Dr. Dobb's Tcl-URL!

First, a correction:

  > Tcl: The Convenient Language

was coined by Will Duquette, not Reinhard Max, as I originally thought, and
(mis)reported last week.

QOTW - "[W]hy have a computer do all this automatically when you can waste
a human's time[?]"
    http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=comp.lang.tcl&selm=mair_fheal-0610020625550001%40c4.ppp.tsoft.com

"Relatively few people have a deep understanding of the entire
language--but that's true of any language."  Will Duquette

"For parsing XML, the right answer is almost always, 'Use a real XML
parser.'"  Joe English   


    Though it has been going on since the 26th of Sept, "CANTCL open for
    business" has been discussing the on-going need for some sort of
    central web depository and now has quite a few interesting posts
    bearing on this important topic:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=anbusu%24i3r%241%40srv38.cas.org&prev=/groups%3Fdq%3D%26num%3D25%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl%26start%3D100
    
    Donal provides a good refresher course in namespaces, variables, and
    how one relates to the other:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=3D9978F5.358EE8D6%40man.ac.uk&prev=/groups%3Fdq%3D%26num%3D25%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl%26start%3D100
    
    Bob Techentin brings up issues in using itcl with safe interpreters:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=3D9C0FBD.89481314%40man.ac.uk&prev=/groups%3Fdq%3D%26num%3D25%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl%26start%3D75
    
    Kevin Kenny clarifies reentrancy issues:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=3D9B5C05.B26B05D0%40acm.org&prev=/groups%3Fdq%3D%26num%3D25%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl%26start%3D75
    
    The default font chooser leaves some cold:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=yfifzvnyp4l.fsf%40triumf.ca&prev=/groups%3Fdq%3D%26num%3D25%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl%26start%3D50
    
    Battling paradigms: C has "static", how does Tcl do it?
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=anhta6%24hje%241%40lairds.org&prev=/groups%3Fdq%3D%26num%3D25%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl%26start%3D50
    
    BWidgets is still around, and Mark Saye is looking for input on
    where to take it:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=3D9C689F.9040704%40ActiveState.com&prev=/groups%3Fdq%3D%26num%3D25%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl%26start%3D50
    
    "Selling Tcl and scripting" contains good advice on advocacy issues
    or "How to Convince A PHB to Let You Do the Right Thing":
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=ankqb7%241ci%243%40srv38.cas.org&prev=/groups%3Fdq%3D%26num%3D25%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl%26start%3D25
    
    Starkits (the packaging system formerly known as Tclkits) continue
    to develop:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=3DA086B1.6E3AE1D9%40cs.nott.ac.uk&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl
    
    
    Announcements:
    
    Cris Fugate announces his new FrameSets and FrameAgents packages. 
    Like the recently announced Snit, FrameSets are a delegating
    paradigm, allowing one to build object-like "things" that are
    actually implemented with the help of previously-written code.
    FrameAgents allow one to use FrameSets to build mobile agents.
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&start=50&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=comp.lang.tcl&selm=23732-3D9D1F36-102%40storefull-2272.public.lawson.webtv.net
    
    Peter Baum announces the latest Gnocl:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&start=50&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&group=comp.lang.tcl&selm=pan.2002.10.03.19.20.49.582702.3109%40dr-baum.net
    
    Early release of "Tk_Bugz", which Jeff Godfrey descibes as an
    incomplete (but developing) version of the old favorite "Galaxian":
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=pan.2002.10.06.13.26.37.629644%40videotron.ca&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl
    
    Would it be nice to eliminate all the middleware and just build
    the entire system in Tcl?  Yes?  How about we start with a processor
    just for Tcl:
        http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&threadm=lijspukddvd2ppeats2bt60bobmsp6fues%404ax.com&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26group%3Dcomp.lang.tcl
    
    
    And thanks for Arjen Markus for his help reporting on Wiki action:
    
    Tcl User Groups: http://mini.net/tcl/tcl/4207
    Rotating a photo image on a canvas: http://mini.net/tcl/4022
    Scripting compilers? http://mini.net/tcl/3687
    Concurrency concepts: http://mini.net/tcl/3446
    Examples using TclHttpd: http://mini.net/tcl/2927
    Tcl and Other Languages: http://mini.net/tcl/1324
    What IS a "scripting language" really? http://mini.net/tcl/484
    
