Tk Toolkit Functional Areas for Maintainer AssignmentsKevin KennyJim InghamDon PorterDaniel A. SteffenDonal K. Fellows$Revision: 1.30 $
This document proposes a division of the Tk toolkit's source code into functional areas so that each area may be assigned to one or more maintainers.
TCT procedures (see ) call for each maintainer to be responsible for a portion of the Tk toolkit's source code. Certain portions of the Tk toolkit's source code are naturally associated with certain other portions. (For example, the implementation of a command is intimately related to the documentation for that command.) Establishing a natural division of the Tk toolkit's source code into units needing maintainers is a useful preliminary effort toward a public call for volunteer maintainers.
See for the mapping of these functional areas to maintainers.
provides a convincing rationale for establishing a simple mapping from source files to maintainers. It also breaks out maintainers' functional areas for the Tcl core. This document attempts to develop a similar mapping for the Tk toolkit.
Just as with , this document attempts to divide the Tk toolkit into a set of the smallest sensible functional units.
One other factor, which was not addressed in , is that there is considerably more platform dependent code in Tk than in Tcl, and it is unreasonable to expect people to take ownership for pieces of code that run on platforms they don't have access to. However, we want to make sure that the maintainer structure supports the cross-platform nature of Tk.
To that end, in any area where there is both generic code, and platform specific code, we propose that maintainers can sign up for the generic code and code for one or more platforms. By overlapping the generic code, we ensure that the public interfaces to Tk will stay consistent among the platforms, while not forcing maintainers to presume expertise in code they can't even compile, much less test or understand fully.
The Tk toolkit shall be divided into the following functional units, each to be assigned one or more maintainers. Each area will also be a Category in the SourceForge Tracker for Tk:
Bindings - library/tk.tclAppearance - generic/default.h, macosx/tkMacOSXDefault.h, unix/tkUnixDefault.h, win/tkWinDefault.h[*button] and [label] - doc/button.n, doc/checkbutton.n, doc/label.n, doc/radiobutton.n, generic/tkButton.c, generic/tkButton.h, library/button.tcl, macosx/tkMacOSXButton.c, unix/tkUnixButton.c, tests/butGeom.tcl, tests/butGeom2.tcl, tests/button.test, tests/unixButton.test, tests/winButton.test, win/rc/buttons.bmp, win/tkWinButton.cCanvas Basics - doc/CanvPsY.3, doc/CanvTxtInfo.3, doc/CanvTkwin.3, doc/CrtItemType.3, doc/GetDash.3, doc/canvas.n, generic/tkCanvUtil.c, generic/tkCanvas.c, generic/tkCanvas.h, tests/canvas.testCanvas Items - generic/tkCanvArc.c, generic/tkCanvBmap.c, generic/tkCanvImg.c, generic/tkCanvLine.c, generic/tkCanvPoly.c, generic/tkCanvText.c, generic/tkCanvWind.c, generic/tkRectOval.c, tests/arc.tcl, tests/canvImg.test, tests/canvRect.test, tests/canvText.test, tests/canvWind.testCanvas PostScript - generic/prolog.ps, generic/tkCanvPs.c, library/prolog.ps, tests/canvPs.test, tests/canvPsArc.tcl, tests/canvPsBmap.tcl, tests/canvPsGrph.tcl, tests/canvPsImg.tcl, tests/canvPsText.tcl[entry] - doc/entry.n, generic/tkEntry.c, library/entry.tcl, tests/entry.test[frame], [toplevel] and [labelframe] (see ) - doc/frame.n, doc/labelframe.n, doc/toplevel.n, generic/tkFrame.c, tests/frame.test[listbox] - doc/listbox.n, generic/tkListbox.c, library/listbox.tcl, tests/listbox.testGeneric Menus - doc/menu.n, doc/menubutton.n, doc/popup.n, generic/tkMacWinMenu.c, generic/tkMenu.c, generic/tkMenu.h, generic/tkMenuDraw.c, generic/tkMenubutton.c, generic/tkMenubutton.h, library/menu.tcl, library/tearoff.tcl, tests/menu.test, tests/menuDraw.test, tests/menubut.testAqua Menus - macosx/tkMacOSXMenu.c, macosx/tkMacOSXMenu.r, macosx/tkMacOSXMenubutton.c, macosx/tkMacOSXMenus.cUnix Menus - tests/unixMenu.test, unix/tkUnixMenu.c, unix/tkUnixMenubu.cWin Menus - tests/winMenu.test, win/tkWinMenu.c[message] - doc/message.n, generic/tkMessage.c, tests/message.test[scale] - doc/scale.n, generic/tkScale.c, generic/tkScale.h, library/scale.tcl, macosx/tkMacOSXScale.c, tests/scale.test, unix/tkUnixScale.c[scrollbar] - doc/scrollbar.n, generic/tkScrollbar.c, generic/tkScrollbar.h, library/scrlbar.tcl, macosx/tkMacOSXScrlbr.c, tests/scrollbar.test, unix/tkUnixScrlbr.c, win/tkWinScrlbr.c[spinbox] - doc/spinbox.n, library/spinbox.tcl, tests/spinbox.test[text] - doc/text.n, generic/tkText.c, generic/tkText.h, generic/tkTextBTree.c, generic/tkTextDisp.c, generic/tkTextImage.c, generic/tkTextIndex.c, generic/tkTextMark.c, generic/tkTextTag.c, generic/tkTextWind.c, generic/tkUndo.c, generic/tkUndo.h, library/text.tcl, tests/text.test, tests/textBTree.test, tests/textDisp.test, tests/textImage.test, tests/textIndex.test, tests/textMark.test, tests/textTag.test, tests/textWind.testMenubars (obsolete) - doc/menubar.n, library/obsolete.tcl[tk_optionMenu] - doc/optionMenu.n, library/optMenu.tcl[panedwindow] (see ) - doc/panedwindow.n, generic/tkPanedWindow.c, library/panedwindow.tcl, tests/panedwindow.testStyle Engine (see ) - generic/tkStyle.c
Option Parsing - doc/ConfigWidg.3, doc/SetOptions.3, generic/tkConfig.c, generic/tkOldConfig.c, macosx/tkMacOSXConfig.c, unix/tkUnixConfig.c, tests/config.test, win/tkWinConfig.cRelief - doc/3DBorder.3, doc/GetRelief.3, generic/tk3d.c, generic/tk3d.h, unix/tkUnix3d.c, tests/bevel.tcl, tests/border.test, win/tkWin3d.cBuilt-in Bitmaps - bitmaps/error.bmp, bitmaps/gray12.bmp, bitmaps/gray25.bmp, bitmaps/gray50.bmp, bitmaps/gray75.bmp, bitmaps/hourglass.bmp, bitmaps/info.bmp, bitmaps/questhead.bmp, bitmaps/question.bmp, bitmaps/warning.bmp, doc/GetBitmap.3, generic/tkBitmap.c, macosx/tkMacOSXBitmap.c, tests/bitmap.testConversions From String - doc/GetAnchor.3, doc/GetCapStyl.3, doc/GetJoinStl.3, doc/GetJustify.3, doc/GetPixels.3, doc/GetUid.3, generic/tkGet.c, tests/get.testObjects - generic/tkObj.c, tests/obj.testUtility Functions - doc/DrawFocHlt.3, doc/GetScroll.3, generic/tkUtil.c, tests/util.testColormaps and Visuals - doc/GetClrmap.3, doc/GetVisual.3, generic/tkVisual.c, tests/visual.testColor Names - doc/GetColor.3, doc/colors.n, generic/tkColor.c, generic/tkColor.h, macosx/tkMacOSXColor.c, unix/tkUnixColor.c, tests/cmap.tcl, tests/color.test, win/tkWinColor.c, xlib/xcolors.cCursor Names - doc/GetCursor.3, doc/cursors.n, generic/tkCursor.c, macosx/tkMacOSXCursor.c, macosx/tkMacOSXCursors.r, macosx/tkMacOSXXCursors.r, unix/tkUnixCursor.c, tests/cursor.test, win/rc/cursor*.cur, win/tkWinCursor.c, xlib/X11/cursorfont.hKey Symbols - doc/keysyms.n, macosx/tkMacOSXKeyboard.c, unix/tkUnixKey.c, win/tkWinKey.c, xlib/X11/keysym.h, xlib/X11/keysymdef.h
Generic Dialog Support - library/comdlg.tcl[tk_chooseColor] - doc/chooseColor.n, library/clrpick.tcl, tests/clrpick.test[tk_dialog] - doc/dialog.n, library/dialog.tcl, macosx/tkMacOSXDialog.c, tests/dialog.test, tests/winDialog.test, unix/tkUnixDialog.c, win/tkWinDialog.c[tk_chooseDirectory] - doc/chooseDirectory.n, library/choosedir.tcl, tests/choosedir.test[tk_get*File] - doc/getOpenFile.n, generic/tkFileFilter.c, generic/tkFileFilter.h, library/tkfbox.tcl, library/xmfbox.tcl, tests/filebox.test, tests/xmfbox.test[tk_messageBox] - doc/messageBox.n, library/msgbox.tcl, tests/msgbox.test
