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From: cflatter@ZIA.AOC.NRAO.EDU (Chris Flatters)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: IEEE 1201.1 (was XVT - Informations wanted)
Message-ID: <9009092139.AA26152@zia.aoc.nrao.edu>
Date: 9 Sep 90 21:39:34 GMT
Sender: daemon@athena.mit.edu (Mr Background)
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 32


	I would say that the IEEE P1201.1 group *is* now working on a "virtual
	toolkit API" capable of spanning the current popular GUIs and window
	systems.  A base document created by Marc Rochkind (XVT) was even
	accepted by the group as a starting point.  The document is not the
	XVT API, but rather is a "next generation" based on lessons learned
	from XVT, but with lots of stuff from XVT thrown out (e.g. graphics
	routines) as being outside the scope of the group's charter.

Sounds interesting.  Can those of us that aren't members of IEEE P1201.1
get hold of copies of the base document?  I would be interested to see
what sort of things are being talked about.


	Well, actually the group is currently working under a project
	authorization to work on an X toolkit API, so the whole thing is
	kind of outside their current charter. :-)  A request for a new
	project authorization was delayed at the last meeting on a
	technicality; it's being rewritten and will be resubmitted.

I am right in assuming that the revised project authorization in intended
to include the development of a common API for OSF/Motif and the OPEN LOOK
GUI (and anything else that may be around but making less noise)?  This
will get a lot of support from X programmers and users if not from the GUI
vendors.  Some sort of reconciliation is needed between OSF/Motif and
OPEN LOOK and, since the two opposing camps appear to lack the will to
do this, it obviously has to be imposed by some outside body that is
perceived as neutral.  An IEEE standards body seems ideal, provided that
the vendors can be prevented from gaining enough power to hogtie the
committee.

			Chris Flatters