    Games at the Wiki:
    - It is still a bit rough, but now packed up into a starkit, easier
    than ever, Tk_Bugz is a rewrite in Tcl/Tk of the game "Galaxian",
    consult <http://wiki.tcl.tk/4236>. Lots of discussion on how to
    pack games too as a bonus.
    - Simple and sophisticated strategies with this game, known under a
    legion names, Dots and Boxes either requires two humans, a pen and
    paper or a computer and a starkit. Just read at
    <http://wiki.tcl.tk/4211>

    Tutorials for the experienced Tcl/Tk-programmer:
    - Exposes on various Tk subjects:
    - <http://wiki.tcl.tk/4238> describes how to handle "keystate":  the
    shift/alt/control buttons.
    - Internationalisation can be fun, espcially if you need more than a
    few basic tricks. As when dealing with Japanese, <http://wiki.tcl.tk/2544>
    - Exposes on various Tcl subjects:
    - Safe interpreters are explained in detail at <http://wiki.tcl.tk/4204>
    - Not sure about the commands uplevel and upvar? Take a break with
    <http://wiki.tcl.tk/4204>
    - Oh, oh, yet another page on objects, this time a collection,
    <http://wiki.tcl.tk/970> (it links to two new pages)

    Pieces to complete the puzzle:
    - Interacting with databases, you just need to know with which DBMS and what
    you want to do, <http://wiki.tcl.tk/620>
    - Regular expressions keep us amazed and amused,
    <http://wiki.tcl.tk/4086>
    - When on Windows, ever wanted to bridge the gap to COM? Now you can,
    <http://wiki.tcl.tk/3268>
    - Dealing with external programs and you can not use Expect for some reason?
    Do not worry, <http://wiki.tcl.tk/4215> may help you create the right
    interface.


Everything you want is probably one or two clicks away in these pages:

    The "Welcome to comp.lang.tcl" message by Andreas Kupries
        http://www.purl.org/net/tcl-welcome

    Larry Virden maintains a comp.lang.tcl FAQ launcher
        http://www.purl.org/NET/Tcl-FAQ/

    Brent Welch maintains "The Tcl Developer Xchange", a highly
    organized resource center of documents and software with
    provisions for individuals to "set up a link to your software
    and update ... as you release new versions."
        http://www.tcl-tk.net/resource/
    The Xchange sponsor also keeps info to convince your boss Tcl
    is a good thing
        http://www.tcl-tk.net/scripting/      

    The Tcl'ers Wiki is a huge, dynamic, collaboratively edited repository
    of documentation, examples, tutorials and pontifications on all things Tcl.
        http://wiki.tcl.tk/0
    For the ideal overview of the topics about Tcl most likely to
    interest a newcomer, see "Arts and Crafts ..."
	http://wiki.tcl.tk/969

    ActiveState Tools maintains a Cookbook of Tcl recipes
	http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookbook/Tcl

    NeoSoft has a comp.lang.tcl contributed sources archive
        http://www.neosoft.com/tcl/contributed-software/

    Cameron Laird tracks many Tcl/Tk references of interest
        http://starbase.neosoft.com/~claird/comp.lang.tcl/

    Cetus Links maintains a Tcl/Tk page with verified links
        http://www.cetus-links.org/oo_tcl_tk.html

    Google Groups archives comp.lang.tcl.announce posts
	http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tcl_announce/   

Previous - (U)se the (R)esource, (L)uke! - messages are listed here:
  http://purl.org/thecliff/tcl/url.html
--in principal.  In spring 2001, though,
  http://www.ddj.com/topics/tclurl/
  http://tcl.activestate.com:8004/tclurl/
are more consistently up-to-date.  A fourth possibility is                 
  http://groups.google.com/groups?oi=djq&as_q=+Tcl-URL!&as_ugroup=comp.lang.tcl  

Suggestions/corrections for next week's posting are always welcome.

To receive a new issue of this posting in e-mail each Monday, ask
<claird@phaseit.net> to subscribe.  Be sure to mention "Tcl-URL!".
--
Dr. Dobb's Journal (http://www.ddj.com) is pleased to participate in and
sponsor the "Tcl-URL!" project.