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contents

 

Introduction - 1

Background - 2

Deployment - 3

Starkits - 4

Tclkit - 5

Advanced topics - 6

Repositories - 7

Server apps - 8

Who uses this - 9

Examples - 10

Conclusion - 11

 

Acknowledgements

References

4.5 - Kitten - a collection of binary extensions

Kitten started as an experiment to build a “Batteries Included” collection of extensions for use with Starkits.

Kitten was named because it originally contained ten extensions but now contains many more (over 100).

Despite being experimental Kitten has been surprisingly well received. Perhaps this is because of the promise it holds for developers:

  • it frees the developer from keeping a copy of each extension within the application during development
  • it is a single compressed file that doesn't require special installation
  • it can update itself from a central repository

The latter is possible because of the Virtual File System layer, and distinguishes Starkits from other wrapping schemes. More on this later.

But there is another technique for deploying platform specific code - combine Tclkit, the Starkit and any compiled extensions into a single executable - called a Starpack.

see also

Starkit Home Page

Tclkit Home Page

Metakit Home Page

SDX Utility

Wikit Home Page

Tclers' Wiki

Author's Website

Updated paper, by Steve Landers, as presented at Tcl/Tk 2002 conference - see also original PDF.

Papers & Presentations