Tcl: An Embeddable Command Language

Tcl is an interpreter for a tool command language. It consists of a library package that is embedded in tools (such as editors, debuggers, etc.) as the basic command interpreter. Tcl provides (a) a parser for a simple textual command language, (b) a collection of built-in utility commands, and (c) a C interface that tools use to augment the built-in commands with tool-specific commands. Tcl is particularly attractive when integrated with the widget library of a window system: it increases the programmability of the widgets by providing mechanisms for variables, procedures, expressions, etc; it allows users to program both the appearance and the actions of widgets; and it offers a simple but powerful communication mechanism between interactive programs. This paper will appear in the 1990 Winter USENIX Conference Proceedings hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh The work described here was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant ECS-8351961. Tcl: An Embeddable Command Language December 22, 1989