Template Version: @(#)sac_nextcase 1.66 04/17/08 SMI
This information is Copyright 2008 Sun Microsystems
1. Introduction
1.1. Project/Component Working Name:
ncurses for OpenSolaris
1.2. Name of Document Author/Supplier:
Author: Rick Ju
1.3 Date of This Document:
15 August, 2008
4. Technical Description
1. Introduction
1.1. Project/Component Working Name:
ncurses 5.6
1.2. Name of Document Author/Supplier:
Author: Rick Ju
Sponser: Irene Huang
1.3. Date of This Document:
07/11/2008
4. Technical Description:
4.1. Details:
Ncurses is a programming library providing an API, allowing the programmer
to write text user interfaces (textual blocky UI) in a terminal-
independent manner. It's a toolkit for developing "GUI-like" apps which
run under a terminal emulator. It also optimizes screen changes, in order
to reduce the latency experienced when using remote shells.
Ncurses is a free software emulation (clone) of System V Release 4.0 (SVR4)
curses, an enhancement over the discontinued classic 4.4 BSD curses. The
XSI Curses standard issued by X/Open is explicitly and closely modeled on
System V.
Most ncurses calls can be easily ported to the old curses. System V curses
implementations can support BSD curses programs with just a recompilation.
However, a few areas are problematic, such as handling terminal resizing
(since no counterpart exists in the old curses). Other subtle differences
in call semantics can make porting an ncurses application to commercial
Unix somewhat difficult.
Ncurses can use either terminfo (with extensible data), or termcap as
terminal database.
Because most the binaries and libraries use same name with SVR4 curses,
we ship the binaries in /usr/gnu/bin and the libraries in
/usr/lib/libncurses.
For more info, please refer to http://www.gnu.org/software/ncurses.
4.2. Interfaces:
Exported Interfaces
Interface Classification Comments
--------------- --------------- -----------------------
/usr/bin/gcaptoinfo
/usr/bin/gclear
/usr/bin/ginfocmp
/usr/bin/ginfotocap
/usr/bin/greset
/usr/bin/gtack
/usr/bin/gtic
/usr/bin/gtoe
/usr/bin/gtput
/usr/bin/gtset
Volatile CLI binaries.
These are files with a
'g'
prefix.
Please see the man pages.
/usr/gnu/bin/captoinfo
/usr/gnu/bin/clear
/usr/gnu/bin/infocmp
/usr/gnu/bin/infotocap
/usr/gnu/bin/reset
/usr/gnu/bin/tack
/usr/gnu/bin/tic
/usr/gnu/bin/toe
/usr/gnu/bin/tput
/usr/gnu/bin/tset
Volatile These are links to
binaries
in /usr/bin/ with a 'g'
prefix
Please see the man pages.
/usr/bin/ncurses5-config
Volatile CLI binaries.
/usr/lib/libgcurses.so
/usr/lib/libgform.so.5
/usr/lib/libgmenu.so.5
/usr/lib/libgncurses.so.5
/usr/lib/libgpanel.so.5
Volatile Supporting libraries
These are files with a
'g' prefix
/usr/gnu/lib/libcurses.so
/usr/gnu/lib/libform.so.5
/usr/gnu/lib/libmenu.so.5
/usr/gnu/lib/libncurses.so.5
/usr/gnu/lib/libpanel.so.5
Volatile Supporting libraries
These are links to
libraries
in /usr/lib/ with a 'g'
prefix
/usr/include/ncurses/
Volatile Directory for Header
files in
development package.
SUNWncurses Uncommited ncurses packaging contains
binaries, libraries.
SUNWncurses-devel Uncommited ncurses packaging contains
headers and static
libraries
Imported Interfaces
Interface Classification Comments
--------------- --------------- -----------------------
libc Committed PSARC/1991/064
libm Committed LSARC/1992/005
4.3. Doc Impact:
Man page provided
4.4. Packaging & Delivery:
SUNWncurses (base package) - Base package i.e binary,
libraries
SUNWncurses-devel - Development packaging
4.5. Dependencies:
libc and libm.
4.6. I18N/L10N Impact:
The JDS team and the G11N are working together to evaluation and
provide I18N/L10N support.
4.7 Security Impact:
None.
5. Reference Documents:
[1] ncurses homepage
http://www.gnu.org/software/ncurses/
[2] Relates ARC cases
PSARC/1991/064 MT-Safe libc
LSARC/1992/005 Bundled libm packaging
6. Resources and Schedule
6.4. Steering Committee requested information
6.4.1. Consolidation C-team Name:
Desktop
6.5. ARC review type: FastTrack
6.6. ARC Exposure: open
