<i>Tclkit Building Made Trivial</i>

<p>KitCreator is a simple build system for creating a <a It was created to ease creation of Tclkits.  If you just want to use Tcl on your platform, it is recommended that you use a <a Tclkit</a>.  See also locally built pre-built <a

<p>A <a is, briefly, a single-file executable that contains Tcl (both the interpreter, and all the resources it requires to operate) and other Tcl-related packages (Tk, Incr Tcl, etc).  A tclkit can be used to create a <i>Starpack</i>, which is the Tclkit plus the resources required for your Tcl-based application in a single file.  This makes application delivery easy and consistent as it will be a single file that the user runs to use the application.  Additionally, since a Tclkit is generic, any Tclkit from any platform can be used as the base for a Starpack.  That is, from GNU/Linux you can take the Tclkit for AIX and add your application to produce a native executable for AIX.</p>

<p>KitCreator can be used to cross-compile a Tclkit, however you may need to have a working Tclkit for your native system first.  KitCreator can be used to create this local boot-strap Tclkit.</p>

<p>Download:
  <ul>
    <li>
      Current Release, Version <b>0.4.0.2408</b>
      <ul>
        <li><a Source
        <li><a
        <li><a href="dir?ci=0.4.0">Browse Source
      </ul>
    </li>
    <li>
      Previous Release, Version <b>0.3.4.2327</b>
      <ul>
        <li><a Source
        <li><a
        <li><a href="dir?ci=0.3.4">Browse Source
      </ul>
    </li>
  </ul>
</p>

<hr>

<p>
  <b>Some examples:</b>
  <ol type="1">
    <li>Create a Tclkit:
      <ol type="a">
        <li><tt>$
      </ol>
    </li>
    <li>Create a Tclkit for Tcl 8.5.9:
      <ol type="a">
        <li><tt>$ ./kitcreator
      </ol>
    </li>
    <li>Create a Tclkit for Tcl from CVS HEAD:
      <ol type="a">
        <li><tt>$ ./kitcreator
      </ol>
    </li>
    <li>Compile a 64-bit Tclkit:
      <ol type="a">
        <li><tt>$ ./kitcreator
      </ol>
    </li>
    <li>Cross-compile a Tclkit:
      <ol type="a">
        <li>Bootstrap (optional, you can use an existing Tclkit):
          <ol type="i">
            <li><tt>$
            <li><tt>$ mv tclkit-8.4.19
            <li><tt>$
            <li><tt>$ export
          </ol>
        </li>
        <li>Cross-compile:
          <ol type="i">
            <li><tt>$
            <li><tt>$
            <li><tt>$
            <li><tt>$
            <li><tt>$ export CC CXX AR
            <li><tt>$ ./kitcreator
          </ol>
        </li>
      </ol>
    </li>
    <li>Compile a 64-bit Tclkit 8.5.8 using SunStudio 12.1 on Solaris/x86:
      <ol type="a">
        <li><tt>$
        <li><tt>$
        <li><tt>$
        <li><tt>$ export CC CXX
        <li><tt>$ ./kitcreator 8.5.8
      </ol>
    </li>
    <li>To clean up post-build:
      <ol type="a">
        <li><tt>$ ./kitcreator
      </ol>
    </li>
    <li>Create a Tclkit without Metakit4 support (falls back to Zip for storage):
      <ol type="a">
        <li><tt>$ KITCREATOR_PKGS='tk
        <li><tt>$ export
        <li><tt>$
      </ol>
    </li>
    <li>Create a Tclkit with Metakit4 support, but using Zip for storage:
      <ol type="a">
        <li><tt>$ ./kitcreator
      </ol>
    </li>
  </ol>
</p>

