/tags/rel-1-3-15/SWIG/ANNOUNCE

*** ANNOUNCE: SWIG 1.3.15 ***

http://www.swig.org

September 9, 2002

We're pleased to announce SWIG 1.3.15, the latest installment in the
SWIG development effort.  SWIG-1.3.15 is mostly a bug-fix release to
SWIG-1.3.14.  The release includes a number of minor enhancements to
overloading, template handling, and C++ exception handling.

What is SWIG?
-------------
SWIG is a software development tool that reads C/C++ header files and
generates the wrapper code needed to make C and C++ code accessible
from other languages including Perl, Python, Tcl, Ruby, PHP, Java,
Guile, Mzscheme, and Ocaml.  Major applications of SWIG include
generation of scripting language extension modules, rapid prototyping,
testing, and user interface development for large C/C++ systems. 

New Features in 1.3.15
----------------------
* C++ overloading support *

Several enhancements to overloading. SWIG can now properly dispatch
functions like this:

    class Foo { };
    class Bar : public Foo { };

    void spam(Foo *f);      /* Function involving base class */
    void spam(Bar *b);      /* Function involving derived class */

SWIG also no longer issues a warning message for methods that
differ only by 'const'.  Instead, the non-const method is always
preferred.

The dispatch code should be a little more efficient.

Overloading is now also supported by the Guile module.

* Automatic wrapping of exception specifiers *

SWIG is now able to automatically catch exceptions included in
C++ exception specifiers.  For example:

   void spam(int x) throw(MemoryError, IndexError);

The default behavior is to simply return with an error that
indicates the type of C++ exception that occurred.  However,
the behavior can be redefined using a special "throws" typemap.

* Bug fixes *

Numerous bug fixes in many parts of SWIG.  A large number of
template-typedef related bugs have been fixed in this release.  See
the CHANGES file for details.

Some words on backwards compatibility
-------------------------------------
SWIG-1.3.15 is pushing SWIG development in some exciting new directions.
Support for overloading, smart pointers, and other long requested
features have been added.  A large number of enhancements to existing
language modules have also been included.

That said, this release represents work in progress and is not
guaranteed to be backwards compatible with older SWIG versions.
However, we hope that people will try the release and give us feedback
on the new additions.

Availability:
-------------
The release is available for download on Sourceforge at

     http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/swig/swig-1.3.15.tar.gz

Within the next day, a Windows version will also be made available at

     http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/swig/swigwin-1.3.15.zip

Release numbers
---------------
With SWIG1.3, we are adopting an odd/even version numbering scheme for
SWIG.  Odd version numbers (1.3, 1.5, 1.7, etc...) are considered to
be development releases.  Even numbers (1.4,1.6,1.8) are stable
releases.  The current 1.3 effort is working to produce a stable 2.0
release.  A stable 2.0 release will not be made until it can
accompanied by fully updated documentation.  In the meantime, we will
continue to make periodic 1.3.x releases.

We need your help!
------------------
Even if you are perfectly happy with SWIG1.1, we can still use your
feedback.  First, we like to know about compilation problems and other
issues concerning the building of SWIG.  Second, if SWIG1.3 is unable
to compile your old interface files, we would like to get information
about the features you are using.  This information will help us find
bugs in the SWIG1.3 release, develop techniques for supporting
backwards compatibility, and write documentation that addresses
specific issues related to migrating from SWIG1.1 to SWIG1.3.

We are also looking for volunteers who would like to work on various
aspects of SWIG development.  SWIG is an unfunded project that would
not exist without volunteers.  We are also looking for the developers
of other SWIG language modules.  If you have developed a SWIG module
and would like to see it incorporated into the new release, please
contact us to obtain SWIG-CVS access.  We are also more than willing
to help port your module from SWIG1.1 to SWIG1.3.  Please send email
to beazley@cs.uchicago.edu for further information.

Please report problems with this release to swig-dev@cs.uchicago.edu.

--- The SWIG Developers