Subject: Announcing NCURSES version 0.5 (SYSV-compatible curses)
From: [email-masked] (Zeyd M. Ben-Halim)
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 1993 16:08:11 GMT
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce

I have uploaded version 0.5 of ncurses to :-
netcom.com:pub/zmbenhal/ncurses05.tar.Z
It should also appear some day on:
tsx-11.mit.edu:pub/linux/sources/libs.
sunsite.unc.edu:pub/Linux/Incoming.

Please don't let the low version number fool you. ncurses 1.0 will a totally
sysv-compatible curses (for good or bad). But note that this will require 
changes to internal structures so don't distribute any binaries linked with
ncurses.

ncurses is a SYSV-compatible curses (screen management) package.
It supports keypad() allowing access to function and arrow keys.
It supports and uses Terminfo instead of termcap for terminal description.
It has support for PC graphic characters (used in drawing boxes).
It has color support similar to that in SYSV curses.

Also included are a few programs that you can use to test ncurses.

Changes from ncurses0.4 to ncurses0.5 include:
changed _win_st structure to allow support for missing functionality.
Addition of terminfo support for all KEY_*.
Support for nodelay(), timeout(), notimeout().
fixed a bug with the keypad char reading that did not return ESC until
	another key is pressed.
nl mapping no longer occur on output (as should be)
fixed bug '\n' no causing a LF.
fixed bug that reset terminal colors regardless of whether we use color or not.
Better support for ACS (not quite complete).
fixed bug in wvline().
added curs_set().
changed from signal() to sigaction().
re-included the contents of impotrtant.patch into source.

Tests and flames are welcome. If you have programs that test
curses please send them to me or tell me where to get them from.
If you improve on the terminfo entry please send that too.

[email-masked] 
v0.1 July 31, 1992
v0.2 August 14, 1992
v0.3 January 20, 1993
v0.4 February 3, 1993
v0.5 February 14, 1993

Missing:
Backgroung manipulation routines.
Some color routines due to PC limitations.
idlok() is ignored (unsued in Linux).
Pads.
screen read/write.
Soft label routines.
subwin routines behavior not quite that of SYSV (requires structure changes)
And a few other minor functions.

NB. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE SENDING PATCHES:
This is not intended as a flame (I'm very grateful for the people who did) BUT
1) most functions should be defined as returning int even though most of them
	don't return anything. Don't blame me, that's how sysv does it.
2) leave cosmetic changes to me. they simply make the patches larger and less
	comprensible. Don't assume all the changes you've made will be done.
3) don't fix things unless you know it's broke and YOU can fix it. Don't
	incorporate code from other sources.
4) I would be grateful for code the illustrates the behavior before and after
	any fixes, but I'll take your word(s).

Any comments, bug reports, patches, additions are welcome.
If you have a program that's having problems running with ncurses either send
me a copy of it or tell where I can get a copy.

Zeyd M. Ben-Halim
[email-masked]

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