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diff --git a/doc/html/announce.html b/doc/html/announce.html index ffc115d..070f504 100644 --- a/doc/html/announce.html +++ b/doc/html/announce.html @@ -1,8 +1,7 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"> <!-- - $Id: announce.html,v 1.56 2013/05/17 23:34:26 tom Exp $ + $Id: announce.html,v 1.61 2020/02/09 21:26:51 tom Exp $ **************************************************************************** - * Copyright (c) 1998-2010,2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc. * + * Copyright 2018-2019,2020 Thomas E. Dickey * * * * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a * * copy of this software and associated documentation files (the * @@ -29,361 +28,2192 @@ * authorization. * **************************************************************************** --> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN"> <html> <head> <meta name="generator" content= - "HTML Tidy for Linux/x86 (vers 6 November 2007), see www.w3.org"> + "HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Linux version 5.2.0"> - <title>Announcing ncurses 5.9</title> - <link rev="made" href="mailto:bug-ncurses@gnu.org"> + <title>Announcing ncurses 6.2</title> + <link rel="author" href="mailto:bug-ncurses@gnu.org"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= "text/html; charset=us-ascii"> + <style type="text/css"> + p,li { max-width:700px; } + dd { max-width:630px; } + *.main-name { + font-style: italic; + font-variant: small-caps; + } + *.part-name { + font-family: "Andale Mono", "Monotype.com", monospace; + font-size: 12pt; + font-weight: bold; + } + *.demo-name { + font-family: "Andale Mono", "Monotype.com", monospace; + font-size: 10pt; + } + </style> </head> <body> - <h1>Announcing ncurses 5.9</h1>The ncurses (new curses) + <h1 class="no-header">Announcing ncurses 6.2</h1> + + <h2><a name="h2-overview" id="h2-overview">Overview</a></h2> + + <p>The <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> (new curses) library is a free software emulation of curses in System V - Release 4.0, and more. It uses terminfo format, supports pads and - color and multiple highlights and forms characters and - function-key mapping, and has all the other SYSV-curses - enhancements over BSD curses. + Release 4.0 (SVr4), and more. It uses terminfo format, supports + pads and color and multiple highlights and forms characters and + function-key mapping, and has all the other SVr4-curses + enhancements over BSD curses. SVr4 curses became the basis of + X/Open Curses.</p> <p>In mid-June 1995, the maintainer of 4.4BSD curses declared that he considered 4.4BSD curses obsolete, and encouraged the - keepers of Unix releases such as BSD/OS, FreeBSD and NetBSD to - switch over to ncurses.</p> + keepers of <span class="main-name">unix</span> releases such as + BSD/OS, FreeBSD and NetBSD to switch over to <span class= + "main-name">ncurses</span>.</p> + + <p>Since 1995, <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> has been + ported to many systems:</p> + + <ul> + <li>It is used in almost every system based on the Linux kernel + (aside from some embedded applications).</li> + + <li>It is used as the system curses library on OpenBSD, FreeBSD + and MacOS.</li> + + <li>It is used in environments such as Cygwin and MinGW. The + first of these was EMX on OS/2 Warp.</li> + + <li>It is used (though usually not as the <em>system</em> + curses) on all of the vendor <span class= + "main-name">unix</span> systems, e.g., AIX, HP-UX, IRIX64, SCO, + Solaris, Tru64.</li> - <p>The ncurses code was developed under GNU/Linux. It has been in - use for some time with OpenBSD as the system curses library, and - on FreeBSD and NetBSD as an external package. It should port - easily to any ANSI/POSIX-conforming UNIX. It has even been ported - to OS/2 Warp!</p> + <li>It should work readily on any ANSI/POSIX-conforming + <span class="main-name">unix</span>.</li> + </ul> <p>The distribution includes the library and support utilities, - including a terminfo compiler tic(1), a decompiler infocmp(1), - clear(1), tput(1), tset(1), and a termcap conversion tool - captoinfo(1). Full manual pages are provided for the library and - tools.</p> - - <p>The ncurses distribution is available via anonymous FTP at the - GNU distribution site <a href= - "ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ncurses/">ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ncurses/</a> .<br> - - It is also available at <a href= - "ftp://invisible-island.net/ncurses/">ftp://invisible-island.net/ncurses/</a> .</p> - - <h1>Release Notes</h1>This release is designed to be upward - compatible from ncurses 5.0 through 5.8; very few applications - will require recompilation, depending on the platform. These are - the highlights from the change-log since ncurses 5.8 release. - <p> - This is a bug-fix release, correcting a small number of urgent problems - in the ncurses library from the 5.8 release. - <p> - It also improves the Ada95 binding: + including</p> + <ul> - <li>fixes a longstanding portability problem with its use of the - <a href="http://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/form_fieldtype.3x">set_field_type</a> - function. Because that function uses variable-length argument lists, - its interface with gnat does not work with certain platforms. - <li>improves configurability and portability, particularly when built - separately from the main ncurses tree. The 5.8 release introduced - scripts which can be used to construct separate tarballs for the - Ada95 and ncurses examples. - <p>Those were a proof of concept. For the 5.9 release, those - scripts are augmented with rpm- and dpkg-scripts used in test builds - against a variety of gnat- and system ncurses versions as old as - gnat 3.15 and ncurses 5.4 (see snapshots and systems tested - <a href="http://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses-Ada95.html">here</a>. - <li>additional improvements were made for portability of the - ncurses examples, adding rpm- and dpkg-scripts for test-builds. - See - <a href="http://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses-examples.html">this page</a> - for snapshots and other information. + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/captoinfo.1m.html"><span class="part-name"> + captoinfo</span></a>, a termcap conversion tool</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/clear.1.html"><span class="part-name"> + clear</span></a>, utility for clearing the screen</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/infocmp.1m.html"><span class="part-name"> + infocmp</span></a>, the terminfo decompiler</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tabs.1.html"><span class="part-name"> + tabs</span></a>, set tabs on a terminal</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tic.1m.html"><span class="part-name"> + tic</span></a>, the terminfo compiler</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/toe.1m.html"><span class="part-name"> + toe</span></a>, list (table of) terminfo entries</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tput.1.html"><span class="part-name"> + tput</span></a>, utility for retrieving terminal capabilities + in shell scripts</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tset.1.html"><span class="part-name"> + tset</span></a>, to initialize the terminal</li> </ul> - <h1>Features of Ncurses</h1>The ncurses package is fully - compatible with SVr4 (System V Release 4) curses: + <p>Full manual pages are provided for the library and tools.</p> + + <p>The <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> distribution is + available at <span class="main-name">ncurses</span>' <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/">homepage</a>:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p><a href= + "ftp://ftp.invisible-island.net/ncurses/">ftp://ftp.invisible-island.net/ncurses/</a> + or<br> + <a href= + "https://invisible-mirror.net/archives/ncurses/">https://invisible-mirror.net/archives/ncurses/</a> .</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>It is also available via anonymous FTP at the GNU distribution + site</p> + + <blockquote> + <p><a href= + "ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ncurses/">ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/ncurses/</a> .</p> + </blockquote> + + <h2><a name="h2-release-notes" id="h2-release-notes">Release + Notes</a></h2> + + <p>These notes are for <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> + 6.2, released <strong>February 12, 2020</strong>.</p> + + <p>This release is designed to be source-compatible with + <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> 5.0 through 6.1; providing + extensions to the application binary interface (ABI). Although + the source can still be configured to support the <span class= + "main-name">ncurses</span> 5 ABI, the reason for the release is + to reflect improvements to the <span class= + "main-name">ncurses</span> 6 ABI and the supporting utility + programs.</p> + + <p>There are, of course, numerous other improvements, listed in + this announcement.</p> + + <p>The most <a href="#h3-bug-fixes">important + bug-fixes/improvements</a> dealt with user-defined capabilities + in terminal descriptions. The release notes also mention some + other bug-fixes, but are focused on new features and improvements + to existing features since <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> + 6.1 release.</p> + + <h3><a name="h3-library" id="h3-library">Library improvements</a></h3> + + <h4><a name="h4-new-library" id="h4-new-library">New features</a></h4> + + <p>There are several new features:</p> <ul> - <li>All 257 of the SVr4 calls have been implemented (and are - documented).</li> + <li> + <p><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/form_field_opts.3x.html"> + O_EDGE_INSERT_STAY</a> tells the form library to optionally + delay cursor movement on a field edge/boundary</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/form_field_opts.3x.html"> + O_INPUT_FIELD</a> extension to form library allows a dynamic + field to shrink if the new limit is smaller than the current + field size.