From: gsk@world.std.com (Geoffrey S Knauth)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
Subject: Re: How is Obj-C project coming?
Date: 28 Dec 92 11:23:02 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA

In article <42867@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> mstankus@oba.ucsd.edu (Mark Stankus) writes:
>Some time ago, there was a news item which said that FSF ...

Here is some information for newcomers.

Contents:  (goals resources managers compatibility legal-matters)

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GOALS OF THE GNU OBJECTIVE-C PROJECT

- to provide OBJECTIVE-C TOOLS as free software, under GNU Copyleft,
  with the relaxed restrictions of the libg++ license;

- MACHINE INDEPENDENCE:  the tools will run on any GNU system;

- SUPPORT FOR X, which, as free software, is GNU's windowing system;

- a RUNTIME SYSTEM.  Dennis Glatting <dglattin@trirex.com>
  submitted the first GNU objc runtime library.  Richard Stallman
  <rms@gnu.ai.mit.edu> enhanced it and included it with GCC 2.3.2.

- COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN OBJECTIVE-C AND C++ OBJECTS, so that the
  Objective-C library and libg++ can help each other; language
  enhancements to make this easy;

- a GRAPHICAL OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING TOOL.  Those familiar with
  the NeXT computer would call it a kind of Interface Builder that
  will run on any GNU system, and that lacks the flaws of other
  interface builders.  This tool will produce stereotype code that
  does not need to be edited by the user, and which can be read back
  into the tool.  The tool will allow interfaces under construction
  to be tested with real objects.  Those familiar with the tremendously
  versatile Smalltalk programming environment would look for as many
  Smalltalk features as possible.

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GNU OBJECTIVE-C RESOURCES

Runtime library

  The first release of the GNU Objective-C runtime library is available
  as part of GCC 2.3.2, available by ftp from prep.ai.mit.edu and other
  GNU archive sites.

Mailing list

  The GNU Objective-C project operates a mailing list.  To access this
  list, send mail to:

    gnu-objc@prep.ai.mit.edu		for messages everyone will see
    gnu-objc-request@prep.ai.mit.edu	{,un}subscribing, address corrections

Archives

  ftp

    Geoffrey Knauth <gsk@marble.com> is collecting archives.  For the
    time being, you may ask him to look for answers to you questions.
    The archives are being reorganized, and Cygnus Support has
    volunteered to be a repository for ftp access.

  LISTSERV

    During the second week of December, 1992, there were a few queries
    about a LISTSERV-type mail server.  If interest is sufficient,
    Marble can host a mail server.

  Sharing

    Archives are more useful when they are widely distributed.
    Therefore we welcome the addition of other sites as archive
    repositories.

Outside Support

  NeXT Computer, Inc.

    Numerous individuals at NeXT have been helpful to the Free
    Software Foundation, and continue to play an active role in
    discussions on the future of Objective-C.  NeXT uses GCC as its
    compiler of choice, and contributes some of its Objective-C
    know-how to GCC.

  Dennis Glatting

    Dennis Glatting <dglattin@trirex.com> submitted the first
    FSF version of an Objective-C runtime library.

  Institute of Problems of Cybernetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences

    These are the keepers of GNU in Russia.  They are reading up on
    Objective-C and Smalltalk, and we are looking for mutually
    beneficial ways to make use of their great programming talent in
    our projects.  They also invite papers for and participation in a
    Free Software Workshop Conference taking place April 19-23, 1992,
    in Moscow.  For details, contact Sergei Dmitrievich Kuznetsov
    <kuz@ivann.delta.msk.su> or Geoffrey S. Knauth <gsk@marble.com>.

  Brad Cox

    Brad Cox has submitted his ECOOP'91 paper on "Exception Handling
    and Object-oriented programming."

  Cygnus Support

    Cygnus has offered to host archives for ftp access.

Bugs

  Reporting Bugs

    Richard Stallman writes, "If people find bugs in GCC, they should
    read the Bugs chapter in the GCC manual and then mail bug reports
    to bug-gcc@prep.ai.mit.edu.  That's the way to get a bug fixed.
    They should read the Bugs chapter so that they understand what
    sort of information the maintainers need."

Peripherally Related

  These listings are last because they are only peripherally related
  to the specific goals of the Free Software Foundation.

  Distributed Objects across platforms

    From time to time, NeXT has discussions with companies that seek
    open systems solutions to the implementation of distributed
    objects.  Sometimes companies may be willing to cooperate and
    share development costs and results.  For further information, you
    must contact NeXT Computer, Inc.

