Re: [MiNT] porting

[Peter Slegg <p.slegg@scubadivers.co.uk>]

On Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:28:27 -0500, Mark Duckworth <mduckworth@atari-source.org> wrote:
> On 12/17/10 9:05 AM, Peter Slegg wrote:
> > I know very little about Windom/DFRM and nothing about GTK but I wonder
> > if it could be used as a mapping layer ? I suppose it depends on
> > the methodology of the two systems.
> >
> > Peter
> Sure but I don't think it's all that helpful.  It all depends on gtk
> really.  On every system I have ever seen, GTK appearance is retained,
> as well as themability, etc.  This means that using GEM widgets would be
> technically incorrect and may not work so well.  I think a lot of GTK2
> apps are interesting enough that it probably won't work.  gnucash for
> example.  The gtk widgets and layout have a LOT of flexibility.  I have
> doubts that for instance every gtk widget is implemented in a suitable
> capacity in gem (and especially windom/dfrm).  I suspect the best
> approach is to use the gem window frames and use straight gdk->vdi
> conversions to draw the window contents, just like the X server.  You
> could certainly start with this easier method and then add on the DFRM
> part to see how well it works.  It's surely an interesting idea.
>

Yes, it just crossed my mind that a dynamic forms lib might provide a
quick way of creating a working layer between GTK and GEM even if it
didn't look exactly the same.

I don't know enough about either system to say if it could work at all
but once a semi-working layer is created it could be finessed later by
making more direct (more complex) calls if necessary.

Peter