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>added <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_memleaks.3x.html"> + exit_curses</a> and <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_memleaks.3x.html"> + exit_terminfo</a> to replace internal symbols for + leak-checking.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>added <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_trace.3x.html#h3-Functions"> + curses_trace</a>, to replace trace().</p> + </li> + </ul> - <li>Full support for SVr4 curses features including keyboard - mapping, color, forms-drawing with ACS characters, and - automatic recognition of keypad and function keys.</li> + <p>Additionally, to improve performance other changes (and + extensions) are provided in this release:</p> - <li>An emulation of the SVr4 panels library, supporting a stack - of windows with backing store, is included.</li> + <ul> + <li> + <p>mouse decoding now handles shift/control/alt logic when + decoding xterm's 1006 mode</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>ncurses now defines a limit for <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_getstr.3x.html"> + wgetnstr</a>, <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_get_wstr.3x.html"> + wgetn_wstr</a> when length is negative or “too + large”.</p> + </li> + + <li>reordered loop-limit checks in <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_insstr.3x.html">winsnstr</a> + in case the string has no terminating null and only the number + of characters is used.</li> + + <li> + <p>there is now no buffer-size limit when reading the + <a href="https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/ncurses.3x.html#h3-TERMCAP"> + <tt>$TERMCAP</tt></a> variable.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>the <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/ncurses.3x.html#h3-TERMCAP"> + <tt>$TERMCAP</tt></a> variable may be interpreted as a + fallback to a terminfo entry</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_terminfo.3x.html#h3-Output-Functions"> + <tt>mvcur</tt></a> now decides whether to use hard-tabs, + using <strong><tt>xt</tt></strong>, + <strong><tt>tbc</tt></strong> and + <strong><tt>hts</tt></strong> as clues.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>extended colors are improved by modifying an internal call + to <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_terminfo.3x.html#h3-Output-Functions"> + <tt>vid_puts</tt></a> to pass extended color pairs e.g., from + <tt>tty_update.c</tt> and <tt>lib_mvcur.c</tt></p> + </li> + + <li> + <p id="getenv-fixes">the initialization functions now avoid + relying upon persistent data for the result from <a href= + "#getenv-check"><tt>getenv</tt></a></p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>scrolling is improved:</p> + + <ul> + <li>a limit check in <tt>newline_forces_scroll</tt> handles + the case where the row is inside scroll-margins, but not at + the end.</li> + + <li> + <p>improved loop limits in <tt>_nc_scroll_window</tt> + handle a case where the scrolled data is a pad which is + taller than the window.</p> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> - <li>An emulation of the SVr4 menus library, supporting a - uniform but flexible interface for menu programming, is - included.</li> + <h4><a name="h4-fixes-library" id="h4-fixes-library">Other + improvements</a></h4> - <li>An emulation of the SVr4 form library, supporting data - collection through on-screen forms, is included.</li> + <p>These are revised features:</p> - <li>Binary terminfo entries generated by the ncurses tic(1) - implementation are bit-for-bit-compatible with the entry format - SVr4 curses uses.</li> + <ul> + <li> + <p>used “<tt>const</tt>” in some prototypes + rather than <tt>NCURSES_CONST</tt> where X/Open Curses was + updated to do this, e.g., <tt>wscanw</tt>, <tt>newterm</tt>, + the terminfo interface. Also use “<tt>const</tt>” + for consistency in the termcap interface, which was withdrawn + by X/Open Curses in Issue 5 (2007). As of Issue 7, X/Open + Curses still lacks “<tt>const</tt>” for certain + return values, e.g., <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_util.3x.html#h3-keyname_key_name"> + keyname</a>.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modified <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_bkgd.3x.html#h3-bkgd"> + <tt>wbkgd</tt></a> and <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_bkgrnd.3x.html#h3-bkgrnd"> + <tt>wbkgrnd</tt></a> to improve compatibility with SVr4 + curses, changing the way the window rendition is updated when + the background character is modified</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>improved terminfo write/read by modifying the fourth item + of the extended header to denote the number of valid strings + in the extended string table (see <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/term.5.html#h3-EXTENDED-STORAGE-FORMAT"> + term(5)</a>).</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modified the initialization checks for mouse so that the + <a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-xterm_sm_1006"><tt>xterm+sm+1006</tt></a> + block will work with terminal descriptions not mentioning + <em>xterm</em>.</p> + </li> + </ul> - <li>The utilities have options to allow you to filter terminfo - entries for use with less capable - <strong>curses</strong>/<strong>terminfo</strong> versions such - as the HP/UX and AIX ports.</li> - </ul>The ncurses package also has many useful extensions over - SVr4: + <p>These were done to limit or ultimately deprecate features:</p> <ul> - <li>The API is 8-bit clean and base-level conformant with the - X/OPEN curses specification, XSI curses (that is, it implements - all BASE level features, and most EXTENDED features). It - includes many function calls not supported under SVr4 curses - (but portability of all calls is documented so you can use the - SVr4 subset only).</li> - - <li>Unlike SVr3 curses, ncurses can write to the - rightmost-bottommost corner of the screen if your terminal has - an insert-character capability.</li> - - <li>Ada95 and C++ bindings.</li> - - <li>Support for mouse event reporting with X Window xterm and - FreeBSD and OS/2 console windows.</li> - - <li>Extended mouse support via Alessandro Rubini's gpm - package.</li> - - <li>The function <code>wresize</code> allows you to resize - windows, preserving their data.</li> - - <li>The function <code>use_default_colors</code> allows you to - use the terminal's default colors for the default color pair, - achieving the effect of transparent colors.</li> - - <li>The functions <code>keyok</code> and - <code>define_key</code> allow you to better control the use of - function keys, e.g., disabling the ncurses KEY_MOUSE, or by - defining more than one control sequence to map to a given key - code.</li> - - <li>Support for 256-color terminals, such as modern xterm, when - configured using the <code>--enable-ext-colors</code> - option.</li> - - <li>Support for 16-color terminals, such as <em>aixterm</em> - and <em>modern xterm</em>.</li> - - <li>Better cursor-movement optimization. The package now - features a cursor-local-movement computation more efficient - than either BSD's or System V's.</li> - - <li>Super hardware scrolling support. The screen-update code - incorporates a novel, simple, and cheap algorithm that enables - it to make optimal use of hardware scrolling, line-insertion, - and line-deletion for screen-line movements. This algorithm is - more powerful than the 4.4BSD curses <code>quickch</code> - routine.</li> - - <li>Real support for terminals with the magic-cookie glitch. - The screen-update code will refrain from drawing a highlight if - the magic- cookie unattributed spaces required just before the - beginning and after the end would step on a non-space - character. It will automatically shift highlight boundaries - when doing so would make it possible to draw the highlight - without changing the visual appearance of the screen.</li> - - <li>It is possible to generate the library with a list of - pre-loaded fallback entries linked to it so that it can serve - those terminal types even when no terminfo tree or termcap file - is accessible (this may be useful for support of - screen-oriented programs that must run in single-user - mode).</li> - - <li>The tic(1)/captoinfo utility provided with ncurses has the - ability to translate many termcaps from the XENIX, IBM and - AT&T extension sets.</li> - - <li>A BSD-like tset(1) utility is provided.</li> - - <li>The ncurses library and utilities will automatically read - terminfo entries from $HOME/.terminfo if it exists, and compile - to that directory if it exists and the user has no write access - to the system directory. This feature makes it easier for users - to have personal terminfo entries without giving up access to - the system terminfo directory.</li> - - <li>You may specify a path of directories to search for - compiled descriptions with the environment variable - TERMINFO_DIRS (this generalizes the feature provided by - TERMINFO under stock System V.)</li> - - <li>In terminfo source files, use capabilities may refer not - just to other entries in the same source file (as in System V) - but also to compiled entries in either the system terminfo - directory or the user's $HOME/.terminfo directory.</li> - - <li>A script (<strong>capconvert</strong>) is provided to help - BSD users transition from termcap to terminfo. It gathers the - information in a TERMCAP environment variable and/or a - ~/.termcap local entries file and converts it to an equivalent - local terminfo tree under $HOME/.terminfo.</li> - - <li>Automatic fallback to the /etc/termcap file can be compiled - in when it is not possible to build a terminfo tree. This - feature is neither fast nor cheap, you don't want to use it - unless you have to, but it's there.</li> - - <li>The table-of-entries utility <strong>toe</strong> makes it - easy for users to see exactly what terminal types are available - on the system.