TIP #23: Tk Toolkit Functional Areas for Maintainer Assignments
_____________________________________________________________________________
TIP:	23
Title:	Tk Toolkit Functional Areas for Maintainer Assignments
Version:	$Revision: 1.30 $
Authors:	Kevin Kenny <kennykb@acm.org>
	Jim Ingham <jingham@apple.com>
	Don Porter <dgp@users.sourceforge.net>
	Daniel A. Steffen <das@users.sourceforge.net>
	Donal K. Fellows <donal.k.fellows@manchester.ac.uk>
State:	Accepted
Type:	Process
Vote:	Done
Created:	Mon Jan 22 00:00:00 UTC 2001
Abstract
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.
Background
TCT procedures (see [0]) 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 [30] for the mapping of these functional areas to maintainers.
Rationale
[16] 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 [16], 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 [16], 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.
Functional Areas
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:
Widgets
1.	Bindings - library/tk.tcl
2.	Appearance - generic/default.h, macosx/tkMacOSXDefault.h, unix/tkUnixDefault.h, win/tkWinDefault.h
3.	[[*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.c
4.	Canvas 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.test
5.	Canvas 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.test
6.	Canvas 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
7.	[[entry]] - doc/entry.n, generic/tkEntry.c, library/entry.tcl, tests/entry.test
8.	[[frame]], [[toplevel]] and [[labelframe]] (see [18]) - doc/frame.n, doc/labelframe.n, doc/toplevel.n, generic/tkFrame.c, tests/frame.test
9.	[[listbox]] - doc/listbox.n, generic/tkListbox.c, library/listbox.tcl, tests/listbox.test
10.	Generic 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.test
11.	Aqua Menus - macosx/tkMacOSXMenu.c, macosx/tkMacOSXMenu.r, macosx/tkMacOSXMenubutton.c, macosx/tkMacOSXMenus.c
12.	Unix Menus - tests/unixMenu.test, unix/tkUnixMenu.c, unix/tkUnixMenubu.c
13.	Win Menus - tests/winMenu.test, win/tkWinMenu.c
14.	[[message]] - doc/message.n, generic/tkMessage.c, tests/message.test
15.	[[scale]] - doc/scale.n, generic/tkScale.c, generic/tkScale.h, library/scale.tcl, macosx/tkMacOSXScale.c, tests/scale.test, unix/tkUnixScale.c
16.	[[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
17.	[[spinbox]] - doc/spinbox.n, library/spinbox.tcl, tests/spinbox.test
18.	[[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.test
19.	Menubars (obsolete) - doc/menubar.n, library/obsolete.tcl
20.	[[tk_optionMenu]] - doc/optionMenu.n, library/optMenu.tcl
21.	[[panedwindow]] (see [41]) - doc/panedwindow.n, generic/tkPanedWindow.c, library/panedwindow.tcl, tests/panedwindow.test
22.	Style Engine (see [48]) - generic/tkStyle.c
Widget Options
23.	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.c
24.	Relief - doc/3DBorder.3, doc/GetRelief.3, generic/tk3d.c, generic/tk3d.h, unix/tkUnix3d.c, tests/bevel.tcl, tests/border.test, win/tkWin3d.c
25.	Built-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.test
26.	Conversions 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.test
27.	Objects - generic/tkObj.c, tests/obj.test
28.	Utility Functions - doc/DrawFocHlt.3, doc/GetScroll.3, generic/tkUtil.c, tests/util.test
29.	Colormaps and Visuals - doc/GetClrmap.3, doc/GetVisual.3, generic/tkVisual.c, tests/visual.test
30.	Color 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.c
31.	Cursor 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.h
32.	Key Symbols - doc/keysyms.n, macosx/tkMacOSXKeyboard.c, unix/tkUnixKey.c, win/tkWinKey.c, xlib/X11/keysym.h, xlib/X11/keysymdef.h
Standard Dialogs
33.	Generic Dialog Support - library/comdlg.tcl
34.	[[tk_chooseColor]] - doc/chooseColor.n, library/clrpick.tcl, tests/clrpick.test
35.	[[tk_dialog]] - doc/dialog.n, library/dialog.tcl, macosx/tkMacOSXDialog.c, tests/dialog.test, tests/winDialog.test, unix/tkUnixDialog.c, win/tkWinDialog.c
36.	[[tk_chooseDirectory]] - doc/chooseDirectory.n, library/choosedir.tcl, tests/choosedir.test
37.	[[tk_get*File]] - doc/getOpenFile.n, generic/tkFileFilter.c, generic/tkFileFilter.h, library/tkfbox.tcl, library/xmfbox.tcl, tests/filebox.test, tests/xmfbox.test
38.	[[tk_messageBox]] - doc/messageBox.n, library/msgbox.tcl, tests/msgbox.test
Images
39.	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.test
