Re: relevance of "[PATCH] tty utf8 mode" in linux-kernel 2.6.4-rc1

[Tomohiro KUBOTA <debian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

From: Bruno Haible <haible@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: relevance of "[PATCH] tty utf8 mode" in linux-kernel 2.6.4-rc1
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 15:17:32 +0100

> No, you don't need a cursor at the middle position of a doublewidth character.
> 
> There are two use-cases of terminals:

...

>   a) The applications which assume a line-oriented display and don't care
>      about the line width. For these a line-oriented (or paragraph-
>      oriented) terminal model is suitable. This terminal can decide about
>      character widths on its own, do bidi and ligatures, possibly use
>      proportional fonts.
> 
>      In this case there is no use for "|" for line drawing, or for block
>      graphics.

Right.

>   b) The applications which assume a cell matrix. Examples: vim 6,
>      GNU readline, X/Open curses. These applications "know" what is
>      represented on the screen, and where, because they keep their own
>      cell matrix.
> 
>      When such an application wants to put a "|" at position (x, y), it
>      can do
> 
>            (gotoxy x-1 y) space space backspace "|"
>      or
>            (gotoxy x-1 y) space space (gotoxy x y) "|"
> 
>      instead of the simplistic
> 
>            (gotoxy x y) "|"
> 
>      that you propose.

Softwares have to be impremented as such.  Otherwise, they fail.


> > If you are thinking about far future, please think a completely different
> > system, instead of modifying an existing tty system.
> 
> No, the tty system has to be modified where needed.

When modified, compatibility must be kept.

---
Tomohiro KUBOTA <kubota@xxxxxxxxxx>
http://www.debian.or.jp/~kubota/

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Linux-UTF8:   i18n of Linux on all levels
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