</li> - - <li>The library meets the XSI requirement that every macro - entry point have a corresponding function which may be linked - (and will be prototype-checked) if the macro definition is - disabled with <code>#undef</code>.</li> - - <li>An HTML "Introduction to Programming with NCURSES" document - provides a narrative introduction to the curses programming - interface.</li> + <li> + <p>deprecated <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/NEWS.html#t970831">safe-sprintf</a>, + since the <tt>vsnprintf</tt> function, which does what was + needed, was standardized long ago.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>marked <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_printw.3x.html#h3-PORTABILITY"> + <tt>vwprintw</tt></a> and <tt>vwscanw</tt> as deprecated; + recommend using <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_printw.3x.html"> + <tt>vw_printw</tt></a> and <tt>vw_scanw</tt>, + respectively.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>added deprecation warnings for internal functions called + by older versions of <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/tack.html">tack</a>.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>removed unused <tt>_nc_import_termtype2</tt> function.</p> + </li> </ul> - <h1>State of the Package</h1>Numerous bugs present in earlier - versions have been fixed; the library is far more reliable than - it used to be. Bounds checking in many `dangerous' entry points - has been improved. The code is now type-safe according to gcc - -Wall. The library has been checked for malloc leaks and arena - corruption by the Purify memory-allocation tester. + <p>These are improvements to existing features:</p> - <p>The ncurses code has been tested with a wide variety of - applications including (versions starting with those noted):</p> + <ul> + <li> + <p>check parameter of <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_threads.3x.html"> + set_escdelay</a>, return ERR if negative.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>check parameter of <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_threads.3x.html"> + set_tabsize</a>, return ERR if not greater than zero</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>correct a status-check in _nc_read_tic_entry() so that if + reading a hex/b64 <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/ncurses.3x.html#h3-TERMINFO"> + <tt>$TERMINFO</tt></a>, and the <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/ncurses.3x.html#h3-TERM"> + <tt>$TERM</tt></a> does not match, fall-through to the + compiled-in search list.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>amend check for <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/terminfo.5.html#h3-Predefined-Capabilities"> + <tt>repeat_char</tt></a> to handle a case where setlocale() + was called after <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_initscr.3x.html"> + <tt>initscr</tt></a></p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>move macro for <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_touch.3x.html"> + <tt>is_linetouched</tt></a> inside + <strong><tt>NCURSES_NOMACROS</tt></strong> + <em><tt>ifndef</tt></em>.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>use <tt>_nc_copy_termtype2</tt> rather than direct + assignment in <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_terminfo.3x.html#h3-Initialization"> + setupterm</a>, in case it is called repeatedly using fallback + terminfo descriptions</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>improve workaround for Solaris wcwidth versus line-drawing + characters</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>add checks in <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/resizeterm.3x.html"> + <tt>repair_subwindows</tt></a> to keep the current position + and scroll-margins inside the resized subwindow.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>correct a buffer-limit in <tt>write_entry.c</tt> for + systems that use caseless filenames.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>improved build-time utility <em>report_offsets</em>:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>add categories, e.g., "w" for wide-character, "t" for + threads to make the report more readable. Reorganized the + structures reported to make the categories more + apparent.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>add <tt>NCURSES_GLOBALS</tt> and + <tt>NCURSES_PRESCREEN</tt> to report to show how similar + the different <em>libtinfo</em> configurations are.</p> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modified some header files to ensure that those include + necessary files except for the previously-documented + cases</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>added some traces in initialization to show whether a + fallback entry is used.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>made minor optimization to reduce calls to + _nc_reserve_pairs</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>These are corrections to existing features:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>fix a special case in <tt>PutAttrChar</tt> where a cell is + marked as alternate-character set, but the terminal does not + actually support the given graphic character. This would + happen in an older terminal such as <em>vt52</em>, which + lacks most line-drawing capability.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>corrected flag for "seq" method of db 1.8.5 interface, + needed by toe on some of the BSDs.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modify comparison in make_hash.c to correct a special case + in collision handling for Caps-hpux11</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>add extended_slk_color{,_sp} symbols to the appropriate + package/*.{map,sym} files</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modify lib_setup to avoid calling pthread_self() without + first verifying that the address is valid, i.e., for weak + symbols</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>add a couple of broken-linker symbols to the list of + versioned symbols to help with link-time optimization versus + weak symbols.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <h3><a name="h3-programs" id="h3-programs">Program + improvements</a></h3> + + <p>Several improvements were made to the utility programs:</p> <dl> - <dt>cdk</dt> + <dt><span class="part-name">clear</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>improved logic for clearing with the <em>E3</em> + extension, in case the terminal scrolls content onto its + saved-lines before actually clearing the display, by + clearing the saved-lines after clearing the display</li> + </ul> + </dd> - <dd>Curses Development Kit<br> - <a href= - "http://invisible-island.net/cdk/">http://invisible-island.net/cdk/</a><br> + <dt><span class="part-name">infocmp</span> + </dt> - <a href= - "http://www.vexus.ca/products/CDK/">http://www.vexus.ca/products/CDK/</a></dd> + <dd> + <ul> + <li>omit filtering of “<tt>OTxx</tt>” names + which are used for obsolete capabilities, when the output + is sorted by long-names. This change helps when making a + table of the short/long capability names.</li> + </ul> + </dd> - <dt>ded</dt> + <dt><span class="part-name">tic</span> + </dt> - <dd>directory-editor<br> - <a href= - "http://invisible-island.net/ded/">http://invisible-island.net/ded/</a></dd> + <dd> + <ul> + <li>added check for consistent alternate character set + capabilities.</li> - <dt>dialog</dt> + <li>added check for paired <tt>indn</tt>/<tt>rin</tt>.</li> - <dd>the underlying application used in Slackware's setup, and - the basis for similar applications on GNU/Linux.<br> - <a href= - "http://invisible-island.net/dialog/">http://invisible-island.net/dialog/</a></dd> + <li>added check for terminals with <tt>parm_dch</tt> vs + <tt>parm_ich</tt>.</li> - <dt>lynx</dt> + <li>added check for the case where + <tt>setf</tt>/<tt>setb</tt> are given using different + strings, but provide identical results to + <tt>setaf</tt>/<tt>setab</tt>.</li> - <dd>the character-screen WWW browser<br> - <a href= - "http://lynx.isc.org/release/">http://lynx.isc.org/release/</a></dd> + <li>corrected check for <tt>ich1</tt>.</li> - <dt>Midnight Commander</dt> + <li>changed a too-large terminal entry from a fatal error + to a warning.</li> + </ul> + </dd> - <dd>file manager<br> - <a href= - "http://www.midnight-commander.org/">http://www.midnight-commander.org/</a></dd> + <dt><span class="part-name">toe</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>ignores any hex/b64 <tt>$TERMINFO</tt> value in the + list of terminfo databases.</li> + </ul> + </dd> - <dt>mutt</dt> + <dt><span class="part-name">tset</span> + </dt> - <dd>mail utility<br> - <a href="http://www.mutt.org/">http://www.mutt.org/</a></dd> + <dd> + <ul> + <li>replace check in <span class="part-name">reset</span> + command for obsolete “<tt>pt</tt>” capability + using <tt>tbc</tt> and <tt>hts</tt> capabilities as + clues</li> - <dt>ncftp</dt> + <li>modify <span class="part-name">reset</span> to allow + for tabstops at intervals other than 8.</li> - <dd>file-transfer utility<br> - <a href="http://www.ncftp.com/">http://www.ncftp.com/</a></dd> + <li>change <span class="part-name">reset</span>'s behavior + for margins to simply clear soft-margins if possible, + rather than clearing and then setting them according to the + terminal's width.</li> + </ul> + </dd> - <dt>nvi</dt> + <dt><span class="part-name">tput</span> + </dt> - <dd>New vi versions 1.50 are able to use ncurses versions 1.9.7 - and later.<br> - <a href= - "https://sites.google.com/a/bostic.com/keithbostic/nvi">https://sites.google.com/a/bostic.com/keithbostic/nvi</a><br> + <dd> + <ul> + <li>add “<tt>x</tt>” to <tt>getopt</tt> string + so that “<tt>tput -x clear</tt>” + works.</li> + </ul> </dd> + </dl> + + <p>Several changes were made to the generated ncurses*config + scripts and the analogous “<tt>.pc</tt>” files to + reduce differences between the configurations they report:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>modified the ncurse*-config and pc-files to more closely + match for the <tt>-I</tt> and <tt>-l</tt> options.