#' as part of its extensions to
|
|
|
|
|
digraphs.
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>library:
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<li>rewrite wrapper for <code>wcrtomb()</code>, making it work on
|
|
|
|
|
Solaris. This is used in the form library to determine the length
|
|
|
|
|
of the buffer needed by <code>field_buffer</code>.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>add/use configure script macro CF_SIG_ATOMIC_T, use the corresponding
|
|
|
|
|
type for data manipulated by signal handlers.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>set locale in misc/ncurses-config.in since it uses a range
|
|
|
|
|
<li>disable GPM mouse support when $TERM does not happen to contain
|
|
|
|
|
"linux", since Gpm_Open() no longer limits its assertion to terminals
|
|
|
|
|
that it might handle, e.g., within "screen" in xterm.
|
|
|
|
|
<li>reset mouse file-descriptor when unloading GPM library.
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
</ul>
|
2001-05-17 08:21:06 +00:00
|
|
|
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<li>test programs:
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>update test programs to build/work with various UNIX curses for
|
|
|
|
|
comparisons.
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
</ul>
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<H1>Features of Ncurses</H1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
The ncurses package is fully compatible with SVr4 (System V Release 4) curses:
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<UL>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>All 257 of the SVr4 calls have been implemented (and are documented).
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Full support for SVr4 curses features including keyboard mapping, color,
|
|
|
|
|
forms-drawing with ACS characters, and automatic recognition of keypad
|
|
|
|
|
and function keys.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>An emulation of the SVr4 panels library, supporting
|
|
|
|
|
a stack of windows with backing store, is included.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>An emulation of the SVr4 menus library, supporting
|
|
|
|
|
a uniform but flexible interface for menu programming, is included.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>An emulation of the SVr4 form library, supporting
|
|
|
|
|
data collection through on-screen forms, is included.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Binary terminfo entries generated by the ncurses tic(1) implementation
|
|
|
|
|
are bit-for-bit-compatible with the entry format SVr4 curses uses.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The utilities have options to allow you to filter terminfo
|
|
|
|
|
entries for use with less capable <STRONG>curses</STRONG>/<STRONG>terminfo</STRONG>
|
|
|
|
|
versions such as the HP/UX and AIX ports.</UL>
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
The ncurses package also has many useful extensions over SVr4:
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<UL>
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The API is 8-bit clean and base-level conformant with the X/OPEN curses
|
|
|
|
|
specification, XSI curses (that is, it implements all BASE level features,
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
and most EXTENDED features).
|
|
|
|
|
It includes many function calls not supported under SVr4 curses
|
|
|
|
|
(but portability of all
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
calls is documented so you can use the SVr4 subset only).
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
<LI>Unlike SVr3 curses, ncurses can write to the rightmost-bottommost corner
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
of the screen if your terminal has an insert-character capability.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Ada95 and C++ bindings.
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<LI>Support for mouse event reporting with X Window xterm
|
|
|
|
|
and FreeBSD and OS/2 console windows.
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<LI>Extended mouse support via Alessandro Rubini's gpm package.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The function <CODE>wresize()</CODE> allows you to resize windows, preserving
|
|
|
|
|
their data.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The function <CODE>use_default_colors()</CODE> allows you to
|
|
|
|
|
use the terminal's default colors for the default color pair,
|
|
|
|
|
achieving the effect of transparent colors.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The functions <CODE>keyok()</CODE>
|
|
|
|
|
and <CODE>define_key()</CODE> allow
|
|
|
|
|
you to better control the use of function keys,
|
|
|
|
|
e.g., disabling the ncurses KEY_MOUSE,
|
|
|
|
|
or by defining more than one control sequence to map to a given key code.
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<LI>Support for 256-color terminals, such as modern xterm, when configured
|
|
|
|
|
using the <code>--enable-ext-colors</code> option.
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<LI>Support for 16-color terminals, such as aixterm and modern xterm.
