Notes on Tcl

What's here...

• [13 Jun 2002] A TIP proposal, currently seeking a sponsor.
• [21 May 2002] tclpkg, an attempt to make it possible to configure and build extensions on Windows without requiring the CYGNUS toolkit. Work in progress.
• [1 Aug 2000] TMML, an XML DTD and related tools for documenting Tcl extensions.
• [5 Jul 1999] HOWTO: Using CYGWIN to build a Tcl extension on Windows (Seriously out of date; these instructions no longer apply).

Tcl semantics

The syntax of Tcl is fully defined by the 11 rules listed in Tcl(n). Tcl's semantics, however, is not defined in any single location. For example, the set(n) manpage mentions the distinction between namespace variables, global variables, and local variables, and the effects of the global and variable commands, but doesn't mention upvar at all, and variable traces are referenced only in the SEE ALSO section.

I've been meaning to write a semi-formal definition of Tcl's semantics for a long time now, but have never found enough time. What little I have written on the subject appears below:

• [21 Sep 2003] On variables