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>filtered out linker-specs from the <tt>--libs</tt> + report.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>amended the ncurses*-config and pc-files to take into + account the rpath hack which differed between those + files.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modified generated ncurses*config and ncurses.pc, + ncursesw.pc, etc., to list helper libraries such as gpm for + static linking.</p> + </li> + </ul> - <dt>pinfo</dt> + <h4><a name="h4-examples" id="h4-examples">Examples</a></h4> - <dd>Lynx-like info browser. <a href= - "https://alioth.debian.org/projects/pinfo/">https://alioth.debian.org/projects/pinfo/</a></dd> + <p>Along with the library and utilities, improvements were made + to the <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses-examples.html">ncurses-examples</a>. + Most of this activity aimed at improving the test-packages. A few + changes are more generally useful, e.g., for the main ncurses + test-program, and for analyzing traces using the + <em>tracemunch</em> script:</p> - <dt>tin</dt> + <ul> + <li> + <p>improve recovery from error when reading command-character + in <tt>test/ncurses.c</tt>, showing the relevant error + message and not exiting on EINTR.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>improve <em>tracemunch</em>, by keeping track of + <tt>TERMINAL*</tt> values, and if tracing was first turned on + after initialization, attempt to show distinct screen, window + and terminal names anyway.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modify <em>tracemunch</em> to accept filename parameters + in addition to use as a pipe/filter.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>update <em>tracemunch</em> to work with <em>perl + 5.26.2</em>, which changed the rules for escaping regular + expressions.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>add some checks in <em>tracemunch</em> for undefined + variables.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modify <tt>TurnOn</tt>/<tt>TurnOff</tt> macros (in + lib_vidattr.c and lib_vid_attr.c) to avoid expansion of + “<tt>CUR</tt>” in trace.</p> + </li> + </ul> - <dd>newsreader, supporting color, MIME <a href= - "http://www.tin.org/">http://www.tin.org/</a></dd> - </dl>as well as some that use ncurses for the terminfo support - alone: + <p>There are other new demo/test programs and reusable + examples:</p> <dl> - <dt>minicom</dt> + <dt><span class="part-name">color_content</span> + </dt> - <dd>terminal emulator<br> - <a href= - "http://alioth.debian.org/projects/minicom/">http://alioth.debian.org/projects/minicom/</a></dd> + <dd>Demonstrate the <tt>color_content</tt> and + <tt>extended_color_content</tt> functions.</dd> - <dt>vile</dt> + <dt><span class="part-name">demo_tabs</span> + </dt> - <dd>vi-like-emacs<br> + <dd>A simple demo of tabs in curses.</dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">dump_window</span> + </dt> + + <dd>A portable curses screen-dump, used to compare ncurses + screen contents with Solaris.</dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">pair_content</span> + </dt> + + <dd>Demonstrate the <tt>pair_content</tt> and + <tt>extended_pair_content</tt> functions.</dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">report_hashing</span> + </dt> + + <dd>Check hash-tables used for terminfo and termcap names.</dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">parse_rgb</span> + </dt> + + <dd>Sample implementation of the ncurses RGB extension from <a href= - "http://invisible-island.net/vile/">http://invisible-island.net/vile/</a></dd> + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/user_caps.5.html">user_caps.5</a>, + used in <em>picsmap</em> and <em>savescreen</em> programs.</dd> </dl> - <p>The ncurses distribution includes a selection of test programs - (including a few games).</p> + <p>A variety of improvements were made to existing programs, both + new features as well as options added to make the set of programs + more consistent.</p> - <h2>Who's Who and What's What</h2>Zeyd Ben-Halim started it from - a previous package pcurses, written by Pavel Curtis. Eric S. - Raymond continued development. Jürgen Pfeifer wrote most of - the form and menu libraries. Ongoing work is being done by - <a href="mailto:dickey@invisible-island.net">Thomas Dickey</a>. - Thomas Dickey acts as the maintainer for the Free Software - Foundation, which holds the copyright on ncurses. Contact the - current maintainers at <a href= - "mailto:bug-ncurses@gnu.org">bug-ncurses@gnu.org</a>. - - <p>To join the ncurses mailing list, please write email to - <code>bug-ncurses-request@gnu.org</code> containing the line:</p> - <pre> - subscribe <name>@<host.domain> + <ul> + <li> + <p>add “<tt>-l</tt>” option to test/background, + to dump screen contents in a form that lets different curses + implementations be compared.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>add “<tt>@</tt>” command to test/ncurses + F-test, to allow rapid jump to different character pages.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>added enum, regex examples to test/demo_forms</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>amend Scaled256() macro in test/picsmap.c to cover the + full range 0..1000</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>corrected pathname used in Ada95 sample programs for + <tt>explain.txt</tt>, to work with test-packages, and used an + awk script to split the resulting pathname when it would be + too long for a single line.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>ignore interrupted system-call in test/ncurses's + command-line, e.g., if the terminal were resized.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>improved ifdef's for <tt>TABSIZE</tt> variable, to help + with AIX/HPUX ports.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <h3><a name="h3-database" id="h3-database">Terminal database</a></h3> + + <p>There are several new terminal descriptions:</p> + + <blockquote style="word-break:keep-all"> + <p><tt>alacritty</tt>, <tt>domterm</tt>, <tt>kitty</tt>, + <tt>mintty</tt>, <tt>mintty-direct</tt>, <tt>ms-terminal</tt>, + <tt>n7900</tt>, <tt>nsterm-build309</tt>, + <tt>nsterm-direct</tt>, <tt>screen5</tt>, <tt>ti703</tt>, + <tt>ti707</tt>, <tt>ti703-w</tt>, <tt>ti707-w</tt> + <tt>vscode</tt>, <tt>vscode-direct</tt>, <tt>xterm-mono</tt>, + <tt>xterm.js</tt></p> + </blockquote> + + <p>There are many changes to existing terminal descriptions. Some + were updates to several descriptions:</p> + + <ul> + <li>use <a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-ansi_rep"><tt>ansi+rep</tt></a> + in a dozen places</li> + + <li>add rs1 to konsole, mlterm</li> + + <li>improve several flash capabilities with trailing mandatory + delays</li> + + <li>drop <tt>ich1</tt> from <tt>rxvt-basic</tt>, <tt>Eterm</tt> + and <tt>mlterm</tt> to improve compatibility with old + non-curses programs</li> + + <li>add/use <a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-xterm_keypad"><tt>xterm+keypad</tt></a> + in <tt>xterm-new</tt></li> + + <li>use <a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-xterm_sl-twm"><tt>xterm+sl-twm</tt></a> + for consistency, nine places</li> + + <li>improve <em>xm</em> example in <a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-xterm_x11mouse">xterm+x11mouse</a> + and <a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-xterm_sm_1006">xterm+sm_1006</a>.</li> + </ul> + + <p>while others affected specific descriptions. These were + retested, to take into account changes by their developers:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p><tt>terminator</tt>, <tt>st</tt></p> + </blockquote> + + <p>while these are specific fixes based on reviewing + documentation, user reports, or warnings from <span class= + "part-name">tic</span>:</p> + + <dl> + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-adds200">adds200</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>fix typo</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-gnome-256color">gnome-256color</a> + </dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>base entry on "gnome", not "vte", for consistency</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-interix">interix</a> + </dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>trim unnecessary setf/setb</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-linux-16color">linux-16color</a> + </dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>accommodate <a href= + "https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses/2019-10/msg00061.html"> + Linux console driver</a> incompatibility introduced in + early 2018</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-nsterm-256color">nsterm-256color</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>add nsterm-build309 to replace nsterm-256color, + assigning the latter as an alias of nsterm, to make mouse + work with nsterm-256color</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-regent40">regent40</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>renumber function-keys to match manual</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-regent60">regent60</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>add cd (clr_eos)</li> + + <li>corrected acsc</li> + + <li>add shifted function-keys</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-tvi950">tvi950</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>added function-key definitions to agree with Televideo + 950 manual</li> + + <li>corrected acsc</li> + + <li>remove bogus kf0</li> + + <li>add bel</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-tvi955">tvi955</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>fix typo</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-vi200">vi200</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>add acsc string, including right/down-arrow</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-wy50">wy50</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>corrected acsc</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href="/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-wy50">wy50</a> and + <a href="/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-wy60">wy60</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>add shifted function-keys as kF1 to kF16</li> + </ul> + </dd> + + <dt><a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-xterm_x11hilite">xterm+x11hilite</a>:</dt> + + <dd> + <ul> + <li>eliminate unused <em>p5</em> parameter.