Netscape Portable Runtime (NSPR) 3.0 for OS/2 - 98/11/28
RELEASE
This is the first release of NSPR 3.0 for OS/2. It is available in three separate packages:
* nspr30-e.zip: for use with emx+gcc development kit
* nspr30-p.zip: for use with emx development kit + pgcc
* nspr30-v.zip: for use with VisualAge C++
Whether you've downloaded the library because an application requires it, or because you're a developer who wants to play with it, make sure you downloaded the right package. Any application requiring it should clearly specify which version you need.
The binaries are optimized, not debug builds.
LIBRARY DESCRIPTION
[from the doc at www.mozilla.org:]
"NSPR provides platform independence for non-GUI operating system facilities. These facilities include threads, thread synchronization, normal file and network I/O, interval timing and calendar time, basic memory management (malloc and free) and shared library linking. A good portion of the library's purpose, and perhaps the primary purpose in the existing environment, is to provide the underpinnings of the Java VM, more or less mapping the sys layer that Java defines for the porting of the Java VM to various platforms. NSPR does go beyond that requirement in some areas and since it is also the platform independent layer for most of the servers produced by Netscape."
The Mozilla NGLayout XPViewer uses this library, and provides an example of it in action.
NAMING CONVENTION
NSPR version 3.0 files are named *21.* to indicate binary compatibility with the previous version so that existing users can simply drop in the new release. Although the "21" originally represented the version number (2.1), it now no longer carries that meaning.
INSTALLATION - RUNTIME USERS
If you've downloaded NSPR 3.0 for use with another application, such as the Warpzilla XPViewer, unzip the package to the partition of your choice. Then add the /dll directory to the LIBPATH statement in config.sys and reboot, or else either copy or move nspr21.dll, plds21.dll and plc21.dll into a directory already in your LIBPATH (no reboot necessary). You can then safely delete all the other files.
INSTALLATION - DEVELOPERS
If you're a programmer who has downloaded NSPR 3.0 for development purposes, unzip the package to the partition of your choice. Add the /dll subdirectory to your LIBPATH statement in config.sys, the /lib to either your LIB (VAC++) or LIBRARY_PATH (emx) and the /include to your INCLUDE (VAC++) or C_INCLUDE_PATH (emx) statements, then reboot for the new settings to kick in.
DOCUMENTATION
Complete documentation including the API Reference can be found at http://www.mozilla.org/docs/refList/refNSPR.
SOURCES
The sources are available from the cvs-mirror@mozilla.org server. See http://www.mozilla.org/cvs.html for details and instructions. The patches required for an OS/2 build are part of the current tree.
BUILDING
Build instructions for OS/2 can be found at http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2.
TESTS
Right now my NSPR Test pages at http://www.axess.com/users/sobotka/nsprtest/warpztjs.html desperately need an update, but much of the basic information still applies. OTOH, by the time you read this they may well have been updated. At present some of the tests listed there as fails now pass. Also, a few new tests have been added to the suite with most resulting in a pass.
PROBLEMS, BUGS, PATCHES
Please report any problems or bugs, as well as submit any patches (if you're a developer) to mozilla-os2@mozilla.org, the Warpzilla newsgroup.
