OK, not really, but I was looking at the glutCreateSubWindow function
and decided what the hell, let's nest an instance of a Cello window
somewhere deep in the tree of another Cello window. This was mostly an
exercise in vanity, but I also hoped subwindows would redraw without
bothering the parent window... it woiks! And indeed the subwindow
redisplay does not require the parent display.
Immediately found a use for it: a conventional menu bar. Glut is not so
hot on menus (and the doc makes a big point of that). Currently my
substitute menu hack is part of the menu'ed window, so drawing them and
highlighting the item under the mouse requires a full redraw. Not good,
but putting the menu bar and items in a subwindow should fix that.
At which point I plan to try porting everything to other platforms,
starting I guess with Corman Lisp (not sure the free LW can handle
Cello--anyone with the full deal want to get involved?) and CLisp so the
FreeGlut.dll I have can be used as is. Then it is time to go for an X11
version, and that will probably be under Mac OSX/MCL.
Not that Cello is ready for prime time, but the universality thang is
the fun part and I have enough working that if this thing can be made
universal, the rest of it will as well.
Side news: Apple seems to be really pouring it on for OpenGL and esp.
their version of Glut (which is the un-free original version).
http://developer.apple.com/opengl/
This suggests Glut will be a better platform for Cello (on mac OS X of
course) than FreeGlut. Suggesting that while FG is essential for
development, perhaps Cello should use it in ways compatible with
standard Glut, so once developed an app can run against the std Glut.
This is a GPL project for now, with a commercial release to follow if
interest warrants. Anyone interested in getting involved can send me
email to that effect. Someone on the Linux/CMUCL side would be key, even
the Mac OS X platform. Or watch this space for contracts to do the same
for pay.
--
kenny tilton
clinisys, inc
http://www.tilton-technology.com/
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"Cells let us walk, talk, think, make love and realize
the bath water is cold." -- Lorraine Lee Cudmore