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$Id: announce.html,v 1.34 1999/10/23 21:13:11 tom Exp $
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<HTML>
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<HEAD>
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<TITLE>Announcing ncurses 5.0</TITLE>
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<link rev=made href="mailto:bug-ncurses@gnu.org">
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<BODY>
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<H1>Announcing ncurses 5.0</H1>
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The ncurses (new curses) library is a free software emulation of
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curses in System V Release 4.0, and more. It uses terminfo format,
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supports pads and color
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and multiple highlights and forms characters and function-key mapping,
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and has all the other SYSV-curses enhancements over BSD curses.<P>
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In mid-June 1995, the maintainer of 4.4BSD curses declared that he
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considered 4.4BSD curses obsolete, and is encouraging the keepers of
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Unix releases such as BSD/OS, freeBSD and netBSD to switch over to
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ncurses.<P>
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The ncurses code was developed under GNU/Linux. It should port easily to
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any ANSI/POSIX-conforming UNIX. It has even been ported to OS/2 Warp!<P>
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The distribution includes the library and support utilities, including a
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terminfo compiler tic(1), a decompiler infocmp(1), clear(1), tput(1), tset(1),
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and a termcap conversion tool captoinfo(1). Full manual pages are provided for
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the library and tools.<P>
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The ncurses distribution is available via anonymous FTP at
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the GNU distribution site
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/ncurses">ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/ncurses</A>.
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It is also available at
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/ncurses">ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/ncurses</A>.
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<H1>Release Notes</H1>
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We decided to release ncurses as a new whole number release (5.0) because it
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incorporates several interface changes, including some that would invalidate
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existing shared libraries. These are the highlights from the change-log
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since ncurses 4.2 release.
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<p>
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Interface changes:
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<ul>
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<li>The principal source of changes to the interface comes from the
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release of X/Open Curses in 1997. Earlier versions of ncurses (4.0
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and before) were based on a draft version of the specification. The
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release version adds parameters to some functions to support the
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evolving internationalization of curses. These summarize the impact:
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<ul>
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<li>modified several prototypes to correspond with 1997 version of
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X/Open Curses (affects ABI since developers have used attr_get).
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<li>corrected prototypes for slk_* functions, using chtype rather than
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attr_t.
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<li>the slk_attr_{set,off,on} functions need an additional void*
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parameter according to XSI.
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<li>correct macros for wattr_set, wattr_get, separate wattrset macro from
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these to preserve behavior that allows attributes to be combined with
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color pair numbers.
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<li>reviewed/updated curses.h, term.h against X/Open Curses Issue 4
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Version 2. This includes making some parameters NCURSES_CONST
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rather than const, e.g., in termcap.h.
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<li>reviewed/corrected macros in curses.h as per XSI document.
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<li>add set_a_attributes and set_pglen_inch to terminfo structure, as per
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XSI and Solaris 2.5.
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</ul>
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<li>The newest version of the X/Open Curses is implemented on Solaris
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and other vendor's systems. It adds new features to the terminfo
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descriptions:
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<ul>
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<li>implement tparm %l format.
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<li>implement tparm printf-style width and precision for %s, %d, %x, %o
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as per XSI.
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</ul>
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<li>We made additional changes to reduce impact by future interface
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changes:
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<ul>
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<li>rename key_names[] array to _nc_key_names since it is not part of
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the curses interface.
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<li>move macro winch to a function, to hide details of struct ldat
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</ul>
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<li>modify configure script to embed ABI in shared libraries for HP-UX
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10.x (detailed request by Tim Mooney).
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<li>modify configuration of shared libraries on Digital Unix so that
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versioning is embedded in the library, rather than implied by
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links (patch by Tim Mooney).
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</ul>
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New features:
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<ul>
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<li>enable sigwinch handler by default.
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<li>turn on hashmap scrolling code by default
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<li>improved support for termcap applications
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<ul>
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<li>modify tput to accept termcap names as an alternative to terminfo
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names.
