[fpc-devel] utf-8 package in Free Pascal

[michael.vancanneyt at wisa.be]

On Mon, 3 Oct 2011, Felipe Monteiro de Carvalho wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I would like to add a new package to Free Pascal into the directory
> packages/fputf8 which will provide classes and routines for UTF-8
> applications. It might grow to include things like:
>
> * full unicode tables and conversion routines
> * Equivalents of RTL classes which are not adequate for UTF-8
> applications and/or will still not be in the wide RTL like TFileStream
> and TStringList
> * Equivalents of RTL routines with UTF-8 parameters
>
> Just announcing to check if there is opposition to Free Pascal
> distributing such a package.

Please do not include this package yet.

Currently, hard work is being put in the unicode string and codepage string
routines in the RTL.

Chances are that you will duplicate a lot of functionality, and this should
be avoided at all costs.

So I suggest you wait till the dust settles around the new string type, and
then check
a) what is still needed. Maybe we will have solved it for you.
b) whether it should not be put in the RTL instead of a separate package.

Michael.