</li> + </ul> + </dd> + </dl> + + <p>A few entries use extensions (user-defined terminal + capabilities):</p> + + <ul> + <li>use <a href= + "/ncurses/terminfo.src.html#tic-xterm_sm_1006"><tt>xterm+sm+1006</tt></a> + (aka “SGR 1006 mouse”) for konsole-base and + putty</li> + + <li>add <em><tt>Smol/Rmol</tt></em> user-defined capability to + <tt>tmux</tt> and <tt>vte-2018</tt></li> + + <li>add <em><tt>Smulx</tt></em> user-defined capability to + <tt>tmux</tt>, <tt>vte-2018</tt></li> + </ul> + + <h3><a name="h3-documentation" id= + "h3-documentation">Documentation</a></h3> + + <p>As usual, this release</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>improves documentation by describing new features,</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>attempts to improve the description of features which + users have found confusing</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>fills in overlooked descriptions of features which were + described in the <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/NEWS.html">NEWS</a> + file but treated sketchily in manual pages.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>In addition to providing background information to explain + these features and show how they evolved, there are corrections, + clarifications, etc.:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>Corrections:</p> + + <ul> + <li>correct error-returns listed in manual pages for a few + form functions</li> + + <li>corrected prototypes in several manpages using script + to extract those in compilable form.</li> + + <li>fix typo in <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/term.5.html#h3-EXTENDED-NUMBER-FORMAT"> + term.5</a>, improve explanation of format</li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Clarify in manual pages that <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_printw.3x.html#h2-PORTABILITY"> + vwprintw</a> and <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_scanw.3x.html#h2-PORTABILITY"> + vwscanw</a> are obsolete.<br> + They have not been part of X/Open Curses since 2007.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>New/improved history and portability sections:</p> + + <ul> + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_addch.3x.html#h3-ACS-Symbols"> + curs_addch.3x</a> gives some background for ACS + symbols.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_getcchar.3x.html#h2-PORTABILITY"> + curs_getcchar.3x</a> explains a difference between ncurses + and X/Open Curses.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_getstr.3x.html#h2-PORTABILITY"> + curs_getstr.3x</a> gives historical/portability background + for the length parameter of <tt>wgetnstr</tt>.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_slk.3x.html"> + curs_slk.3x</a> lists a few differences between SVr4 curses + and X/Open Curses for soft-keys.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_terminfo.3x.html"> + curs_terminfo.3x</a> explains that the initial + implementation of terminfo in SVr2 was mostly replaced by + other developers in SVr3.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/infocmp.1m.html">infocmp.1</a> + explains that the initial version of terminfo had no tool + for decompiling descriptions. That came later, with SVr3, + with a different developer.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tabs.1">tabs.1</a> + tells more than you wanted to know about the tool.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tic.1m.html">tic.1</a> + explains that the initial version of terminfo had a + rudimentary tool (based on termcap) for compiling entries. + The tool used with Unix was developed by others for + SVr3.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/toe.1m.html">toe.1</a> + explains the origin of this tool.</li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Improvements for <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/user_caps.5.html">user_caps.5</a>:</p> + + <ul> + <li>mention <tt>meml</tt>, <tt>memu</tt> and + <tt>box1</tt></li> + + <li>expanded description of <tt>XM</tt></li> + + <li>add a clarification regarding the <tt>RGB</tt> + capability.</li> + + <li>mention user_caps.5 in the tic and infocmp manual + pages.</li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Other improvements:</p> + + <ul> + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_add_wch.3x.html#h3-Line-Graphics"> + curs_add_wch.3x</a> adds note about Unicode terminology for + the line-drawing characters.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_color.3x.html#h3-RETURN-VALUE"> + curs_color.3x</a> improves discussion of error returns and + extensions.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_mouse.3x.html"> + curs_mouse.3x</a> explains how the <tt>kmous</tt> and + <tt>XM</tt> capabilities are used for xterm-mouse + input.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_refresh.3x.html#h3-wnoutrefresh_doupdate"> + curs_refresh.3x</a> improves documentation regarding the + virtual and physical screens.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_util.3x.html"> + curs_util.3x</a> mentions a difference between SVr4 and + X/Open Curses for <tt>unctrl.h</tt></li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/curs_variables.3x.html#h2-PORTABILITY"> + curs_variables.3x</a> improves description of the + <em>init_tabs</em> capability and <tt>TABSIZE</tt> + variable.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/ncurses.3x.html#h2-ALTERNATE-CONFIGURATIONS"> + ncurses.3x</a> improves documentation regarding + feature-test macros in curses.h</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/resizeterm.3x.html#h3-resize_term"> + resizeterm.3x</a> about top-level windows which touch the + screen's borders.</li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tput.1.html#h3-Terminal-Size"> + tput.1</a> clarifies how <em>tput</em> determines the + terminal size.</li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>There are no new manual pages (all of the manual page updates + are to existing pages).</p> + + <p>Some of the improvements are more subtle, relating to the way + the information is presented. For instance, the generated + terminfo.5 file uses a different table layout, allowing it to use + space on wide terminals more effectively.</p> + + <h3><a name="h3-bug-fixes" id="h3-bug-fixes">Interesting + bug-fixes</a></h3> + + <p>While there were many bugs fixed during development of ncurses + 6.2, only a few (the reason for this release) were both important + and interesting. Most of the bug-fixes were for local issues + which did not affect compatibility across releases. Since those + are detailed in the NEWS file no elaboration is needed here.</p> + + <p>The interesting bugs were in tic/infocmp's handling of + user-defined capabilities. These were not recent bugs. Initially + it was a simple problem:</p> + + <ul> + <li>The user-defined capabilities can be any type (boolean, + number or string), but once given a type all uses of the name + must conform to that type—unless some special support for + a particular multi-typed name is built into ncurses.</li> + + <li> + <p>One of simpleterm's contributors copied some definitions + for using <em>tmux</em>'s user-defined capabilities in + <a href= + "https://git.suckless.org/st/commit/06f8cf8ca87a81db15816658c40b2afcd1ad5332.html"> + late in 2016</a>.</p> + + <blockquote> + <pre class="demo-name"> +diff --git a/st.info b/st.info +@@ -185,7 +185,10 @@ st| simpleterm, + tsl=\E]0;, + xenl, + vpa=\E[%i%p1%dd, +- ++# Tmux unofficial extensions, see TERMINFO EXTENSIONS in tmux(1) ++ Se, ++ Ss, ++ Tc, + + st-256color| simpleterm with 256 colors, + use=st, +</pre> + </blockquote> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Later, in (referring to a version from <a href= + "https://git.suckless.org/st/commit/c0882f2ed1d7a2dd0fa2efa52157e6fc6fde3652.html"> + mid-2017</a>), a user asked to have it updated in + ncurses.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>However, it had an error from the change in late 2016. The + terminal description made what <em>tmux</em> expected to be + <strong>string</strong> actually a + <strong>boolean</strong>.</p> + + <p>Over the years, there were problems with each of + simpleterm's terminal descriptions. I repaired those, and + usually dealt with the problem.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The difference in this case was that when compiling the + terminal database, <em>tic</em> may have in memory the + definitions for more than one terminal description (so that + it can resolve “<tt>use=</tt>” clauses). Seeing + two different types for the same name, in certain situations + it would incorrectly merge the symbol tables for the two + terminal descriptions.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>On simpleterm's side, their bug was finally fixed in + <a href= + "https://git.suckless.org/st/commit/83866428de031300eab03fbb116bcf7d2b1d4f60.html"> + late 2019</a>, three years after the bug was created.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>For ncurses, the elapsed time to fix this bug was less than + three years. Someone reported a problem with the terminal + description a few weeks after releasing ncurses 6.1 (in <a href= + "https://github.com/tmux/tmux/issues/1264">tmux #1264</a>), and + the terminal description was updated that week (ncurses patch + <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/NEWS.html#t20180224">20180224</a>):</p> + + <blockquote> + <pre class="demo-name"> +20180224 + + modify _nc_resolve_uses2() to detect incompatible types when merging + a "use=" clause of extended capabilities. The problem was seen in a + defective terminfo integrated from simpleterm sources in 20171111, + compounded by repair in 20180121. + + correct Ss/Ms interchange in st-0.7 entry (tmux #1264) -TD </pre> + </blockquote> + + <p>The larger part of that change added a check to prevent a + simple merge of terminal descriptions where the same user-defined + name was used with different types. But it raised some + questions:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>Was there a reliable way to manage terminal descriptions + which used the same extended name in different ways?