Image Basics - doc/CrtImgType.3, doc/DeleteImg.3, doc/GetImage.3, doc/ImgChanged.3, doc/NameOfImg.3, doc/image.n, generic/tkImage.c, generic/tkImgUtil.c, generic/tkStubImg.c, tests/image.testBitmap Images - doc/bitmap.n, generic/tkImgBmap.c, tests/imgBmap.testPhoto Images - doc/CrtPhImgFmt.3, doc/FindPhoto.3, doc/photo.n, generic/tkImgPhoto.c, tests/imgPhoto.testPhoto Image|GIF - generic/tkImgGIF.cPhoto Image|PPM - generic/tkImgPPM.c, tests/imgPPM.test
Generic Fonts - doc/FontId.3, doc/GetFont.3, doc/MeasureChar.3, doc/TextLayout.3, doc/font.n, generic/tkFont.c, generic/tkFont.h, tests/font.testAqua Fonts - macosx/tkMacOSXFont.cUnix Fonts - tests/unixFont.test, unix/tkUnixFont.c, unix/tkUnixRFont.cWin Fonts - tests/winFont.test, win/tkWinFont.c
Geometry Management - doc/GeomReq.3, doc/MaintGeom.3, doc/ManageGeom.3, generic/tkGeometry.c, tests/geometry.test[grid] - doc/grid.n, generic/tkGrid.c, tests/grid.test[pack] - doc/pack-old.n, doc/pack.n, generic/tkPack.c, tests/oldpack.test, tests/pack.test[place] - doc/place.n, generic/tkPlace.c, tests/place.test
[clipboard] - doc/Clipboard.3, doc/clipboard.n, generic/tkClipboard.c, macosx/tkMacOSXClipboard.c, tests/clipboard.test, tests/unixSelect.test, tests/winClipboard.test, unix/tkUnixSelect.c, win/tkWinClipboard.c[selection] - doc/ClrSelect.3, doc/CrtSelHdlr.3, doc/GetSelect.3, doc/OwnSelect.3, doc/selection.n, generic/tkSelect.c, generic/tkSelect.h, tests/select.test
[console] - doc/console.n, generic/tkConsole.c, library/console.tcl[focus] - doc/focus.n, generic/tkFocus.c, tests/focus.test[grab] and [tk busy] - doc/Grab.3, doc/busy.n doc/grab.n, generic/tkBusy.c, generic/tkBusy.h, generic/tkGrab.c, tests/busy.test, tests/grab.test[option] - doc/AddOption.3, doc/GetOption.3, doc/option.n, generic/tkOption.c, tests/option.file1, tests/option.file2, tests/option.test[send] - doc/SetAppName.3, doc/send.n, macosx/tkMacOSXSend.c, tests/send.test, tests/unixSend.test, tests/winSend.test, unix/tkUnixSend.c, win/tkWinSend.c[tk_focus*] - doc/focusNext.n, library/focus.tcl, tests/focusTcl.test[tk_setPalette] - doc/palette.n, library/palette.tclSafe Tk - doc/loadTk.n, library/safetk.tcl, tests/safe.test
Geometry Functions - generic/tkTrig.cTk_Win Functions - doc/ConfigWind.3, doc/CrtWindow.3, doc/IdToWindow.3, doc/MainWin.3, doc/MapWindow.3, doc/Name.3, doc/Restack.3, doc/SetClass.3, doc/SetClassProcs.3, doc/SetVisual.3, doc/StrictMotif.3, doc/Tk_Init.3, doc/WindowId.3, generic/tkWindow.c, tests/window.testGraphic Contexts - doc/GetGC.3, generic/tkGC.cGeneric Window Operations - doc/CoordToWin.3, doc/FreeXId.3, doc/GetHINSTANCE.3, doc/GetHWND.3, doc/GetPixmap.3, doc/GetRootCrd.3, doc/GetVRoot.3, doc/HWNDToWindow.3, doc/MoveToplev.3, doc/SetCaret.3, doc/SetGrid.3, doc/bell.n, doc/bind.n, doc/bindtags.n, doc/destroy.n, doc/lower.n, doc/raise.n, doc/tk.n, doc/tkwait.n, doc/winfo.n, doc/wm.n, generic/tkCmds.c, generic/tkPointer.c, tests/bell.test, tests/cmds.test, tests/embed.test, tests/id.test, tests/raise.test, tests/tk.test, tests/winfo.test, tests/wm.test, xlib/xgc.cAqua Window Operations - macosx/tkMacOSXCarbonEvents.c macosx/tkMacOSXDebug.c macosx/tkMacOSXDebug.h macosx/tkMacOSXDraw.c, macosx/tkMacOSXEmbed.c, macosx/tkMacOSXEvent.c macosx/tkMacOSXEvent.h macosx/tkMacOSXHLEvents.c, macosx/tkMacOSXKeyEvent.c macosx/tkMacOSXMouseEvent.c macosx/tkMacOSXNotify.c macosx/tkMacOSXRegion.c, macosx/tkMacOSXSubwindows.c, macosx/tkMacOSXWindowEvent.c