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<li>provide support for termcap PC variable by copying it from terminfo
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data and using it as the padding character in tputs.
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<li>provide support for termcap ospeed variable by copying it from the
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internal cur_term member, and using ospeed as the baudrate
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reference for the delay_output and tputs functions.
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<li>change name-comparisons in lib_termcap to compare no more than 2
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characters.
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<li>add configure option --enable-tcap-names, which essentially
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allows users to define new capabilities as in termcap.
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</ul>
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<li>add mouse support to ncurses menus.
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<li>add mouse and dll support for OS/2 EMX
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<li>modify terminfo parsing to accept octal and hexadecimal constants
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<li>add configure option --enable-no-padding, to allow environment
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variable $NCURSES_NO_PADDING to eliminate non-mandatory padding,
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thereby making terminal emulators (e.g., for vt100) a little more
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efficient.
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<li>modify lib_color.c to eliminate dependency on orig_colors and
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orig_pair, since SVr4 curses does not require these either, but
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uses them when they are available.
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<li>add -f option to infocmp and tic, which formats the terminfo
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if/then/else/endif so that they are readable (with newlines and
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tabs).
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<li>modify tic to compile into %'char' form in preference to %{number},
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since that is a little more efficient.
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</ul>
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Major bug fixes:
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<ul>
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<li>modify lib_tstp.c to block SIGTTOU when handling SIGTSTP, fixes a
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problem where ncurses applications which were run via a shell script
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would hang when given a ^Z. Also, check if the terminal's process
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group is consistent, i.e., a shell has not taken ownership of it,
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before deciding to save the current terminal settings in the SIGTSTP
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handler.
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<li>suppress sc/rc capabilities from terminal description if they appear
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in smcup/rmcup. This affects only scrolling optimization, to fix a
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problem reported by several people with xterm's alternate screen,
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though the problem is more general.
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<li>modify relative_move and tputs to avoid an interaction with the
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BSD-style padding. The relative_move function could produce a string
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to replace on the screen which began with a numeric character, which
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was then interpreted by tputs as padding.
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<li>modify setupterm so that cancelled strings are treated the same as
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absent strings, cancelled and absent booleans false (does not affect
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tic, infocmp).
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<li>modify lib_vidattr.c to allow for terminal types (e.g., xterm-color)
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which may reset all attributes in the 'op' capability, so that colors
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are set before turning on bold and other attributes, but still after
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turning attributes off.
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<li>use 'access()' to check if ncurses library should be permitted to
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open or modify files with fopen/open/link/unlink/remove calls, in
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case the calling application is running in setuid mode.
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<li>correction to doupdate, for case where terminal does not support
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insert/delete character. The logic did not check that there was a
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difference in alignment of changes to old/new screens before
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repainting the whole non-blank portion of the line. Modified to fall
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through into logic that reduces by the portion which does not differ.
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</ul>
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<H1>Features of Ncurses</H1>
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The ncurses package is fully compatible with SVr4 (System V Release 4) curses:
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<UL>
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<LI>All 257 of the SVr4 calls have been implemented (and are documented).
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<LI>Full support for SVr4 curses features including keyboard mapping, color,
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forms-drawing with ACS characters, and automatic recognition of keypad
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and function keys.
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<LI>An emulation of the SVr4 panels library, supporting
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a stack of windows with backing store, is included.
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<LI>An emulation of the SVr4 menus library, supporting
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a uniform but flexible interface for menu programming, is included.
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<LI>An emulation of the SVr4 form library, supporting
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data collection through on-screen forms, is included.
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<LI>Binary terminfo entries generated by the ncurses tic(1) implementation
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are bit-for-bit-compatible with the entry format SVr4 curses uses.
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<LI>The utilities have options to allow you to filter terminfo
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entries for use with less capable <STRONG>curses</STRONG>/<STRONG>terminfo</STRONG>
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versions such as the HP/UX and AIX ports.</UL>
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The ncurses package also has many useful extensions over SVr4:
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<UL>
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<LI>The API is 8-bit clean and base-level conformant with the X/OPEN curses
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specification, XSI curses (that is, it implements all BASE level features,
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but not all EXTENDED features). Most EXTENDED-level features not directly
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concerned with wide-character support are implemented, including many
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function calls not supported under SVr4 curses (but portability of all
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calls is documented so you can use the SVr4 subset only).