</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Should ncurses provide a registry of well-known extended + names, with their types?</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>Since the correction to <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses.html#download_database"> + <tt>terminfo.src</tt></a> could have been readily adopted by + packagers, there was nothing more to be done from ncurses' + standpoint on that part. But improving ncurses to prevent issues + like that is the reason for making a release.</p> + + <p>Nothing more (constructive) was mentioned with regard to + simpleterm. But a few problems were found in the handling of + user-defined capabilities:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>Forward-references to user-defined capabilities in a + “<tt>use=</tt>” clause did not allocate new data + for each use. In <em>tic</em>, successive compilation of + terminal entries could add user-defined capabilities to the + wrong terminal entry.</p> + + <p>This was not noticed before, since xterm's terminal + descriptions were the main users of the feature, and almost + all of the uses of the building-blocks which contained + user-defined capabilities were backward-references.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>There is one (documented) case where ncurses 6.1 supports + a user-defined capability that could be any type (i.e., + “RGB”). The check added in February 2018 to guard + against mismatches did not handle all of the combinations + needed.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>Both of these issues dated from the original implementation of + user-defined capabilities. Fixing them does not change the + terminal database, but a older <em>tic</em> without the fixes + will not be able to handle terminfo sources which rely upon those + fixes. Starting in June 2019, the download link for the terminfo + source file was capped at that date. The development sources have + an up-to-date copy of the file, for people with a legitimate need + for it.</p> + + <p>The “<tt>-c</tt>” (check) option of <em>tic</em> + is not very useful if it cannot offer advice on parameters needed + for user-defined capabilities. The various <em>Caps</em> files + were reorganized to reduce redundancy, and in the common portion + (<a href= + "https://github.com/ThomasDickey/ncurses-snapshots/blob/master/include/Caps-ncurses">Caps-ncurses</a>), + a registry of user-defined capabilities is provided for use by + <em>tic</em>. While users can still define their own custom + capabilities, <em>tic</em> will not offer any advice when their + parameters do not match.</p> + + <p>In ncurses 6.2, <em>tic</em> makes a special check to allow + any type for <em>RGB</em>, but its being able to do this relies + upon fixes made in the ncurses library in mid-2019.</p> + + <h3><a name="h3-config-config" id= + "h3-config-config">Configuration changes</a></h3> + + <h4><a name="h4-config-major" id="h4-config-major">Major + changes</a></h4> + + <p>There are no major changes. Several new options were added to + ease integration of packages with systems using different + versions of <em>GNAT</em> and <em>ncurses</em>. Also, + improvements were made to configure checks.</p> + + <h4><a name="h4-config-options" id= + "h4-config-options">Configuration options</a></h4> + + <p>There are a few new/modified configure options:</p> + + <dl> + <dt><tt>--with-config-suffix</tt> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>helps work around a filename conflict with Debian packages + versus test-packages.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><tt>--with-ada-libname</tt> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>allows one to rename the “AdaCurses” library + (at least one packager prefers a lowercase name).</p> + </dd> + + <dt><tt>--with-fallbacks</tt> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>now ensures there is a value, and adds the fallback + information to top-level Makefile summary.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><tt>--with-pcre2</tt> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>check for pcre-posix library to help with MinGW port.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><tt>--with-tic-path</tt> and<br></dt> + + <dt><tt>--with-infocmp-path</tt> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>help work around problems building fallback source using + pre-6.0 tic/infocmp.</p> + </dd> + + <dt><tt>--with-versioned-syms</tt> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>option value can now be a relative pathname.</p> + </dd> + </dl> + + <h3><a name="h3-portability" id="h3-portability">Portability</a></h3> + + <p>Many of the portability changes are implemented via the + configure script:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>ignore <a href= + "/ncurses/man/ncurses.3x.html#h3-TERMINFO"><tt>$TERMINFO</tt></a> + as a default value in configure script if it came from the + <tt>infocmp</tt> <strong><tt>-Q</tt></strong> option.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>distinguish gcc from icc and clang when the + <tt>--enable-warnings</tt> option is not used, to avoid + unnecessary warnings about unrecognized inline options</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>consistently prepend new libraries as they are found + during configuration, rather than relying upon the linker to + resolve order dependencies of libraries.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modified configure scripts to reduce relinking/ranlib + during library install :</p> + + <ul> + <li>use “<tt>install -p</tt>” when available, + to avoid need for ranlib of static libraries.</li> + + <li>scripts which use + “<tt>--disable-relink</tt>;” add a 1-second + sleep to work around tools which use whole-second + timestamps, e.g., in <tt>utime</tt> rather than the actual + file system resolution.</li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p id="getenv-check">add configure check for <a href= + "#getenv-fixes"><tt>getenv</tt></a> to work around + implementation shown in Emscripten which overwrites the + previous return value on each call.</p> + + <p>Use that to optionally suppress <tt>START_TRACE</tt> + macro, whose call to <tt>getenv</tt> may not work + properly</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>change target configure level for <tt>_XOPEN_SOURCE</tt> + to 600 to address use of <tt>vsscanf</tt> and + <tt>setenv</tt>.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>reduce use of <tt>_GNU_SOURCE</tt> for current glibc where + <tt>_DEFAULT_SOURCE</tt> combines with + <tt>_XOPEN_SOURCE</tt></p> + + <p>Allow for Cygwin's newlib when checking for the + _DEFAULT_SOURCE symbol.</p> + + <p>MidnightBSD is now checked for the + <tt>_XOPEN_SOURCE</tt>-related definitions.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>If the check for <tt>va_copy</tt> or <tt>__va_copy</tt> + fails,</p> + + <ul> + <li>configure now tries copying the pointers for + <tt>va_list</tt>, or as an array.</li> + + <li>alternatively, it checks for + <tt>__builtin_va_copy</tt>(), which could be used with AIX + <tt>xlc</tt> in <em>c89</em> mode.</li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p>several changes to support a port to Ultrix 3.1:</p> + + <ul> + <li>check if "b" binary feature of fopen works</li> + + <li>check for missing feature of locale.h</li> + + <li>add fallback for strstr() in test-programs</li> + + <li>add fallback for STDOUT_FILENO in test-programs</li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The <em>test/configure</em> script (used for <a href= + "/ncurses/ncurses-examples.html"><em>ncurses-examples</em></a>) + is improved:</p> + + <ul> + <li>work around non-ncurses termcap.h file, e.g., in + Slackware.</li> + + <li>check for <a href= + "/ncurses/man/curs_variables.3x.html#h3-TABSIZE"><tt>TABSIZE</tt></a> + variable.</li> + + <li>checks for the X11/Intrinsic.h header, accommodate + recent MacOS changes which largely emptied + <tt>/usr/include</tt>.</li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>Here are some of the other portability fixes:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>added dummy "check" rule in top-level and test-Makefile to + simplify building test-packages for ArchLinux.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>dropped library-dependency on psapi for MinGW port, since + win_driver.c defines <tt>PSAPI_VERSION</tt> to 2, making it + use <tt>GetProcessImageFileName</tt> from kernel32.dll</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>made build-fixes for configuration using --program-suffix + with Ada95, noticed with MacOS but applicable to other + platforms without libpanelw, etc.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>modified ncurses/Makefile.in to fix a case where + Debian/testing changes to the ld --as-needed configuration + broke ncurses-examples test packages.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>used <tt>_WIN32</tt>/<tt>_WIN64</tt> in preference to + <tt>__MINGW32__</tt>/<tt>__MINGW64__</tt> symbols to simplify + building with Microsoft Visual C++, since the former are + defined in both compiler configurations.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <hr> + + <h2><a name="h2-features" id="h2-features">Features of + <span class="main-name">ncurses</span></a></h2> + + <p>The <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> package is fully + upward-compatible with SVr4 (System V Release 4) curses:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>All of the SVr4 calls have been implemented (and are + documented).