README
15th Dec 2003
$Id: README,v 1.3 2003/12/17 12:23:53 gwin Exp $

This is the directory in which I intend to write the new version of the 
DiffractionImage module, hopefully using some new and nifty C++ features.
This will be designed to be as sleak as possible, and avoid some of the 
problems encountered in the previous version, in particular when it comes
to the compilation on Alpha machines.

The definition of "good" C++ I will use will follow the ANSI specification,
including but not limited to:

the standard template library (STL)
namespaces
references

If your C++ compiler does not support these things, it is not a C++ compiler.

As far as possible I will also support "switching" on and off features, for
example making sure that this is does not depend on having Python installed,
or other things like this. In this way there will be a large number of 
#include directives which will control compilation. The actual building will
be performed using either a simple Makefile for gcc/g++ on a Linux box or
a python setup.py script.

This is the current plan, anyway.

I will also try to avoid excessive use of references, as this could possibly be
making the code a little harder to port. In particular, alpha machines don't
know what a const string & is. :o)

Other Possible Differences
--------------------------

This should be made available as a web service, just for fun. In particular
the functionality offered by the scheduler should be given a web service
interface and some stuff to maintain persistance between connections. This
could be an interesting thing to try and develop.

ALSO - I am thinking of trying to include some kind of image viewing
apparatus, which could be useful when having a look at the spot predictions
etc - and generally useful to people. Not sure whether to use X, openGL or SDL
for this though.
