Re: Libgettextpo wrapper for Guile

[Bruno Haible <bruno-nWNVUoHt2MvYtjvyW6yDsg@public.gmane.org>]

Hi Miguel,

> I implemented a wrapper library
> for Guile and a couple of higher level functions, tests and I'm
> documenting everything.

This is great. Many thanks for this contribution!!

> I'd like to contribute it to GNU---a wrapper of a GNU library in the
> official GNU extension language, I think it's sensible---, but I would
> like to ask you where it would fit better:
> 
> 	- In GNU gettext as part of gettext-tools?  It could cause
> 	  problems in the Guile bootstrap, as several tools from there
> 	  are needed when NLS is enabled.  Nevertheless, it seems to be
> 	  the better fit in terms of code locality and cross
> 	  maintenance.

Very good question. I think there are two aspects:

  - Development aspects. Does your guile wrapper need more know-how
    from the guile world or from the gettext world? (*) Will it need
    regular changes as guile evolves? Surely it will need changes
    when gettext-po.h evolves, but gettext-po.h has been stable
    since 2010.
    (*) This is relevant, because when at some point in time you
    will not want to maintain it any more, will it be more easy to
    find a new maintainer for it among the camp of guile developers
    or among the gettext developers?

  - Distributions aspects. Distros will likely package it in a
    package different from gettext and different from guile, since
    both gettext and guile can be used without the wrapper library.
    Right?
    But distros are already used to create multiple binary packages
    from a single source package.

> 	- In Guile as an ice-9 module?  As readline, it could be a
> 	  GPLv3+ library, but also available from scratch.  From my
> 	  point of view, it would be a great option in terms of
> 	  (zero) increment of dependencies and tight integration with
> 	  the language.

I don't know what an ice-9 module is. I also don't know whether you
can define an ice-9 module outside of the guile package.

> 	- As an external library?

Would you want to have a project infrastructure with mailing list,
bug trackers, etc. for this wrapper library? I would think this is
overkill.

Bruno