Re: [Bug-zile] Zile: Framework or Platform?

[Gary V. Vaughan]

Hi Garnaik,

On Mar 17, 2014, at 9:44 AM, Garnaik Sumeet <address@hidden> wrote:
>        I have recently been going through the codes of Zile. I have somewhat 
> formed a vague idea about its structure and what it implements. I am not sure 
> if it is a framework or a platform. I have googled a lot but I am not able to 
> get any concrete idea regarding what differentiates a platform and a 
> framework. Is Zile a framework? How is Emacs platform different from what 
> Zile is being made into?

I'm not sure that there is a hard and fast definition for 'platform' or 
'framework' as those terms apply to software... but here's my own take on it:

  - Emacs is a platform, because it provides a complete application that can be 
extended by adding features using the Emacs extension language;
  - Zile will be a framework, because it will provide a selection of components 
that can be combined (using your custom glue code) to make an application.  
Zmacs and Zz are examples of the kinds of editor applications Zile can be used 
to build - in turn, you might then say that Zmacs and Zz are platforms, because 
you can then extend either of them in Zlisp (Zmacs' subset of ELisp) and Lua 
respectively.

I guess it *is* pretty confusing in that respect, hence the separation into:

  - lib/zile/*.lua, the underpinnings of the framework Zile is becoming;
  - lib/zmacs/**/*.{lua,zl}, a port of the old C editor also called Zile onto 
that framework;
  - and lib/zz/*.lua, another Emacs inspired editor that embraces its Luaness 
in preference to Lisp.

HTH,
-- 
Gary V. Vaughan (gary AT vaughan DOT pe)

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