</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p><span class="main-name">ncurses</span> supports all of the + for SVr4 curses features including keyboard mapping, color, + forms-drawing with ACS characters, and automatic recognition + of keypad and function keys.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p><span class="main-name">ncurses</span> provides these SVr4 + add-on libraries (not part of X/Open Curses):</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>the panels library, supporting a stack of windows with + backing store.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>the menus library, supporting a uniform but flexible + interface for menu programming.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>the form library, supporting data collection through + on-screen forms.</p> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p><span class="main-name">ncurses</span>'s terminal database + is fully compatible with that used by SVr4 curses.</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p><span class="main-name">ncurses</span> supports + user-defined capabilities which it can see, but which are + hidden from SVr4 curses applications using the + <em>same</em> terminal database.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>It can be optionally configured to match the format + used in related systems such as AIX and Tru64.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Alternatively, <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> + can be configured to use hashed databases rather than the + directory of files used by SVr4 curses.</p> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> utilities have + options to allow you to filter terminfo entries for use with + less capable <em>curses</em>/<em>terminfo</em> versions such + as the HP/UX and AIX ports.</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <p>The <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> package also has + many useful extensions over SVr4:</p> + + <ul> + <li> + <p>The API is 8-bit clean and base-level conformant with the + X/OPEN curses specification, XSI curses (that is, it + implements all BASE level features, and most EXTENDED + features). It includes many function calls not supported + under SVr4 curses (but portability of all calls is documented + so you can use the SVr4 subset only).</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Unlike SVr3 curses, <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> + can write to the rightmost-bottommost corner of the screen if + your terminal has an insert-character capability.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Ada95 and C++ bindings.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Support for mouse event reporting with X Window xterm and + FreeBSD and OS/2 console windows.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Extended mouse support via Alessandro Rubini's gpm + package.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The function <code>wresize</code> allows you to resize + windows, preserving their data.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The function <code>use_default_colors</code> allows you to + use the terminal's default colors for the default color pair, + achieving the effect of transparent colors.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The functions <code>keyok</code> and + <code>define_key</code> allow you to better control the use + of function keys, e.g., disabling the <span class= + "main-name">ncurses</span> KEY_MOUSE, or by defining more + than one control sequence to map to a given key code.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Support for 256-color terminals, such as modern xterm.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Support for 16-color terminals, such as <em>aixterm</em> + and <em>modern xterm</em>.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Better cursor-movement optimization. The package now + features a cursor-local-movement computation more efficient + than either BSD's or System V's.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Super hardware scrolling support. The screen-update code + incorporates a novel, simple, and cheap algorithm that + enables it to make optimal use of hardware scrolling, + line-insertion, and line-deletion for screen-line movements. + This algorithm is more powerful than the 4.4BSD curses + <code>quickch</code> routine.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Real support for terminals with the magic-cookie glitch. + The screen-update code will refrain from drawing a highlight + if the magic- cookie unattributed spaces required just before + the beginning and after the end would step on a non-space + character. It will automatically shift highlight boundaries + when doing so would make it possible to draw the highlight + without changing the visual appearance of the screen.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>It is possible to generate the library with a list of + pre-loaded fallback entries linked to it so that it can serve + those terminal types even when no terminfo tree or termcap + file is accessible (this may be useful for support of + screen-oriented programs that must run in single-user + mode).</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tic.1m.html"><span class="part-name"> + tic</span></a>/<a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/captoinfo.1m.html">captoinfo</a> + utility provided with <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> + has the ability to translate many termcaps from the XENIX, + IBM and AT&T extension sets.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>A BSD-like <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/tset.1.html"><span class="part-name"> + tset</span></a> utility is provided.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> library and + utilities will automatically read terminfo entries from + $HOME/.terminfo if it exists, and compile to that directory + if it exists and the user has no write access to the system + directory. This feature makes it easier for users to have + personal terminfo entries without giving up access to the + system terminfo directory.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>You may specify a path of directories to search for + compiled descriptions with the environment variable + TERMINFO_DIRS (this generalizes the feature provided by + TERMINFO under stock System V.)</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>In terminfo source files, use capabilities may refer not + just to other entries in the same source file (as in System + V) but also to compiled entries in either the system terminfo + directory or the user's $HOME/.terminfo directory.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The table-of-entries utility <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/man/toe.1m.html"><span class="part-name"> + toe</span></a> makes it easy for users to see exactly what + terminal types are available on the system.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>The library meets the XSI requirement that every macro + entry point have a corresponding function which may be linked + (and will be prototype-checked) if the macro definition is + disabled with <code>#undef</code>.</p> + </li> + + <li> + <p>Extensive documentation is provided (see the <em><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses.faq.html#additional_reading"> + Additional Reading</a></em> section of the <em><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses.faq.html"><span class="main-name"> + ncurses</span> FAQ</a></em> for online documentation).</p> + </li> + </ul> + + <h2><a name="h2-who-uses" id="h2-who-uses">Applications using + <span class="main-name">ncurses</span></a></h2> + + <p>The <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> distribution + includes a selection of test programs (including a few games). + These are available separately as <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses-examples.html">ncurses-examples</a></p> + + <p>The ncurses library has been tested with a wide variety of + applications including:</p> + + <blockquote> + <dl> + <dt><span class="part-name">aptitude</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>FrontEnd to Apt, the debian package manager</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://wiki.debian.org/Aptitude">https://wiki.debian.org/Aptitude</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">cdk</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>Curses Development Kit</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/cdk/">https://invisible-island.net/cdk/</a><br> + + </p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">ded</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>directory-editor</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ded/">https://invisible-island.net/ded/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">dialog</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>the underlying application used in Slackware's setup, + and the basis for similar install/configure applications on + many systems.</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/dialog/">https://invisible-island.net/dialog/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">lynx</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>the text WWW browser</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://lynx.invisible-island.net/">https://lynx.invisible-island.net/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">mutt</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>mail utility</p> + + <p><a href="http://www.mutt.org/">http://www.mutt.org/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">ncftp</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>file-transfer utility</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://www.ncftp.com/">https://www.ncftp.com/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">nvi</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>New vi uses ncurses.