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<LI>Better cursor-movement optimization. The package now features a
|
|
|
|
|
cursor-local-movement computation more efficient than either BSD's
|
|
|
|
|
or System V's.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Super hardware scrolling support. The screen-update code incorporates
|
|
|
|
|
a novel, simple, and cheap algorithm that enables it to make optimal
|
|
|
|
|
use of hardware scrolling, line-insertion, and line-deletion
|
|
|
|
|
for screen-line movements. This algorithm is more powerful than
|
|
|
|
|
the 4.4BSD curses quickch() routine.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Real support for terminals with the magic-cookie glitch. The
|
|
|
|
|
screen-update code will refrain from drawing a highlight if the magic-
|
|
|
|
|
cookie unattributed spaces required just before the beginning and
|
|
|
|
|
after the end would step on a non-space character. It will
|
|
|
|
|
automatically shift highlight boundaries when doing so would make it
|
|
|
|
|
possible to draw the highlight without changing the visual appearance
|
|
|
|
|
of the screen.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>It is possible to generate the library with a list of pre-loaded
|
|
|
|
|
fallback entries linked to it so that it can serve those terminal types even
|
|
|
|
|
when no terminfo tree or termcap file is accessible (this may be useful
|
|
|
|
|
for support of screen-oriented programs that must run in single-user mode).
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The tic(1)/captoinfo utility provided with ncurses has the
|
|
|
|
|
ability to translate many termcaps from the XENIX, IBM and
|
|
|
|
|
AT&T extension sets.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>A BSD-like tset(1) utility is provided.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The ncurses library and utilities will automatically read terminfo
|
|
|
|
|
entries from $HOME/.terminfo if it exists, and compile to that directory
|
|
|
|
|
if it exists and the user has no write access to the system directory.
|
|
|
|
|
This feature makes it easier for users to have personal terminfo entries
|
|
|
|
|
without giving up access to the system terminfo directory.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>You may specify a path of directories to search for compiled
|
|
|
|
|
descriptions with the environment variable TERMINFO_DIRS (this
|
|
|
|
|
generalizes the feature provided by TERMINFO under stock System V.)
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>In terminfo source files, use capabilities may refer not just to
|
|
|
|
|
other entries in the same source file (as in System V) but also to
|
|
|
|
|
compiled entries in either the system terminfo directory or the user's
|
|
|
|
|
$HOME/.terminfo directory.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>A script (<STRONG>capconvert</STRONG>) is provided to help BSD users
|
|
|
|
|
transition from termcap to terminfo. It gathers the information in a
|
|
|
|
|
TERMCAP environment variable and/or a ~/.termcap local entries file
|
|
|
|
|
and converts it to an equivalent local terminfo tree under $HOME/.terminfo.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>Automatic fallback to the /etc/termcap file can be compiled in
|
|
|
|
|
when it is not possible to build a terminfo tree. This feature is neither
|
|
|
|
|
fast nor cheap, you don't want to use it unless you have to,
|
|
|
|
|
but it's there.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The table-of-entries utility <STRONG>toe</STRONG> makes it easy for users to
|
|
|
|
|
see exactly what terminal types are available on the system.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>The library meets the XSI requirement that every macro entry
|
|
|
|
|
point have a corresponding function which may be linked (and will be
|
|
|
|
|
prototype-checked) if the macro definition is disabled with
|
|
|
|
|
<CODE>#undef</CODE>.
|
|
|
|
|
<LI>An HTML "Introduction to Programming with NCURSES" document provides
|
|
|
|
|
a narrative introduction to the curses programming interface.
|
|
|
|
|
</UL>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<H1>State of the Package</H1>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerous bugs present in earlier versions have been fixed; the
|
|
|
|
|
library is far more reliable than it used to be. Bounds checking in many
|
|
|
|
|
`dangerous' entry points has been improved. The code is now type-safe
|
|
|
|
|
according to gcc -Wall. The library has been checked for malloc leaks and
|
|
|
|
|
arena corruption by the Purify memory-allocation tester.<P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The ncurses code has been tested with a wide variety of applications
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
including (versions starting with those noted):
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DL>
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> cdk
|
|
|
|
|
<DD> Curses Development Kit
|
2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://invisible-island.net/cdk/">http://invisible-island.net/cdk/</A>
|
2000-10-11 07:31:01 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://www.vexus.ca/products/CDK/">http://www.vexus.ca/products/CDK/</a>
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> ded
|
|
|
|
|
<DD> directory-editor
|
2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://invisible-island.net/ded/">http://invisible-island.net/ded/</A>
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> dialog
|
|
|
|
|
<DD> the underlying application used in Slackware's setup, and the basis
|
|
|
|
|
for similar applications on GNU/Linux.