40.	Bitmap Images - doc/bitmap.n, generic/tkImgBmap.c, tests/imgBmap.test
41.	Photo Images - doc/CrtPhImgFmt.3, doc/FindPhoto.3, doc/photo.n, generic/tkImgPhoto.c, tests/imgPhoto.test
42.	Photo Image|GIF - generic/tkImgGIF.c
43.	Photo Image|PPM - generic/tkImgPPM.c, tests/imgPPM.test
Fonts
44.	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.test
45.	Aqua Fonts - macosx/tkMacOSXFont.c
46.	Unix Fonts - tests/unixFont.test, unix/tkUnixFont.c, unix/tkUnixRFont.c
47.	Win Fonts - tests/winFont.test, win/tkWinFont.c
Geometry management
48.	Geometry Management - doc/GeomReq.3, doc/MaintGeom.3, doc/ManageGeom.3, generic/tkGeometry.c, tests/geometry.test
49.	[[grid]] - doc/grid.n, generic/tkGrid.c, tests/grid.test
50.	[[pack]] - doc/pack-old.n, doc/pack.n, generic/tkPack.c, tests/oldpack.test, tests/pack.test
51.	[[place]] - doc/place.n, generic/tkPlace.c, tests/place.test
Selection and Clipboard
52.	[[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
53.	[[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
Other Tk commands
54.	[[console]] - doc/console.n, generic/tkConsole.c, library/console.tcl
55.	[[focus]] - doc/focus.n, generic/tkFocus.c, tests/focus.test
56.	[[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
57.	[[option]] - doc/AddOption.3, doc/GetOption.3, doc/option.n, generic/tkOption.c, tests/option.file1, tests/option.file2, tests/option.test
58.	[[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
59.	[[tk_focus*]] - doc/focusNext.n, library/focus.tcl, tests/focusTcl.test
60.	[[tk_setPalette]] - doc/palette.n, library/palette.tcl
61.	Safe Tk - doc/loadTk.n, library/safetk.tcl, tests/safe.test
Low-level Tk functions
62.	Geometry Functions - generic/tkTrig.c
63.	Tk_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.test
64.	Graphic Contexts - doc/GetGC.3, generic/tkGC.c
65.	Generic 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.c
66.	Aqua 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.c
67.	Unix 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.c
68.	Win 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.c
69.	Events - doc/BindTable.3, doc/event.n, generic/tkBind.c, tests/bind.test
70.	Event 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.test
71.	Error Handling - doc/CrtErrHdlr.3, doc/tkerror.n, generic/tkError.c, library/bgerror.tcl, tests/bgerror.test
72.	Atoms - doc/InternAtom.3, generic/tkAtom.c, xlib/X11/Xatom.h
Shells
73.	Argv Parsing - doc/ParseArgv.3, generic/tkArgv.c
74.	Application 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.test
75.	wish - doc/wish.1, macosx/tkMacOSXAppInit.c, unix/tkAppInit.c, win/winMain.c
Demonstrations
76.	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.ppm
77.	Square Demo - generic/tkSquare.c, library/demos/square
78.	Other Demos - library/demos/browse, library/demos/hello, library/demos/ixset, library/demos/rmt, library/demos/rolodex, library/demos/tcolor, library/demos/timer
Localization
79.	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 Engineering
80.	Release Notes - README, */README, */*/README, changes, license.terms, doc/options.n, doc/tk4.0.ps, tests/bugs.tcl
81.	Portability - compat/limits.h, compat/stdlib.h, compat/unistd.h
82.	X11 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.c
83.	Mac OS X Build - macosx/Makefile, macosx/buildTkConfig.tcl, macosx/tkAboutDlg.r, macosx/tkMacOSX.h, macosx/tkMacOSXAETE.r, macosx/Wish.pbproj/project.pbxproj
84.	Unix Build - unix/Makefile.in, unix/aclocal.m4, unix/configure.in, unix/install-sh, unix/tcl.m4, unix/tk.spec, unix/tkConfig.sh.in
85.	Win 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.h
86.	Test Tools - generic/tkTest.c, macosx/tkMacOSXTest.c, win/tkWinTest.c, tests/all.tcl, tests/defs.tcl, tests/visual_bb.test
87.	Logos - 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 (Ttk)
88.	Themed Tk - doc/ttk_*, generic/ttk/*, library/ttk/*, tests/ttk/*, macosx/ttkMacOSXTheme.c, win/ttkWinMonitor.c, win/ttkWinTheme.c, win/ttkWinXPTheme.c
Shared Files
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
Generated Files
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
Platform Dependencies
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.
Copyright
This document has been placed in the public domain.
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