macosx/tkMacOSXWm.c, macosx/tkMacOSXWm.h, macosx/tkMacOSXXStubs.cUnix Window Operations - tests/unixEmbed.test, tests/unixWm.test, unix/tkUnix.c, unix/tkUnixDraw.c, unix/tkUnixEmbed.c, unix/tkUnixEvent.c, unix/tkUnixFocus.c, unix/tkUnixWm.c, unix/tkUnixXId.cWin Window Operations - tests/winWm.test, win/stubs.c, win/tkWinDraw.c, win/tkWinEmbed.c, win/tkWinImage.c, win/tkWinPixmap.c, win/tkWinPointer.c, win/tkWinRegion.c, win/tkWinWindow.c, win/tkWinWm.c, win/tkWinX.cEvents - doc/BindTable.3, doc/event.n, generic/tkBind.c, tests/bind.testEvent Loop - doc/CrtCmHdlr.3, doc/CrtGenHdlr.3, doc/EventHndlr.3, doc/HandleEvent.3, doc/MainLoop.3, doc/QWinEvent.3, doc/RestrictEv.3, generic/tkEvent.c, tests/event.testError Handling - doc/CrtErrHdlr.3, doc/tkerror.n, generic/tkError.c, library/bgerror.tcl, tests/bgerror.testAtoms - doc/InternAtom.3, generic/tkAtom.c, xlib/X11/Xatom.h
Argv Parsing - doc/ParseArgv.3, generic/tkArgv.cApplication Embedding - doc/Tk_Main.3, generic/tkInitScript.h, generic/tkMain.c, macosx/tkMacOSXInit.c, unix/tkUnixInit.c, win/tkWin32Dll.c, win/tkWinInit.c, tests/main.testwish - doc/wish.1, macosx/tkMacOSXAppInit.c, unix/tkAppInit.c, win/winMain.c
Widget Tour - library/demos/arrow.tcl, library/demos/bind.tcl, library/demos/bitmap.tcl, library/demos/button.tcl, library/demos/check.tcl, library/demos/clrpick.tcl, library/demos/colors.tcl, library/demos/cscroll.tcl, library/demos/ctext.tcl, library/demos/dialog1.tcl, library/demos/dialog2.tcl, library/demos/entry1.tcl, library/demos/entry2.tcl, library/demos/entry3.tcl, library/demos/filebox.tcl, library/demos/floor.tcl, library/demos/form.tcl, library/demos/hscale.tcl, library/demos/icon.tcl, library/demos/image1.tcl, library/demos/image2.tcl, library/demos/items.tcl, library/demos/label.tcl, library/demos/labelframe.tcl, library/demos/menu.tcl, library/demos/menubu.tcl, library/demos/msgbox.tcl, library/demos/paned1.tcl, library/demos/paned2.tcl, library/demos/plot.tcl, library/demos/puzzle.tcl, library/demos/radio.tcl, library/demos/ruler.tcl, library/demos/sayings.tcl, library/demos/search.tcl, library/demos/spin.tcl, library/demos/states.tcl, library/demos/style.tcl, library/demos/text.tcl, library/demos/twind.tcl, library/demos/vscale.tcl, library/demos/widget, library/demos/images/earth.gif, library/demos/images/earthris.gif, library/demos/images/face.bmp, library/demos/images/flagdown.bmp, library/demos/images/flagup.bmp, library/demos/images/gray25.bmp, library/demos/images/letters.bmp, library/demos/images/noletter.bmp, library/demos/images/pattern.bmp, library/demos/images/tcllogo.gif, library/demos/images/teapot.ppmSquare Demo - generic/tkSquare.c, library/demos/squareOther Demos - library/demos/browse, library/demos/hello, library/demos/ixset, library/demos/rmt, library/demos/rolodex, library/demos/tcolor, library/demos/timer
L10N - library/msgs/cs.msg, library/msgs/de.msg, library/msgs/el.msg, library/msgs/en.msg, library/msgs/en_gb.msg, library/msgs/es.msg, library/msgs/fr.msg, library/msgs/it.msg, library/msgs/nl.msg, library/msgs/ru.msg
Release Notes - README, */README, */*/README, changes, license.terms, doc/options.n, doc/tk4.0.ps, tests/bugs.tclPortability - compat/limits.h, compat/stdlib.h, compat/unistd.hX11 Emulation - xlib/X11/X.h, xlib/X11/Xfuncproto.h, xlib/X11/Xlib.h, xlib/X11/Xutil.h, xlib/xbytes.h, xlib/xdraw.c, xlib/ximage.c, xlib/xutil.cMac OS X Build - macosx/Makefile, macosx/buildTkConfig.tcl, macosx/tkAboutDlg.r, macosx/tkMacOSX.h, macosx/tkMacOSXAETE.r, macosx/Wish.pbproj/project.pbxprojUnix Build - unix/Makefile.in, unix/aclocal.m4, unix/configure.in, unix/install-sh, unix/tcl.m4, unix/tk.spec, unix/tkConfig.sh.inWin