Re: gtk layering

[Michael Torrie <torriem chem byu edu>]

On Fri, 2006-10-06 at 21:56 -0400, Bill Cunningham wrote:
>     So if I understand correctly, gnome and it's modular components that use
> gtk are really just gtk apps. What is this IDL layer that gnome needs? Does
> it help gnome communicate with gtk/gdk ?

IDL usually helps a message dispatch broker to enable inter-process
communication and remote procedure calls over a network.  The IDL files
tell Bonobo, for example, how to dispatch a call between one process
(which may or may not be on the same machine) and another.  I believe
bonobo also allows gtk apps to be built out of discreet components.  For
example, app A could embed an object provided by app B in it's window (a
gui example). This is my understanding.  It gets a little complex when
you start talking about out-of-process instantiation, etc.  

By the way, IDL stands for interface definitely language I think.  it
defines the expected parameters and return types a remote procedure call
deals with.

Gnome doesn't "communicate" with gtk/gdk.  Gnome consists of libraries
and components build out of gtk and glib.  So a gnome app is a gtk app
(but not necessarily vice versa).

You're best bet to learn how it all fits together is to hit google hard.


> 
> Bill
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