<hr>

<p class="kitcreator_longtext">
  <b>Method of Operation</b>

  <i>Details:</i> The general mechanism that enables a Tclkit to operate is a small Tcl initialization routine linked statically to the core libraries needed to operate a Tcl interpreter, the Tcl VFS Layer, and a database-backed (Metakit) Virtual File System that is appended to the end of the executable.</p><p>This project brings together all of the required pieces, plus some additional pieces that were found in the original Tclkit:
  <ol type="1">
    <li>Tk (dynamically linked)</li>
    <li>Itcl (dynamically linked)</li>
  </ol>
  The source code for these pieces are downloaded, compiled, and linked, and the database containing the appropriate filesystem data is created.  What sets this project apart from other similar projects is that:
  <ol type="1">
    <li>It attempts to be modular;</li>
    <li>It supports cross-compiling;</li>
    <li>It downloads the source from their original repositories;</li>
    <li>It allows you to specify an arbitrary version of Tcl (including CVS); and</li>
    <li>It uses GNU Autoconf scripts for compiling the part of the Tclkit that brings the whole thing together (the Kitsh)</li>
  </ol>
  To accomplish these goals the following mechanisms are in place:
  <ol type="1">
    <li>The top-level "kitcreator" script; and</li>
    <li>Per-project subdirectories, each containing a "build.sh" script</li>
  </ol>

  The top-level "kitcreator" script is very simple.  Its only job is to interpret command line arguments, and call the per-project "build.sh" scripts. For the "tcl" project it also finds the appropriate "tclConfig.sh" (and stores this path in TCLCONFIGDIR) to enable subsequent build scripts to find the appropriate Tcl to link against.

  The per-project "build.sh" scripts are entirely autonomous.  They are responsible for downloading the source code for the appropriate version that will compile and link against the current version of Tcl (user requested version can be found in "TCLVERS", while the actual version must be requested from the "tclConfig.sh" script), compiling it, installing a functional copy into the per-project "inst" directory, and installing anything that needs to be in the Tclkit's VFS root into the per-project "out" directory.

  The exception to this is the "kitsh" project.  It is the glue that binds all the individual projects together into a single executable.  Its build script does not create an "inst" or an "out" directory because it is not a library. Instead, it collects all the other project's "out" directories into a single directory (starpack.vfs), as well a static file (boot.tcl).  It then compiles the source code, and then installs the Metakit database containing the VFS onto the resulting executable.

  If the "mk4tcl" project fails to build (or is not requested to be built), the rest of the project will be built using zip files instead of Metakit databases.

  To create the storage database, one of two Tclkits is used (tried in this order):
  <ol type="1">
    <li>The Tclkit specified by the TCLKIT environment variable (or "tclkit" if that variable is not set) if it is functional; or</li>
    <li>The built Tclkit itself</li>
  </ol>
  The second method will not work if the built Tclkit is not executable on the current platform (i.e., in the case of cross-compilation) and so it may be necessary to bootstrap a runnable Tclkit first.
</p>

<hr>

<p><b>Included cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 summary='' class=wikit_table><thead><tr class='wikit_table_header'><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> Package Name </th><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> Package Version </th><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> Included When...   </th><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> Linking Method class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Tk           </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> <i>same as Tcl</i> </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Dynamic        class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Incr Tcl     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 3.4b1           </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Dynamic        class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> starkit      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 1.3.2           </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Metakit      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> TclVFS       </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 20080503        </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> PWB          </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 1.1             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Rechan       </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 1.0             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Zlib         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 1.1             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Thread       </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 2.6.5           </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> --enable-threads   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Dynamic        class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Registry     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> <i>varies</i>      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Building for Win32 </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> DDE          </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> <i>varies</i>      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Building for Win32 </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> http         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> <i>varies</i>      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> opt          </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> <i>varies</i>      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> msgcat       </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> <i>varies</i>      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Always             </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> tcltest      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> <i>varies</i>      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Unless MINBUILD    </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Static         cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 summary='' class=wikit_table><thead><tr class='wikit_table_header'><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> Operating System </th><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> CPU Architecture </th><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> Tcl Version </th><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> Compiler </th><th class="wikit_table_header_cell"> Cross-compile class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Linux 2.6   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> x86     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.4.19   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc 4.1.2         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Linux 2.6   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> x86     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.5.8    </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc 4.1.2         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Linux 2.6   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> x86     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> CVS HEAD </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc 4.1.2         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Solaris 8   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> SPARC   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.4.19   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc 3.4.6         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Solaris 8   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> SPARC   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.5.8    </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc 3.4.6         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Solaris 10  </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> SPARC   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.4.19   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc 3.4.3         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Solaris 10  </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> SPARC   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.5.8    </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc 3.4.3         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Solaris 10  </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> SPARC   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.4.19   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> SunStudio 12      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Solaris 10  </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> SPARC   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.5.8    </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> SunStudio 12      </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> HP/UX 11iv1 </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> PA-RISC </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.4.19   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc               </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> HP/UX 11iv1 </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> PA-RISC </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.5.8    </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc               </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> no class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Linux       </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> ARM     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.4.19   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> gcc 4.3.3         </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> yes class='wikit_table_row_odd'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Windows     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> x86     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.4.19   </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> mingw32 gcc 3.4.2 </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> yes class='wikit_table_row_even'><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> Windows     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> x86     </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> 8.5.8    </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> mingw32 gcc 3.4.2 </td><td class="wikit_table_row_cell"> yes type="1" class="wikit_ol_depth_0"><li>The version number for a KitCreator release is in the following format:<ol type="a" Control

