Re: GSoC project (screen - embedded scripting support)

[Sadrul Habib Chowdhury]

* Ivo had this to say on [30 Mar 2009, 10:29:13 +0200]:
> Hi,
> 
> I am interested in applying for GSoC, and I like the idea of scripting
> support in screen. I am thinking about Perl support, mainly because I know
> the language a little bit, but I am open to change it to lua, Python, if one
> of these is more interesting for screen users. I have some examples of what
> I want from script to do, like executing commands in specified windows,
> handle with monitored windows, creating/switching regions and so on. I want
> to ask you, if there is something about scripting, you want to be done (some
> ideas, what the interface between screen and scipting language should
> handle), please let me know. Thanks,

The most important reason behind adding scripting support is to allow
doing things that are not currently possible using the current command
mechanism [easily].

The actions you say are probably don't fall into that category, e.g. you
could probably use a combination of 'at', 'screen', 'select', 'focus'
etc. commands (except handling monitored windows with existing commands
is almost definitely not possible). So, in your application, please make
sure you talk about some use cases that are currently not possible that
you plan to allow scripts to do.

As for the scripting language, I don't have any preference. Having worked
with Perl will probably of some help, but not much, since your primary
work will be with C, and only a semi-trivial amount of work will probably
involve scripts. Please make sure you take a look at what's involved in
embedding scripting languages in an application (taking a look at the
current lua support might help) to make sure you know what you are
applying for.

Good luck.
Sadrul