|
2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://invisible-island.net/dialog/">http://invisible-island.net/dialog/</A>
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> lynx
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DD> the character-screen WWW browser
|
2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://lynx.isc.org/release/">http://lynx.isc.org/release/</A>
|
|
|
|
|
<DT> Midnight Commander
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DD> file manager
|
2000-10-11 07:31:01 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://www.ibiblio.org/mc/">http://www.ibiblio.org/mc/</A>
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> mutt
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DD> mail utility
|
2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://www.mutt.org/">http://www.mutt.org/</A>
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> ncftp
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DD> file-transfer utility
|
2000-10-11 07:31:01 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://www.ncftp.com/">http://www.ncftp.com/</A>
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> nvi
|
|
|
|
|
<DD> New vi versions 1.50 are able to use ncurses versions 1.9.7 and later.
|
2000-10-11 07:31:01 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://www.bostic.com/vi/">http://www.bostic.com/vi/</A>
|
|
|
|
|
<br>
|
|
|
|
|
<DT> pinfo
|
|
|
|
|
<DD> Lynx-like info browser.
|
2008-11-09 14:08:54 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="https://alioth.debian.org/projects/pinfo/">https://alioth.debian.org/projects/pinfo/</A>
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> tin
|
|
|
|
|
<DD> newsreader, supporting color, MIME
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://www.tin.org/">http://www.tin.org/</A>
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
</DL>
|
|
|
|
|
as well as some that use ncurses for the terminfo support alone:
|
|
|
|
|
<DL>
|
2000-01-26 16:43:25 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> minicom
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DD> terminal emulator
|
2000-10-11 07:31:01 +00:00
|
|
|
<br>
|
2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://alioth.debian.org/projects/minicom/">
|
|
|
|
|
http://alioth.debian.org/projects/minicom/</A>
|
1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
|
|
|
<DT> vile
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<DD> vi-like-emacs
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2000-07-03 09:24:12 +00:00
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<br>
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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<A HREF="http://invisible-island.net/vile/">http://invisible-island.net/vile/</A>
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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</DL>
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<P>
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The ncurses distribution includes a selection of test programs (including
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a few games).
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<H2>Who's Who and What's What</H2>
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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Zeyd Ben-Halim
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started it from a previous package pcurses, written by Pavel Curtis.
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Eric S. Raymond
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continued development.
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Jürgen Pfeifer wrote most of the form and menu libraries.
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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Ongoing work is being done by
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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<A HREF="mailto:dickey@invisible-island.net">Thomas Dickey</A>.
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Thomas Dickey
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acts as the maintainer for the Free Software Foundation,
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which holds the copyright on ncurses.
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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Contact the current maintainers at
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<A HREF="mailto:bug-ncurses@gnu.org">bug-ncurses@gnu.org</A>.
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<P>
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To join the ncurses mailing list, please write email to
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<CODE>bug-ncurses-request@gnu.org</CODE> containing the line:
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<PRE>
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subscribe <name>@<host.domain>
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</PRE>
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This list is open to anyone interested in helping with the development and
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testing of this package.<P>
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Beta versions of ncurses and patches to the current release are made available at
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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<A HREF="ftp://invisible-island.net/ncurses/">ftp://invisible-island.net/ncurses/</A> .
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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<H2>Future Plans</H2>
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<UL>
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<LI>Extended-level XPG4 conformance, with internationalization support.
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<LI>Ports to more systems, including DOS and Windows.
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</UL>
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We need people to help with these projects. If you are interested in working
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on them, please join the ncurses list.
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<H2>Other Related Resources</H2>
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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The distribution provides a newer version of the terminfo-format
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terminal description file once maintained by
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<A HREF="http://www.catb.org/~esr/terminfo/">Eric Raymond</A> .
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Unlike the older version, the termcap and terminfo data are provided
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in the same file, and provides several user-definable extensions
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beyond the X/Open specification.<P>
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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You can find lots of information on terminal-related topics
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not covered in the terminfo file at
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<A HREF="http://www.cs.utk.edu/~shuford/terminal_index.html">Richard Shuford's
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2007-01-20 07:32:02 +00:00
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archive</A> .
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1999-08-24 01:06:48 +00:00
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