Build - win/Makefile.in, win/aclocal.m4, win/buildall.vc.bat, win/configure.in, win/makefile.vc, win/mkd.bat, win/nmakehlp.c, win/rc/tkc, win/rc/tk_base.rc, win/rc/wish.exe.manifest, win/rc/wish.rc, win/rmd.bat, win/rules.vc, win/tcl.m4, win/tkConfig.sh.in, win/tkWin.hTest Tools - generic/tkTest.c, macosx/tkMacOSXTest.c, win/tkWinTest.c, tests/all.tcl, tests/defs.tcl, tests/visual_bb.testLogos - library/images/logo.eps, library/images/logo100.gif, library/images/logo64.gif, library/images/logoLarge.gif, library/images/logoMed.gif, library/images/pwrdLogo.eps, library/images/pwrdLogo100.gif, library/images/pwrdLogo150.gif, library/images/pwrdLogo175.gif, library/images/pwrdLogo200.gif, library/images/pwrdLogo75.gif, library/images/tai-ku.gif, macosx/Wish.icns, win/lamp.bmp, win/rc/tk.ico, win/rc/wish.ico
Themed Tk - doc/ttk_*, generic/ttk/*, library/ttk/*, tests/ttk/*, macosx/ttkMacOSXTheme.c, win/ttkWinMonitor.c, win/ttkWinTheme.c, win/ttkWinXPTheme.c
The following files are shared by all of Tk. Any maintainer may modify them as necessary to complete changes they are making to their portion of Tk. Some of the following files define Tk's API and should be changed only with TCT approval.
ChangeLog, doc/tkvars.n, doc/TkInitStubs.3, doc/man.macros, generic/tk.decls, generic/tk.h, generic/tkInt.decls, generic/tkInt.h, generic/tkPort.h, generic/tkStubLib.c, library/unsupported.tcl, macosx/tkMacOSXInt.h, macosx/tkMacOSXPort.h, unix/tkUnixInt.h, unix/tkUnixPort.h, win/tkWinInt.h, win/tkWinPort.h
The following files are generated, so they don't need maintainers.
generic/ks_names.h, generic/tkDecls.h, generic/tkIntDecls.h, generic/tkIntPlatDecls.h, generic/tkIntXlibDecls.h, generic/tkPlatDecls.h, generic/tkStubInit.c, library/demos/tclIndex, library/tclIndex, unix/configure, unix/mkLinks, win/configure
In addition to the division into functional areas, responsibility for a given area can also be qualified by one or more platform specifiers. Some areas, like Windows Configuration and Build Tools are obviously platform specific, so the qualification is unnecessary. Others, like Canvas Items, are wholly generic. But others, like Button, Scale or Scrollbar contain code for all platforms.
A maintainer can sign up for one of these latter areas, but specify support for only one platform. This means that that person will be responsible for the generic code in this area, in conjunction with the other platform maintainers in this area, and the platform specific code in that area.
The point behind sharing the generic code among all the maintainers is so that any changes to the Tk visible face of the widget be designed in concert for all platforms. Therefore, it is the responsibility of a platform maintainer for one platform who is sponsering a new feature for that area to work with the other platform maintainers to ensure that the feature is implemented on all platforms. One of the strengths of Tk is its cross-platform nature, and one of the maintainer's jobs is to ensure that this continues.
Procedurally, the maintainer will be listed as Button Widget - Mac OS X, etc. A maintainer for a given area can sign up for one or more platforms. Due to the good design of the Tk's platform dependencies, determining which files are generic, and which are platform specific is trivial. The generic ones are in the generic directory, the Mac ones in the macosx directory, etc. Similarly, an area which has NO files in the macosx, win, or unix directories is a generic area, and no qualifiers are needed.
This document has been placed in the public domain.