[Axiom-developer] axiom graphics and porting

[daly]

I've tried 3 paths so far.

First I tried to find an X library that runs natively on windows
without success. So I started working on one and realized that I
didn't know enough of the Microsoft C API to manage it.

Second I tried to use TK as the front end. I was unable to get
the TK front end to display graphics and was unable to find the
source code (since remedied by Camm).

Third I tried to use McClim. I want to use a lisp-based front end
and this was my best hope. Unfortunately I was unable to get it to 
work. 

Finally I wrote a TK-equivalent program in Java. Since it is cross
platform it will run on linux and windows. I have a small working
demonstration for the browser.

The plan is to rewrite the browser and graphics in common lisp and
use a socket based message passing to communicate. The common lisp
rewrite would make it so much easier to port. And the command 
language for the front end could be easily modified to fit the 
choice of front end (TK, Java, McClim).

I'm unhappy about the need for Java and would much prefer McClim.

GCL does not seem to handle run-process correctly so I've been using
CLISP. The browser and the graphics run in their own process anyway
so Axiom under GCL can talk to McClim under CLISP.

t