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<LI>Unlike SVr3 curses, ncurses can write to the rightmost-bottommost corner
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of the screen if your terminal has an insert-character capability.
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<LI>Ada95 and C++ bindings.
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<LI>Support for mouse event reporting with X Window xterm and OS/2 console windows.
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<LI>Extended mouse support via Alessandro Rubini's gpm package.
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<LI>The function <CODE>wresize()</CODE> allows you to resize windows, preserving
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their data.
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<LI>The function <CODE>use_default_colors()</CODE> allows you to
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use the terminal's default colors for the default color pair,
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achieving the effect of transparent colors.
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<LI>The functions <CODE>keyok()</CODE>
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and <CODE>define_key()</CODE> allow
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you to better control the use of function keys,
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e.g., disabling the ncurses KEY_MOUSE,
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or by defining more than one control sequence to map to a given key code.
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<LI>Support for 16-color terminals, such as aixterm and XFree86 xterm.
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<LI>Better cursor-movement optimization. The package now features a
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cursor-local-movement computation more efficient than either BSD's
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or System V's.
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<LI>Super hardware scrolling support. The screen-update code incorporates
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a novel, simple, and cheap algorithm that enables it to make optimal
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use of hardware scrolling, line-insertion, and line-deletion
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for screen-line movements. This algorithm is more powerful than
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the 4.4BSD curses quickch() routine.
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<LI>Real support for terminals with the magic-cookie glitch. The
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screen-update code will refrain from drawing a highlight if the magic-
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cookie unattributed spaces required just before the beginning and
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after the end would step on a non-space character. It will
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automatically shift highlight boundaries when doing so would make it
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possible to draw the highlight without changing the visual appearance
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of the screen.
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<LI>It is possible to generate the library with a list of pre-loaded
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fallback entries linked to it so that it can serve those terminal types even
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when no terminfo tree or termcap file is accessible (this may be useful
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for support of screen-oriented programs that must run in single-user mode).
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<LI>The tic(1)/captoinfo utility provided with ncurses has the
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ability to translate many termcaps from the XENIX, IBM and
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AT&T extension sets.
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<LI>A BSD-like tset(1) utility is provided.
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<LI>The ncurses library and utilities will automatically read terminfo
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entries from $HOME/.terminfo if it exists, and compile to that directory
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if it exists and the user has no write access to the system directory.
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This feature makes it easier for users to have personal terminfo entries
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without giving up access to the system terminfo directory.
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<LI>You may specify a path of directories to search for compiled
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descriptions with the environment variable TERMINFO_DIRS (this
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generalizes the feature provided by TERMINFO under stock System V.)
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<LI>In terminfo source files, use capabilities may refer not just to
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other entries in the same source file (as in System V) but also to
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compiled entries in either the system terminfo directory or the user's
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$HOME/.terminfo directory.
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<LI>A script (<STRONG>capconvert</STRONG>) is provided to help BSD users
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transition from termcap to terminfo. It gathers the information in a
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TERMCAP environment variable and/or a ~/.termcap local entries file
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and converts it to an equivalent local terminfo tree under $HOME/.terminfo.
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<LI>Automatic fallback to the /etc/termcap file can be compiled in
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when it is not possible to build a terminfo tree. This feature is neither
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fast nor cheap, you don't want to use it unless you have to,
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but it's there.
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<LI>The table-of-entries utility <STRONG>toe</STRONG> makes it easy for users to
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see exactly what terminal types are available on the system.
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<LI>The library meets the XSI requirement that every macro entry
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point have a corresponding function which may be linked (and will be
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prototype-checked) if the macro definition is disabled with
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<CODE>#undef</CODE>.
