Re: The PDF back end

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Hi Uwe,

On Fri, May 18, 2001 at 04:44:56AM +0400, Valeriy E. Ushakov wrote:

> Well, unless changes to Lout core thoroughly break PDF backend, I
> think that dropping it gains nothing.

That is what I was trying to say. Jeff: If you think that "Well,
since the PDF back-end can't be fixed any time soon, we might
just as well drop it", I prefer a partial PDF back-end to none at
all.


> > Perhaps now is the time to start transitioning to a new model

> That's a *big* project.  That's, also - quite interesting project.

Indeed. I see two more or less seperate projects:

1) Make Lout generate nothing but basic graphical objects. Add
   layer which takes these objects and generates output for the
   target back-end.
2) Move some of Postscript's power into Lout.

The latter project has (at least) 3 solutions:

1) Provide hooks for external modules. External modules could
   define new Lout functions. Statically linked into Lout at
   first, support loading on the fly later.
2) Make Lout a full-blown programming language.
3) Use current external program support. Has some security issues
   which need to be addressed.

(I purposely glossed over some problems here. I'll address them later
if necessary.)


> As far as "great new features" are concerned... Off the top of my
> head:

*snip*

This nice list should really be put up on the web site. Did I
mention that the source tree doesn't have a TODO file? After all,
if you are short on time, use every means available to draw in
other people's resources. Leverage the potential of Open Source.

> Any takers???

Wish I had the time. Also, the strange source naming convention
has held me off from looking at the code when I _did_ have a
little time.


- --
Regards,                                                        /\
=Martin=                                                        \/
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From: address@hidden
To: Lout List <address@hidden>
Subject: Re: The PDF back end
In-Reply-To: <address@hidden>; from address@hidden on Fri, May 18, 2001 at 
04:44:56AM +0400
X-S-Issue: address@hidden 2001/05/20 13:31:00 b647b194d9769742ed569f4d3a41e3c2
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