Re: NeXT GNU Homage Project Work

[Maxthon Chan]

We probably need to rearrange libraries a bit since the current layering is 
just too messy.

Foundation technology stack: libc -> libobjc (implement NSObject here) -> 
gnustep-corebase (with TFB classes implemented here) -> gnustep-base
Graphics technology stack: EGL (my suggestion) or gnustep-metal -> gnustep-qe 
-> gnustep-opal -> gnustep-gui
Audio technology stack: ALSA -> gnustep-coreaudio (with Audio Units)

Using Qt will result in Qt interfacing code being embedded deep into 
gnustep-gui (NSWindow at least, maybe even GUI elements) which may break some 
OS X apps that uses QC or CG to draw their own UI elements. EGL is a few layers 
lower and actually maps to the layer of OpenGLES that QC on iOS works on so we 
can just build the graphics stack iOS style.

> On Nov 18, 2015, at 16:52, Luboš Doležel <lubos@dolezel.info> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> On 11/18/2015 09:46 AM, Maxthon Chan wrote:
>> Not just that, maybe we need a new TFB mechanism that is ARC- and
>> Swift-proof, and maybe rewrite opal and quartzcore. The reason I suggest
>> building QC on top of EGL and Wayland is because how technology layers
>> from OS X maps here.
> 
> ARC is a compile-time stuff, so it's not important to Darling.
> 
>> 2) X11 is on its way out so I think we need to put our eyes on the
>> future-proof things.
> 
> Which in "my approach" is Qt, because it abstracts away the graphics
> server/windowing server stuff.
> 
>> 3 & 4) Metal, SpriteKit and SceneKit are for games, preferably
>> distributed through Steam. If we have clones of OS X game frameworks
>> then Steam (and maybe App Store) games for OS X will become one
>> recompile away from being released under Linux. Game Center and other OS
>> X-specific game features can be implemented by calling into Steam
>> platform’s similar features.
> 
> I doubt many games for OS X use these. Most of the time, with games
> ported from Windows, I see just OpenGL, OpenAL or CoreAudio, IOKit for
> input and some very simple code to create a window (often in Carbon!).
> 
> -- 
> Luboš Doležel

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