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<LI>An HTML "Introduction to Programming with NCURSES" document provides
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a narrative introduction to the curses programming interface.
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</UL>
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<H1>State of the Package</H1>
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Numerous bugs present in earlier versions have been fixed; the
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library is far more reliable than it used to be. Bounds checking in many
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`dangerous' entry points has been improved. The code is now type-safe
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according to gcc -Wall. The library has been checked for malloc leaks and
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arena corruption by the Purify memory-allocation tester.<P>
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The ncurses code has been tested with a wide variety of applications
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including (versions starting with those noted):
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<DL>
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<DT> cdk
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<DD> Curses Development Kit
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<A HREF="http://www.vexus.ca/CDK.html">Curses Development Kit</a>
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/cdk">ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/cdk</A>.
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<DT> ded
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<DD> directory-editor
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/ded">ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/ded</A>.
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<DT> dialog
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<DD> the underlying application used in Slackware's setup, and the basis
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for similar applications on GNU/Linux.
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<DT> lynx
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<DD> the character-screen WWW browser
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<DT> Midnight Commander 4.1
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<DD> file manager
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<DT> mutt
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<DD> mail utility
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<DT> ncftp
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<DD> file-transfer utility
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<DT> nvi
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<DD> New vi versions 1.50 are able to use ncurses versions 1.9.7 and later.
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<DT> tin
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<DD> newsreader, supporting color, MIME
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.akk.uni-karlsruhe.de/pub/news/clients/tin-unoff">ftp://ftp.akk.uni-karlsruhe.de/pub/news/clients/tin-unoff</A>.
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<DT> taper
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<DD> tape archive utility
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<DT> vh-1.6
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<DD> Volks-Hypertext browser for the Jargon File
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</DL>
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as well as some that use ncurses for the terminfo support alone:
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<DL>
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<DT> minicom
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<DD> terminal emulator
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<DT> vile
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<DD> vi-like-emacs
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/vile">ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/vile</A>.
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</DL>
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<P>
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The ncurses distribution includes a selection of test programs (including
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a few games).
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<H2>Who's Who and What's What</H2>
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The original developers of ncurses are <A
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HREF="mailto:zmbenhal@netcom.com">Zeyd Ben-Halim</A> and
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<A HREF="http://www.ccil.org/~esr/home.html">Eric S. Raymond</A>.
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Ongoing work is being done by
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<A HREF="mailto:dickey@clark.net">Thomas Dickey</A>
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and
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<A HREF="mailto:juergen.pfeifer@gmx.net">Jürgen Pfeifer</A>.
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<A HREF="mailto:dickey@clark.net">Thomas Dickey</A>
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acts as the maintainer for the Free Software Foundation, which holds the
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copyright on ncurses.
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Contact the current maintainers at
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<A HREF="mailto:bug-ncurses@gnu.org">bug-ncurses@gnu.org</A>.
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<P>
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To join the ncurses mailing list, please write email to
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<CODE>bug-ncurses-request@gnu.org</CODE> containing the line:
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<PRE>
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subscribe <name>@<host.domain>
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</PRE>
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This list is open to anyone interested in helping with the development and
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testing of this package.<P>
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Beta versions of ncurses and patches to the current release are made available at
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<A HREF="ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/ncurses">ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/dickey/ncurses</A>.
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<H2>Future Plans</H2>
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<UL>
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<LI>Extended-level XPG4 conformance, with internationalization support.
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<LI>Ports to more systems, including DOS and Windows.
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</UL>
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We need people to help with these projects. If you are interested in working
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on them, please join the ncurses list.
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<H2>Other Related Resources</H2>
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The distribution includes and uses a version of the terminfo-format
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terminal description file maintained by Eric Raymond.
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<A HREF="http://earthspace.net/~esr/terminfo">http://earthspace.net/~esr/terminfo</A>.<P>
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You can find lots of information on terminal-related topics
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not covered in the terminfo file at
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<A HREF="http://www.cs.utk.edu/~shuford/terminal_index.html">Richard Shuford's
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archive</A>.
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