+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Copyright (c) 1998-2006,2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. --
+-- --
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+-- of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished --
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+-- --
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+-- in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. --
+-- --
+-- THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS --
+-- OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF --
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+-- USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. --
+-- --
+-- Except as contained in this notice, the name(s) of the above copyright --
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+-- sale, use or other dealings in this Software without prior written --
+-- authorization. --
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- $Id: README-first,v 1.9 2007/01/27 18:27:09 tom Exp $
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C++ interface to ncurses routines
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-This directory contains the source code for three C++ classes which
-ease the use of writing ncurses-based programs. The code is derived
-from the libg++ CursesWindow class but enhanced for ncurses.
+This directory contains the source code for several C++ classes which
+ease the use of writing ncurses-based programs. The code was originally
+derived from the libg++ CursesWindow class, but rewritten for ncurses.
The classes simplify the use of window specific functions by
encapsulating them in the window object. Function overloading is
-used in order to narrow the interface. E.g. you don't have the
+used in order to narrow the interface. For example, you do not have the
distinction between `printw' and `mvprintw' anymore.
A second benefit is the removal of all #defines which are included in
the curses.h file. This is a steady cause of trouble because many
common identifiers are used. Instead now all #defines are inline
-functions which also allows strict type checking of arguments.
-
-The next enhancement is color support, which is provided by a derived
-class. The implementation chosen here is directed to unrestricted use
-of mixes of color and monochrome windows. This is done through virtual
-functions and means that you can write all of your code as if a color
-window is the destination. If the destination window is monochrome these
-functions calls have no effect.
-
- NOTE: This implementation of the color support was topic of
- some discussion. The introduction of virtual functions
- introduced some overhead. Please let us know what you think
- about this: is it worth being able to write color supporting
- functions.
-
-The last point to mention is the support of another package Zeyd
-distributes with his ncurses package: the panels library. This support
-is provided by the NCursesPanel class, which is also derived from the
-NCursesWindow class. This allows building interfaces with windows.
+functions, which also allows strict type checking of arguments.
+
+The next enhancement is color support. It was originally provided by a
+derived class. This caused some trouble if you think about Panels or
+Menus and Forms with colors. We decided to put color support into the
+base class so that any derived class may use color support also.
+The implementation chosen here is directed to unrestricted use
+of mixes of color and monochrome windows. The original NCursesColorWindow
+class is maintained for compatibility reasons.
+
+The last point to mention is the support of other packages that are
+distributed with the ncurses package: the panels library, the menu library
+and the form library. This support is provided by the NCursesPanel class,
+which is also derived from the NCursesWindow class and the NCursesMenu
+and NCursesForm classes which are derived from NCursesPanel. This allows
+building interfaces with windows.
+
Please see the example program for a quick introduction.
Note that at this point, there is no documentation for these classes.
Suggestions for enhancements and contributions of code (and docs) are
welcome. Please let us know which functionality you miss.
- ATTENTION LINUX USERS: There is currently some discussion of
- replacing the BSD curses in the Linux libc with ncurses. If
- this is done we could perhaps include these classes in the Linux
- libg++ replacing the original CursesWindow class (and renaming it
- to CursesWindow). This could be done because NCursesWindow can
- be made easily to a superset of the CursesWindow class.
-
-
Original author:
Eric Newton <newton@rocky.oswego.edu> for FSF's libg++
-Authors of this release:
+Authors of first ncurses based release (NCursesWindow, NCursesPanel):
Ulrich Drepper <drepper@ira.uka.de>
and Anatoly Ivasyuk <anatoly@nick.csh.rit.edu>
+
+Authors of this release:
+ Juergen Pfeifer
+ Thomas E. Dickey
projects / ncurses.git / blobdiff