Tcl / Tk on Windows

[Roderick]

Hello!

What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?

I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...

And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...

Rod.

[Robert Heller]

Unless you are actually developing under MS-Windows, I would just cross-build
a starkit for your friend. He ends up with just a single .exe file, which he
can put anywhere he likes and not deal with "installing" Tcl/Tk at all. All
you need to do is include all of the Tcl/Tk libraries you use in the starkit.
There MS-Windows TclKit files around and binaries libraries (eg Img, etc.) as
well.

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?
I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...
And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...
Rod.

[saito]

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?

A single cross-platform starkit approach is a good idea as pointed out
by another post.

Another option is Bawt which has two versions: Tcl/Tk only or as
batteries-included, with a standard Windows installer.

Link: https://www.tcl3d.org/bawt/download.html#tclbi

[greg]

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?
I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...
And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...
Rod.

Hello,

Maybe with a package manager

winget

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Package_Manager
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/

Gregor
(but Windows != Unix)

[Roderick]

Post by greg
Gregor
(but Windows != Unix)

Yes, that is really my biggest problem.

There is no other way than to confront a Windows machine and test.

I only need tcl, tk and sqlite3 library, and the program does only
some calculations on a DB. Perhaps in this very special case cygwin could
be usable by a windows user, but I will try with something more native.

Thanks!

Rod-

[Rich]

Post by Roderick

Post by greg
Gregor
(but Windows != Unix)

Yes, that is really my biggest problem.
There is no other way than to confront a Windows machine and test.
I only need tcl, tk and sqlite3 library, and the program does only
some calculations on a DB. Perhaps in this very special case cygwin could
be usable by a windows user, but I will try with something more native.

Given those requirements, you'd be best off with one of the "single
file executable packages" (i.e., starkit/freewrap/undroidwish/etc.).

You do the "small extra work" of wrapping all the Tcl/Tk code into the
"package".

For your windows user(s) they just see a single executable they can
double click upon to launch.

[Robert Heller]

Post by Rich

Post by Roderick

Post by greg
Gregor
(but Windows != Unix)

Yes, that is really my biggest problem.
There is no other way than to confront a Windows machine and test.
I only need tcl, tk and sqlite3 library, and the program does only
some calculations on a DB. Perhaps in this very special case cygwin could
be usable by a windows user, but I will try with something more native.

Given those requirements, you'd be best off with one of the "single
file executable packages" (i.e., starkit/freewrap/undroidwish/etc.).
You do the "small extra work" of wrapping all the Tcl/Tk code into the
"package".
For your windows user(s) they just see a single executable they can
double click upon to launch.

The OP can have a look at https://github.com/RobertPHeller/RolePlayingDB3 for
an example of a pure Tcl/Tk app that can be cross-built for ANY platform on
ANY linux system. He might need to dig up the package library for sqlite3 (eg
the pkgIndex.tcl+libtclsqlite3.dll for MS-Windows), which should be online
somewhere.

[Roderick]

Post by Robert Heller
The OP can have a look at https://github.com/RobertPHeller/RolePlayingDB3 for
an example of a pure Tcl/Tk app that can be cross-built for ANY platform on
ANY linux system.

Thanks. For commercial purposes, wrapped scripts are interesting,
I will try to learn that later, but I want something that corresponds
to what I run on FreeBSD. These wrappers seems to be for Linux, not
all unix.

There is no other way than to learn a little of Windows. I will try
to get an old windows pc and install first Magicsplat.

Rod.

[Gerald Lester]

Post by Roderick

Post by Robert Heller
The OP can have a look at
https://github.com/RobertPHeller/RolePlayingDB3 for
an example of a pure Tcl/Tk app that can be cross-built for ANY platform on
ANY linux system.

Thanks. For commercial purposes, wrapped scripts are interesting,
I will try to learn that later, but I want something that corresponds
to what I run on FreeBSD. These wrappers seems to be for Linux, not
all unix.
There is no other way than to learn a little of Windows. I will try
to get an old windows pc and install first Magicsplat.

Starkits/Starpacks work on all architectures:
- Linux
- Unix
- Windows
- (yes even) VMS

[Roderick]

I suspect I will have to build 'tclkit' for Freebsd and
download a binary for Windows that includes sqlite3.

Is there an official Web site for the projects 'tclkit' and 'sdx'?

Official source / binary distributions?

I found only old sites, broken links ...

Thanks
Rod.

