1.7.49 patches 6,7,8

Ethan (allanon@crystaltokyo.com)
Sat, 6 Mar 1999 01:21:36 -0800 (PST) 


Patches 6,7,8 add the ability to run modules from the command line.  This 
is done by creating a UNIX socket in non-configurable and watching it for 
incoming module connection requests.  The UNIX socket name is published 
in an X property, _AS_MODULE_SOCKET.  Modules are expected to read the X 
property and connect via the socket.  As a consequence, AS no longer 
knows the name of a module until the module informs AS with a SET_NAME 
module command.

I had a report that the modules no longer compile properly with these 
patches (undefined reference errors).  However, things seem to work well 
for me... if anyone has trouble, please tell me.

Sasha: These patches modify Pager (as well as all other modules).
Hopefully the changes won't interfere with your rewrite.

ChangeLog:

1.7.49 patch 6 (allanon)
 o new method of module communication, using a UNIX-domain socket in
   non-configurable; the name of the socket file is stored in the
   _AS_MODULE_SOCKET X property
 o modified all modules to use the new method of communication
 o no longer use xpm_attributes.bitmap_format or the XpmBitmapFormat
   flag; these are not in my version of libXpm
 o use the DefaultScreen macro in loadimg.c and stepgfx.c, to help
   prevent some aterm crashes
 o added handler for XpmCreateImageFromXpmImage() to audit
 o all modules now accept the -h, --help, -v, and --version options;
   modules with a configuration file also accept "-f configfile"
 o added tools/ascommand.pl, which sends an arbitrary command to
   AfterStep, just as a module would; in fact, it *is* a module
 o NOTE: modules can now be run from the command line, with pretty much
   the same syntax as one would use to run them from within AS

1.7.49 patch 7 (allanon)
 o modules now broadcast their name to AfterStep, so KillModuleByName
   works again; was disabled (as opposed to broken :) in patch 6
 o make install installs ascommand.pl so that external programs (such
   as asWhiskey, asVodka, etc) can rely on its presence

1.7.49 patch 8 (allanon)
 o (module) -f ~/.steprc should work now

----
Ethan Fischer
allanon@crystaltokyo.com
http://members.xoom.com/allanon1