[MiNT] MiNTLib 0.52

["Guido Flohr" <gufl0000@stud.uni-sb.de>]

Hi,

please check out

	ftp://ftp.uni-giessen.de/pub/atari/mint/mintlib/mintlib-0.52.tar.gz

for a new version of the MiNTLib (sorry, sources only).

Some comments: I actually wanted to wait with this release until the new
binutils (especially the linker) is out as the new library sort of depends
on new linker features.  The lib should compile and link both with the old
and the new linker but that means that I actually have to maintain two
libs.  I use the new linker/archiver and therefore can't produce a binary
version right now.

Please keep the sources.  As soon as the new linker is available you
should do a `make clean' and recompile.  With the old linker please make
sure that you comment out all lines in the file `configvars' that have to
do with weak symbols.

For upgraders from old versions (versions that were named `PL' and not
0.x.x): Check the file `tz/zonelist'.  Before you build the library you
should change the variables `LOCALTIME' and `POSIXRULES' from `Factory'
resp. `America/New_York' to the timezone closest to you (also in the file 
`configvars').  

Department of FAQ: No setting these variables doesn't hardcode a certain
timezone into your executables. It only affects the way that programs
linked with the MiNTLib will behave on your very own system.

Here are the NEWS for 0.52 (see ChangeLog for more detailed information): 

Version 0.52 - June 1999

* 4.4BSD error functions.

* Various bugfixes.

Version 0.51.2 - June 1999

* First release that makes active use of weak symbols as supported by
  the GNU linker from the GNU binutils >= 2.9.1.

* POSIX wordexp().  Together with glob() and fnmatch() introduced in
  earlier versions all means to do shell like parsing are now present
  in the MiNTLib.  Additionally you will find related functions 
  like canonicalize_file_name() and realpath().

* BSD like environment functions setenv(), unsetenv() and clearenv().

* More string functions often needed: stpcpy(), stpncpy(), mempcpy().

* /etc/passwd handling completely rewritten, now comes with reentrant
  versions of most functions.  The same for /etc/groups is still
  waiting.

* remove() now behaves like it should and not like unlink().

* Despite all warnings, basename() and dirname().  Even with a broken
  interface it is better to have native routines that take care of
  Atari peculiarities.

* Bugfix for vfork() (Joerg Westheide).

* Instead of retrying Ssystem over and over again, the presence of
  the function is now cached within the library (Christian Felsch).

* Profiling adapted to GNU binutils 2.9.1.

* By default the source distribution will now build an additional
  library with debugging information and another one with debugging
  and profiling enabled.

Version 0.51.1 - May 1999

* New function syscall().  Most functions that are usually operating
  system calls are now defined in a file <call>_sys.c.  The function
  there either calls the underlying implementation (__<call> ()) or
  is a weak alias for it.

* New 48 bit random functions (see *rand_48 in stdio.h).

* All routines dealing with temp files completely rewritten.

* New header files <queue.h> and <ieee754.h>.

* mktime() bug fixed (no more error if no default rules file is
  found).
  
* New functions basename and dirname.

Ciao and have fun with it!

Guido

P.S.: Please don't spread binary versions of this library.  I think it
makes more sense to wait for the new linker and then distribute the libs
and programs in the new format.
-- 
http://stud.uni-sb.de/~gufl0000
mailto:gufl0000@stud.uni-sb.de