[greg]

I suspect I will have to build 'tclkit' for Freebsd and download a
binary for Windows that includes sqlite3.
Is there an official Web site for the projects 'tclkit' and 'sdx'?
Official source / binary distributions?
I found only old sites, broken links ...
Thanks
Rod.

I don't know of an official site, but;

https://wiki.tcl-lang.org/page/Tclkit


You can get ready-made binaries here:
(Freebsd and Windows)
http://kitcreator.rkeene.org/kitcreator
http://kitcreator.rkeene.org/fossil/home

(Windows)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/twapi/files/Tcl%20binaries/Tclkits%20with%20TWAPI/
https://www.tcl3d.org/bawt/download.html


and:
https://www.magicsplat.com/blog/starpack-example/

cross building?
https://wiki.tcl-lang.org/page/cross%2Dbuilding+a+starkit


Gregor

[Peter Dean]

Post by Roderick
I suspect I will have to build 'tclkit' for Freebsd and
download a binary for Windows that includes sqlite3.
Is there an official Web site for the projects 'tclkit' and 'sdx'?
Official source / binary distributions?
I found only old sites, broken links ...
Thanks
Rod.

I use arch linux and there's a pkgbuild that I just tested and still works.
Currently using 8.6.14
Link to aur page https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/tclkit
Link to pkgbuild https://aur.archlinux.org/cgit/aur.git/tree/PKGBUILD?h=tclkit
Link to upstream on github https://github.com/stiefel40k/kitgen

sdx is here https://chiselapp.com/user/aspect/repository/sdx/index

[Luc]

Post by Robert Heller
- Linux
- Unix
- Windows
- (yes even) VMS

**************************

Jigsaw Puzzler doesn't.

https://wiki.tcl-lang.org/page/Jigsaw+Puzzler

I have to run the Windows version on Wine.

Sad.

[Gerald Lester]

Post by Luc

Post by Robert Heller
- Linux
- Unix
- Windows
- (yes even) VMS

**************************
Jigsaw Puzzler doesn't.
https://wiki.tcl-lang.org/page/Jigsaw+Puzzler
I have to run the Windows version on Wine.
Sad.

Only if you don't use the correct executable for Windows when building
the kit.

Yes, very sad.

[Luc]

Post by Gerald Lester

Post by Luc
Jigsaw Puzzler doesn't.
https://wiki.tcl-lang.org/page/Jigsaw+Puzzler
I have to run the Windows version on Wine.
Sad.

Only if you don't use the correct executable for Windows when building
the kit.
Yes, very sad.

**************************

The Windows version exe works for me. With Wine. The starkit doesn't.

[Ted Nolan <tednolan>]

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?
I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...
And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...
Rod.

You definitely do not want to install Tcl/Tk via Cygwin. That gives
you a weird hybrid that depends on Cygwin, which your target system
won't have, and only works with an Xserver for Tk.

Cygwin is a great environment for a Unix developer to be productive
and comfortable on Windows, so edit your files with vi on Cygwin,
but use a true Windows version of Tcl/Tk to actually distribute
anything...

I'm not sure how well maintained it is anymore, but I have used Freewrap
in the past for wrapping everything up as one Windows exe.

[Robert Heller]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?
I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...
And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...
Rod.

You definitely do not want to install Tcl/Tk via Cygwin. That gives
you a weird hybrid that depends on Cygwin, which your target system
won't have, and only works with an Xserver for Tk.
Cygwin is a great environment for a Unix developer to be productive
and comfortable on Windows, so edit your files with vi on Cygwin,
but use a true Windows version of Tcl/Tk to actually distribute
anything...
I'm not sure how well maintained it is anymore, but I have used Freewrap
in the past for wrapping everything up as one Windows exe.

TckKit + sdx is well support for MS-Windows.

[Roderick]

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>
You definitely do not want to install Tcl/Tk via Cygwin. That gives
you a weird hybrid that depends on Cygwin, which your target system
won't have, and only works with an Xserver for Tk.

I develope on FreeBSD, and the only windows target would need to
have Cygwin/X on its windows machine.

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>
Cygwin is a great environment for a Unix developer to be productive
and comfortable on Windows, so edit your files with vi on Cygwin, ...

Indeed, with Cygwin I know how to run a program, how to pass arguments
to it, how to read and write files, how they are named and how to
put them in directory hierarchies, etc. ... :)

I do not need to wrap all files in one file, but to deal with
tcl / tk / sqlite3 in a similar way than in Unix.

Post by Ted Nolan <tednolan>
but use a true Windows version of Tcl/Tk to actually distribute
anything...

