ANNOUNCE
********

This is version 0.5.0 of the GNUstep GUI library (`gnustep-gui').

What is the GNUstep GUI Library?
================================

   It is a library of graphical user interface classes written
completely in the Objective-C language; the classes are based upon the
OpenStep specification as release by NeXT Software, Inc.  The library
does not completely conform to the specification and has been enhanced
in a number of ways to take advantage of the GNU system.  These classes
include graphical objects such as buttons, text fields, popup lists,
browser lists, and windows; there are also many associated classes for
handling events, colors, fonts, pasteboards and images.

   The GNUstep GUI Library is designed in two parts.  The first part is
the front-end component which is independent of platform and display
system.  This front-end is combined with a back-end component which
handles all of the display system dependent such as specific calls to
X/Windows.  This design allows the GNUstep applications to have the
"look and feel" of the underlying display system without any changes to
the application, and the library can be easily ported to other display
systems.

   The GNUstep GUI Library requires the GNU Objective-C compiler, the
GNUstep Base Library, the TIFF Graphics library, and a back-end
component like the GNUstep X/DPS GUI Backend.

What's new in this release?
===========================

   The currently released version of the library is `0.5.0'.

Noteworthy changes in version `0.5.0'
=====================================

   * NSBrowser and NSBrowserCell have been implemented.  There is one
     odd display artifact; lists which are smaller than the browser
     column area have the list justified to the bottom of the column
     versus the top of the column.  This is actually an issue with
     NSMatrix and will be remedied when flip views are implemented.

   * Two important optimizations that speed up the displaying of views
     and flushing of windows have been implemented. Only the views that
     need display and those that produce visible effects on the screen
     receive the -drawRect: message.  Flushing of windows occurs only
     in rectangles that get displayed not in the whole window.

   * Rotation and scaling of views have been finally implemented. The
     code requires backend support for changing the state of the
     graphics context accordingly.

   * NSScrollView and NSClipView have been implemented. The current
     implemented behavior is to call the document view to display the
     exposed region. Copying on scroll will be supported soon, at least
     on Solaris DPS, where it seems the Postscript language has
     provisions for copying drawn regions of screen.  Hopefully DGS
     will also have this facility by the end of the year.

   * NSScroller has been completely reworked to gain speed by using
     timer events.

   * NSSlider has been implemented. Thanks to Frank Knobloch for
     supporting this and the NSScrollView implementation.

   * NSBox has been implemented.

   * The library has been ported to work under Solaris with the native
     DPS and the NeXT/Apple's Portable Distributed Objects (PDO)
     environment.

   * The library has been integrated with the makefile package so we
     now benefit from all of the features the makefile package gives
     us, especially the possibility to build shared libraries on
     various systems and having different types (debug and profile) of
     the library compiled at the same time.

   * NSCell is able to continuosly send the action to the target while
     the user is tracking the mouse.

   * Several cleanups and as usual, many bug fixes.

How can I get support for this software?
========================================

   We currently do not have a mailing list setup explicitly for the
GNUstep GUI Library; however, you may wish to use the GNUstep
discussion mailing list for general questions and discussion.  Look at
the GNUstep Web Pages for more information regarding GNUstep resources
`http://www.gnustep.org/'

   There are also companies which provide commercial support for the
GNUstep GUI Library, see the file `SUPPORT' for more information.

Where can you get it?  How can you compile it?
==============================================

   The gstep-gui-0.5.0.tar.gz distribution file has been placed on
`ftp.gnustep.org' in `pub/gnustep/core'.

   The program requires gcc 2.8.0 or higher.

   It requires the Display Ghostscript System version 0.5.0 and the
TIFF Graphics library version 3.4.

   It also requires a FoundationKit library as specified by the OpenStep
specification.  The FoundationKit libraries known to work are the
GNUstep Base Library version `0.5.0' and libFoundation version
`0.7.1'.

   The `.tar' file is compressed with GNU gzip.  Gzip can be obtained by
anonymous ftp at any of the GNU archive sites.

   For info about FTP via email, send email to <ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com>
with no subject line, and two-line body with line one `help' and line
two `quit'.

   The most recent (not necessarily tested) snapshots of the library
will be placed in `ftp://alpha.gnu.org/gnu/gnustep'.

Where do I send bug reports?
============================

   Bug reports can be sent to the GNUstep discussion list
<discussion@gnustep.org> or to NET-Community Technical Support
<support@net-community.com>.

Creators rejoice!
Scott Christley
<scottc@net-community.com>
Obtaining GNU Software
======================

Check out the GNU web site. (`http://www.gnu.org/')

   Check out the GNUstep web site. (`http://www.gnustep.org/')

   The GNUstep GUI Library was donated to the Free Software Foundation
as part of the On-line Community project of NET-Community.
NET-Community is a company that develops and supports free software.
Check out their web site to learn more.
(`http://www.net-community.com/')

   Most GNU software is packed using the GNU `gzip' compression program.
Source code is available on most sites distributing GNU software.

   For information on how to order GNU software on tape, floppy or
cd-rom, or printed GNU manuals, check the file etc/ORDERS in the GNU
Emacs distribution or in GNUinfo/ORDERS on prep, or e-mail a request to:
<gnu@gnu.org>

   By ordering your GNU software from the FSF, you help us continue to
develop more free software.  Media revenues are our primary source of
support.  Donations to FSF are deductible on US tax returns.

   The above software will soon be at these ftp sites as well.  Please
try them before `ftp.gnu.org' as it is very busy!

   thanx <gnu@gnu.org>

*ASIA:*
        - `ftp://ftp.cs.titech.ac.jp'

        - `ftp://utsun.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ftpsync/prep'

        - `ftp://cair.kaist.ac.kr/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.nectec.or.th/pub/mirrors/gnu'

*AUSTRALIA:*
        - `ftp://archie.au/gnu' (archie.oz or archie.oz.au for ACSnet)

*AFRICA:*
        - `ftp://ftp.sun.ac.za/pub/gnu'

*MIDDLE-EAST:*
        - `ftp://ftp.technion.ac.il/pub/unsupported/gnu'

*EUROPE:*
        - `ftp://irisa.irisa.fr/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.univ-lyon1.fr/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.mcc.ac.uk'

        - `ftp://unix.hensa.ac.uk/pub/uunet/systems/gnu'

        - `ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.ieunet.ie/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.eunet.ch'

        - `ftp://nic.switch.ch/mirror/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de'

        - `ftp://ftp.win.tue.nl/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.denet.dk'

        - `ftp://ftp.stacken.kth.se'

        - `ftp://isy.liu.se'

        - `ftp://ftp.luth.se/pub/unix/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.sunet.se/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://archive.eu.net'

*SOUTH AMERICA:*
        - `ftp://ftp.unicamp.br/pub/gnu'

*WESTERN CANADA:*
        - `ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/mirror2/gnu'

*USA:*
        - `ftp://wuarchive.wustl.edu/systems/gnu'

        - `ftp://labrea.stanford.edu'

        - `ftp://ftp.digex.net/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.kpc.com/pub/mirror/gnu'

        - `ftp://f.ms.uky.edu/pub3/gnu'

        - `ftp://jaguar.utah.edu/gnustuff'

        - `ftp://ftp.hawaii.edu/mirrors/gnu'

        - `ftp://vixen.cso.uiuc.edu/gnu'

        - `ftp://mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu/pub/gnu'

        - `ftp://ftp.cs.columbia.edu/archives/gnu/prep'

        - `ftp://col.hp.com/mirrors/gnu'

        - `ftp://gatekeeper.dec.com/pub/GNU'

        - `ftp://ftp.uu.net/systems/gnu'