</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://sites.google.com/a/bostic.com/keithbostic/vi">https://sites.google.com/a/bostic.com/keithbostic/vi</a><br> + + </p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">ranger</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>A console file manager with VI key bindings in + <em>Python</em>.</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://ranger.github.io/">https://ranger.github.io/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">tin</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>newsreader, supporting color, MIME</p> + + <p><a href="http://www.tin.org/">http://www.tin.org/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">vifm</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>File manager with vi like keybindings</p> + + <p><a href="https://vifm.info/">https://vifm.info/</a></p> + </dd> + </dl> + </blockquote> + + <p>as well as some that use <span class= + "main-name">ncurses</span> for the terminfo support alone:</p> + + <blockquote> + <dl> + <dt><span class="part-name">minicom</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>terminal emulator for serial modem connections</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://alioth.debian.org/projects/minicom/">https://alioth.debian.org/projects/minicom/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">mosh</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>a replacement for <code>ssh</code>.</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://mosh.mit.edu/">https://mosh.mit.edu/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">tack</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>terminfo action checker</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/tack.html">https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/tack.html</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">tmux</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>terminal multiplexor</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki">https://github.com/tmux/tmux/wiki</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">vile</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p><em>vi-like-emacs</em> may be built to use the terminfo, + termcap or curses interfaces.</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/vile/">https://invisible-island.net/vile/</a></p> + </dd> + </dl> + </blockquote> + + <p>and finally, those which use only the termcap interface:</p> + + <blockquote> + <dl> + <dt><span class="part-name">emacs</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>text editor</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/">https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">less</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>The most commonly used <em>pager</em> (a program that + displays text files).</p> + + <p><a href= + "http://www.greenwoodsoftware.com/less/">http://www.greenwoodsoftware.com/less/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">screen</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>terminal multiplexor</p> + + <p><a href= + "https://www.gnu.org/software/screen/">https://www.gnu.org/software/screen/</a></p> + </dd> + + <dt><span class="part-name">vim</span> + </dt> + + <dd> + <p>text editor</p> + + <p><a href="https://www.vim.org/">https://www.vim.org/</a></p> + </dd> + </dl> + </blockquote> + + <h2><a name="h2-development" id="h2-development">Development + activities</a></h2> + + <p>Zeyd Ben-Halim started <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> + from a previous package pcurses, written by Pavel Curtis. Eric S. + Raymond continued development. Jürgen Pfeifer wrote most of + the form and menu libraries.</p> + + <p>Ongoing development work is done by <a href= + "mailto:dickey@invisible-island.net">Thomas E. Dickey</a>. Thomas + E. Dickey has acted as the maintainer for the Free Software + Foundation, which holds a <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses-license.html">copyright + on ncurses</a> for releases 4.2 through 6.1. Following the + release of ncurses 6.1, effective as of release 6.2, copyright + for ncurses reverted to Thomas E. Dickey (see the <a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses.faq.html#relicensed"> + ncurses FAQ</a> for additional information).</p> + + <p>Contact the current maintainers at</p> + + <blockquote> + <a href="mailto:bug-ncurses@gnu.org">bug-ncurses@gnu.org</a> + </blockquote> + + <p>To join the ncurses mailing list, please write email to</p> + + <blockquote> + <a href= + "mailto:bug-ncurses-request@gnu.org">bug-ncurses-request@gnu.org</a> + </blockquote> + containing the line: + + <blockquote> + <p><code>subscribe</code> + <em><name>@<host.domain></em></p> + </blockquote> <p>This list is open to anyone interested in helping with the development and testing of this package.</p> - <p>Beta versions of ncurses and patches to the current release - are made available at <a href= - "ftp://invisible-island.net/ncurses/">ftp://invisible-island.net/ncurses/</a> .</p> + <p>Beta versions of <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> are + made available at</p> - <h2>Future Plans</h2> + <blockquote> + <p><a href= + "ftp://ftp.invisible-island.net/ncurses/current/">ftp://ftp.invisible-island.net/ncurses/current/</a> + and<br> + <a href= + "https://invisible-mirror.net/archives/ncurses/current/">https://invisible-mirror.net/archives/ncurses/current/</a> .</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>Patches to the current release are made available at</p> + + <blockquote> + <p><a href= + "ftp://ftp.invisible-island.net/ncurses/6.1/">ftp://ftp.invisible-island.net/ncurses/6.1/</a> + and<br> + <a href= + "https://invisible-mirror.net/archives/ncurses/6.1/">https://invisible-mirror.net/archives/ncurses/6.1/</a> .</p> + </blockquote> + + <p>There is an archive of the mailing list here:</p> + + <blockquote> + <p><a href= + "http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses">http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses</a> + (also <a href= + "https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses">https</a>)</p> + </blockquote> + + <h2><a name="h2-this-stuff" id="h2-this-stuff">Related + resources</a></h2> + + <p>The release notes make scattered references to these pages, + which may be interesting by themselves:</p> <ul> - <li>Extended-level XPG4 conformance, with internationalization - support.</li> + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses-license.html"><span class="main-name"> + ncurses</span> licensing</a></li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses-mapsyms.html">Symbol + versioning in <span class="main-name">ncurses</span></a></li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses-slang.html">Comments + on <span class="main-name">ncurses</span> versus <span class= + "main-name">slang</span> (S-Lang)</a></li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/tack.html">tack – + terminfo action checker</a></li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/tctest.html">tctest + – termcap library checker</a></li> + + <li><a href= + "https://invisible-island.net/ncurses/ncurses.html#download_database"> + Terminal Database</a></li> + </ul> - <li>Ports to more systems, including DOS and Windows.</li> - </ul>We need people to help with these projects. If you are - interested in working on them, please join the ncurses list. + <h2><a name="h2-other-stuff" id="h2-other-stuff">Other + resources</a></h2> - <h2>Other Related Resources</h2>The distribution provides a newer - version of the terminfo-format terminal description file once - maintained by <a href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/terminfo/">Eric + <p>The distribution provides a newer version of the + terminfo-format terminal description file once maintained by + <a href="http://www.catb.org/~esr/terminfo/">Eric Raymond</a> . Unlike the older version, the termcap and - terminfo data are provided in the same file, and provides several - user-definable extensions beyond the X/Open specification. + terminfo data are provided in the same file, which also provides + several user-definable extensions beyond the X/Open + specification.</p> <p>You can find lots of information on terminal-related topics not covered in the terminfo file at <a href= "http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.cs.utk.edu/~shuford/terminal"> - Richard Shuford's archive</a> .</p> + Richard Shuford's archive</a> . The collection of computer + manuals at <a href= + "http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/">bitsavers.org</a> has also been + useful.</p> + + <div class="nav"> + <ul> + <li><a href="#h2-overview">Overview</a></li> + + <li> + <a href="#h2-release-notes">Release Notes</a> + + <ul> + <li> + <a href="#h3-library">Library improvements</a> + + <ul> + <li><a href="#h4-new-library">New features</a></li> + + <li><a href="#h4-fixes-library">Other + improvements</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li> + <a href="#h3-programs">Program improvements</a> + + <ul> + <li><a href="#h4-utilities">Utilities</a></li> + + <li><a href="#h4-examples">Examples</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li><a href="#h3-database">Terminal database</a></li> + + <li><a href="#h3-documentation">Documentation</a></li> + + <li><a href="#h3-bug-fixes">Interesting bug-fixes</a></li> + + <li> + <a href="#h3-config-config">Configuration changes</a> + + <ul> + <li><a href="#h4-config-major">Major changes</a></li> + + <li><a href="#h4-config-options">Configuration + options</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li><a href="#h3-portability">Portability</a></li> + </ul> + </li> + + <li><a href="#h2-features">Features of <span class= + "main-name">ncurses</span></a></li> + + <li><a href="#h2-who-uses">Applications using <span class= + "main-name">ncurses</span></a></li> + + <li><a href="#h2-development">Development activities</a></li> + + <li><a href="#h2-this-stuff">Related resources</a></li> + + <li><a href="#h2-other-stuff">Other resources</a></li> + </ul> + </div> </body> </html> |