Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 10:36:30 +0000 From: Konstantin Chuguev <Konstantin.Chuguev@dante.org.uk> To: freebsd-i18n@freebsd.org, freebsd-ports@freebsd.org.uk Cc: ache@nagual.pp.ru, Richard ?epas <rch@richard.eu.org>, Christian Weisgerber <naddy@freebsd.org> Subject: iconv port: plea for take-over Message-ID: <3C6CE4AD.6306584F@dante.org.uk>
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Hello All,
[Sorry for cross-posting: I am not subscribed to the i18n and ports lists
anymore, so please reply directly]
The iconv library has got some serious bugs, but has not been upgraded for
ages. Apart from being buggy, it lacks some modern charsets (such as
iso8859-16), which a year ago was the only reason why GNOME library refused
to work with it. (Not that I want libiconv to be thrown away, I just can see
how painful it is for port developers to patch libiconv to libgiconv and
many packages to use a non-standard name beginning with "g").
I am really sorry, but being the only developer I did not have enough time
to make new versions. Finally, it happened that I do not have any FreeBSD
systems around me.
In my opinion, iconv still has some advantages compared to GNU libiconv:
* BSD-style license;
* use of BSD-specific functions (portability to non-BSD systems was not a
goal);
* modularity as well to some extent.
As far as I remember, a port of iconv was created for NetBSD as well, based
on the same source with minor patches.
Some people were interested in including [part of] iconv into the kernel, to
be used by various filesystems. I still think it would be a good idea,
although I cannot help much there.
So, if anybody wants to help and improve the library, please take it over.
All I am asking for is my name retained in the files created by me :-)
Take the last version here:
http://www.dante.net/staff/konstantin/FreeBSD/iconv/
Thanks,
Konstantin.
--
* * Konstantin Chuguev Francis House
* * Applications Engineer 112 Hills Road
* Tel: +44 1223 302992 Cambridge CB2 1PQ
D A N T E WWW: http://www.dante.net/ United Kingdom
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