[Pkg-tcltk-devel] Tcl 8.6 as default in "jessie": XOTcl to NSF transition

[Stefan Sobernig]

Hey guys,

First of all, thanks to Sergei for bringing the issue (bug #724816) at 
the table!

Regarding bug #724816, we would like to initiate a transition from the 
XOTcl to its successor NSF:

http://next-scripting.org/

NSF is a shared infrastructure for both XOTcl 2.* (which is the direct 
successor of XOTcl 1.6.*) and NX, which adds a completely revamped 
language design. Using NSF, both XOTcl 2.* and NX come fully scripted 
(i.e., each language comes as a purely scripted Tcl package). NSF (and 
therefore XOTcl 2 and NX) require at least Tcl 8.5, but are also upward 
compatible and tested with Tcl 8.6.

NSF has been in use for over a year now in several production systems: 
It drives http://openacs.org/ and one of the largest university 
eLearning sites in Europe: http://learn.wu.ac.at/

As Sergei pointed out correctly, the XOTcl 1.* line does not build 
anymore with Tcl 8.6; and we do not intend to establish and to further 
maintain this compatibility given that there is a replacement: NSF and 
XOTcl 2.

How can we best prepare and perform the transition? Is there a chance to 
meet the Nov 5th deadline, somehow?

1) I have started creating a new debian package "nsf" which will contain 
the binary and scripted components of NSF, NX, and XOTcl 2. I base this 
on the infrastructure already established for the xotcl package (debian/*).

I will have completed this by tomorrow evening, most probably. Can I 
count on someone reviewing and promoting the package, then?

Have there been critical updates to the Tcl/Tk package maintainer 
guidelines which I should consider?

2) I will prepare an update for the "xotcl" package, to align the 
dependencies:

"xotcl" will depend on: tcl 8.4/8.5, tk 8.4/8.5
"nsf" will require: tcl 8.5+/ tk 8.5+

Note that "xotcl" and "nsf" (once installed) can coexist (e.g., under 
tcl 8.5 environment) since the Tcl package versions clearly discriminate 
between the two lines. Under 8.4 (if still relevant) and 8.6, 
respectively, they will be mutually exclusive because of the distinct 
runtime dependencies.

Is there anything I am missing from my "transition picture"?

Thank you all and all the best,
Stefan

-- 
Institute for Information Systems and New Media
Vienna University of Economics and Business
Welthandelsplatz 1, Building D2, A-1020 Vienna
Austria

http://nm.wu.ac.at/en/sobernig
stefan.sobernig at wu.ac.at
ss at thinkersfoot.net

t. +43-1-31336-4878
f. +43-1-31336-746