Yes, a true Windows version of Tcl/Tk, namely like under Unix! :)

Rod.

[Harald Oehlmann]

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?
I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...
And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...
Rod.

What about installing MagicSplat Tcl ?
All in one, all there ;-)
Harald

[Torsten]

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?
I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...
And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...
Rod.

There are several ways to install and run Tcl/Tk applications on the common platforms, i.e. Windows,
Linux and MacOS. The problem is getting working binaries for the latest Tcl versions 8.6.16 and 9.0.

Magicsplat only supports Windows, Freewrap only Windows and Linux. Tclkits and sdx are, in my
opinion, the only *portable* way to do this.

The problem with tclkits and sdx is that it is old, very old, and no longer maintained.
There is no place on the internet where you can download binaries for the latest Tcl versions.
The KitCreator web interface is a great approach, but the last supported version is 8.6.12.

I appreciate that Tcl/Tk is still being maintained, but I do not want to port
(configure/make/install) the language, I want to develop applications using the language.

How can I use new versions without an out-of-the-box runtime environment? In my opinion, this is the
biggest threat to Tcl at the moment.

Torsten

[Harald Oehlmann]

Post by Torsten

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?
I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...
And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...
Rod.

There are several ways to install and run Tcl/Tk applications on the
common platforms, i.e. Windows, Linux and MacOS. The problem is getting
working binaries for the latest Tcl versions 8.6.16 and 9.0.
Magicsplat only supports Windows, Freewrap only Windows and Linux.
Tclkits and sdx are, in my opinion, the only *portable* way to do this.
The problem with tclkits and sdx is that it is old, very old, and no longer maintained.
There is no place on the internet where you can download binaries for
the latest Tcl versions.
The KitCreator web interface is a great approach, but the last supported version is 8.6.12.
I appreciate that Tcl/Tk is still being maintained, but I do not want to
port (configure/make/install) the language, I want to develop
applications using the language.
How can I use new versions without an out-of-the-box runtime
environment? In my opinion, this is the biggest threat to Tcl at the
moment.
Torsten

I still use the starkits by Ashok, which are tcl 8.6.13.
I plan to move to TCL9 with zipkit builtin.
After 9.0.1 release, many bugs here will be fixed.

Take care,
Harald

[saito]

Post by Torsten
The problem is getting
working binaries for the latest Tcl versions 8.6.16 and 9.0.
Magicsplat only supports Windows, Freewrap only Windows and Linux.

I think Bawt by Paul Obermeier hits the nail here, with support for
Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

Post by Torsten
The problem with tclkits and sdx is that it is old, very old, and no longer maintained.

Is this true? Is the source code for tclkits and sdx not available? That
is a real problem if so.

Post by Torsten
I appreciate that Tcl/Tk is still being maintained, but I do not want to
port (configure/make/install) the language, I want to develop
applications using the language.
How can I use new versions without an out-of-the-box runtime
environment? In my opinion, this is the biggest threat to Tcl at the
moment.

I can empathize. Perhaps the wiki could have a page where people can
download it, and the new version binaries are uploaded by the
maintainers. It used to be you got it all from Activestate (and its
predecessors before them). I am not sure what they are doing now but
they changed their licensing a few years ago and, frankly, ruined it.

[Harald Oehlmann]

And Androwish, Undroidwish and LUKE are a great deployment ways.
The software is often far ahead of Tcl releases...

[Torsten]

I think Bawt by Paul Obermeier hits the nail here, with support for Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

Bawt requires a full C/C++ development environment for *every* target platform.
This is far from my request for ready-to-use binaries.

I can empathize.  Perhaps the wiki could have a page where people can download it, and the new
version binaries are uploaded by the maintainers.  It used to be you got it all from Activestate
(and its predecessors before them).  I am not sure what they are doing now but they changed their
licensing a few years ago and, frankly, ruined it.

So I'm not allone. ;-)
This "wiki page" could be Roy Keene's KitCreator Web Interface. That would be my preferred solution.

Torsten

[Manfred Stelzhammer]

tclexecomp: https://tclexecomp.sourceforge.net/
freewrap: https://freewrap.dengensys.com/


regards

Manfred

Post by Roderick
Hello!
What is the easiest way to install and use Tcl / Tk on Windows
from the perspective of a Unix user?
I would install Cygwin, but I am writing a program for someone else
and perhaps would not like the idea ...
And I never really used Windows, I have almost no knowledge how to deal
with it ...
Rod.