  UHOOP Sources from the University of Houston

    Mike Mahoney <mahoney@csulb.edu> writes,
    "John Glover has some very nice examples of non-NeXTSTEP
    Objective-C programs for beginners in his UHOOP notes, at the
    sonata.cc.purdue.edu archive site."

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GNU OBJECTIVE-C MANAGERS

The GNU Objective-C project has project managers.  Please contact
these persons if you would like to contribute work to their projects.

  RUNTIME
    athan@object.com (Andrew C. Athan)

  COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN OBJECTIVE-C AND C++
    jjobe@mrj.com (Jason Jobe)

  OBJECT MAP
    We are looking for a manager of this group.
    To volunteer, please write the administrator (see below).

  A GRAPHICAL OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING TOOL
    liberte@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Daniel LaLiberte)

Geoffrey Knauth <gsk@marble.com> is the FSF Objective-C administrator.
The administrator's duties are to collect software, provide quality
control, obtain releases and certifications of authenticity from
authors, submit releases to the FSF, and ensure community support and
recognition.

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GNU OBJECTIVE-C DOES NOT PLAN TO REIMPLEMENT NeXTSTEP

First of all, the Free Software Foundation and NeXT Computer, Inc.,
are on friendly terms.  NeXT bundles the GNU C compiler (GCC) with
their computer, and NeXT has contributed many many Objective-C
enhancements to GCC.  We acknowledge that NeXT is largely responsible
for the popularization of the Objective-C language, and also recognize
that many advocates for Objective-C free software are programmers of
NeXT computers striving for leverage in a real world of open systems.
The following statements from Richard Stallman, FSF Founder, are
primarily addressed to this group of developers.

   "The aim of this project is to produce a useful addition to the GNU
   operating system, of which GCC is part.  This means we are only
   interested in packages that could run on a GNU system--and thus,
   not in packages that depend on NeXTSTEP, as we cannot expect to
   have anything compatible with NeXTSTEP available.  Supporting
   extensions to a proprietary window system is not part of the GNU
   mission and would be a diversion of effort."

			       --and--

   "NeXTSTEP is a proprietary package used by a small subset of the
   community; it has free alternatives.  Code written for NeXTSTEP
   simply won't run on the GNU system; it won't even come close to
   being useful for the GNU system.  We don't plan to make a
   compatible replacement for NeXTSTEP in the GNU system."

   "The GNU project has limited resources, and we have to focus on the
   goal we are trying to achieve: a complete, coherent free software
   system.  There are millions of projects that would be useful for
   someone.  Only a few of them contribute to this goal; we don't have
   enough resources to do all of those few.  If we lack the discipline
   to say no to unrelated projects, our work will be scattered and
   will not achieve the goal."

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GNU OBJECTIVE-C LEGAL MATTERS

Before the Free Software Foundation can accept code, we must ask
authors that they certify their authorship, that they disclaim
copyright, and that no other party claims copyright.  We must track
who wrote and who made significant changes to which programs and
functions.  This tracking is more important to the Register of
Copyrights than a description of a program's function.

It is also important that you not submit software that infringes on
someone else's patent.

You must avoid submitting code that is fundamentally like code which
you previously developed for someone else, unless you obtain a written
release from that person or company.

If you are ready to submit code for acceptance, we will send you the
appropriate papers and more detailed legal information.

In this era of expensive litigation over software copyrights and
software patents, it is unfortunately necessary that we deal with a
large administrative overhead to avoid legal problems and to assure
your continued access to free software.

You may be interested in the work of the League for Programming
Freedom.  Write to league@prep.ai.mit.edu for details.

If you have further questions, contact gsk@marble.com (Geoffrey S. Knauth).

===========================================================================
[12/18/92 Newsgroup: comp.lang.objective-c]

Up until now, the GNU Objective-C discussion has been carried out on
the mailing list gnu-objc@prep.ai.mit.edu.  The problem is, there's
been more talk than coding, and now this must change.  GNU has an
embryonic run-time library which needs to be fleshed out.

Richard Stallman believes it is too early to start a gnu-objc
newsgroup.  So I wonder if this group, comp.lang.objective-c, would
tolerate general discussion of GNU Objective-C.

A related idea is that if I spend less time administering a discussion
list like gnu-objc, perhaps handing the list at `prep' over to someone
else, then I can spend more time on active development.  If anyone
would like to take over list administration, please contact me via
gsk@marble.com, or Richard Stallman <rms@gnu.ai.mit.edu>.

-- 
Geoffrey S. Knauth, Marble Associates, Inc.                Member BCS-NeXT, LPF
gsk@marble.com, (617) 891-5555                             Standard Disclaimers