<li>The components are incremented based on various criteria:<ol type="a" class="wikit_ol_depth_1"><li><i>Major</i>: When the interface changes in an incompatible way possibly with no way to revert to the previous behavior</li>
<li><i>Minor</i>: When the basic functionality is altered or any interfaces changes are mode (all interface changes that are incompatible will support the previous behavior); Substantial new features</li>
<li><i>Revision</i>: Bug fixes to existing features, new minor features that do not alter the usage of the built Tclkit</li>
<li><i>Version Control Tag</i>: Every change
Version type="1" class="wikit_ol_depth_0"><li>KitCreator 0.0.1 - Initial separation from other projects (no release)</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.0.2 - Minor fixes (no release)</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.0.3 - Cleanup (no release)</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.0.4 - CVS compiling support (first release)</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.0.5 - Cleaned up Metakit4 support</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.0.6 - Added support for &quot;buildsrc&quot; directories to all sub-projects</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.0.7 - 64-bit (especially SPARC) fixes, and started adding cross-compiling support</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.0.8 - Cross-compiling support and improved for Win32 and
<li>KitCreator 0.1.0 - Zlib package added to allow static linking and HP-UX fixes</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.2.0 - Pure-tcl read-only Mk4 implementation; Added Thread package support added; Fixed Windows build issues</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.2.1 - Fixed failure to clean kitsh directory when producing releases</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.2.2 - Updated to latest zlib (<i>note: this caused build failures on non-UNIX
<li>KitCreator 0.2.3 - Further work on Pure-Tcl Mk4 implementation</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.2.4 - Statically link to Zlibc</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.3.0 - Zip storage added if Mk4 fails to build; Fixed bug in Windows builds where Tk was unusable; Reverted to working version of zlib; Fixed bug in
<li>KitCreator 0.3.1 - Added support for &quot;<tt>--enable-kit-storage</tt>&quot; option to allow user to specify what storage mechanism to use</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.3.2 - Fixed bug in sync logic if new &quot;<tt>--enable-kit-storage</tt>&quot; option is used</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.3.3 - Fixed bug preventing &quot;Mk4tcl&quot; package from being &quot;<tt>package required</tt>&quot; even if present when using Zip Tclkit storage</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.3.4 - Fixed issue causing kit initialization failure when not boot strapping</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.4.0 - Added support for detecting encoding from the environment.  Some Tcl 8.6+ features integrated (zlib).  Updated to use platform-specific calls to find ourselves.  Fixed major issue with Zip kit storage and new interpreters.</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.5.0 - Tcl 8.5 made the default (future)</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.6.0 - KitDLL will be released. (future)</li>
<li>KitCreator 0.7.0 - Tcl 8.6 features will be integrated more heavily (future)</li>
<li>KitCreator 1.0.0 - Stable long term release, Tcl 8.6 made the default (future)