NAME
TUI::Manual::Reference::Porting - Porting Notes
PORTING NOTES
This document describes the porting of Borland Turbo Vision to Perl. It focuses on implementation status, class mapping and technical considerations arising from differences between C++ and Perl.
This document is primarily intended for maintainers and contributors.
The TUI framework is based on the original Turbo Vision 2.0 C++ sources. The goal of the port is conceptual compatibility rather than a mechanical translation of code.
Borland's Turbo Vision classes are mapped to Perl modules in a mostly one-to-one fashion.
This port is based on the original codebase of Borland C++ 4.02 (Turbo Vision 2.0 sources including bug fixes by Eric Woodruff: tv2fixed.zip).
The Perl implementation also draws inspiration from magiblot's A modern port of Turbo Vision 2.0. Besides using C++ ports of various assembler routines, the extended color model was adapted from that project and forms the basis of the enhanced color handling available in the Perl port.
Class Implementation Status
The following table provides an overview of the implementation status of major Turbo Vision classes in the Perl port. The status reflects practical usability rather than theoretical completeness.
Status legend:
[ ] Not implemented
[x] Implemented
[o] Partially implemented
[+] Port extensionThe status table is intended as a practical guide rather than a strict feature checklist.
The meanings of the status indicators are as follows:
- [ ] Not implemented
-
The class does not exist in the Perl port. References to this class are documented for transparency and orientation only. No compatibility is provided.
- [x] Implemented
-
The class is usable for typical applications. Core functionality is present and stable. Some optional or rarely used features may still be missing, but the class can be relied upon in normal use.
- [o] Partially implemented
-
The class exists and provides limited functionality. Common use cases may work, but parts of the API, platform-specific behavior or advanced features are missing or incomplete. Use with care.
- [+] Port extension
-
The class is specific to the Perl port and has no direct equivalent in the original Turbo Vision implementation. It was introduced to support additional functionality provided by modern terminals, color handling or the Perl implementation architecture.
The table focuses on practical relevance. A class marked as implemented does not imply full parity with the original C++ version in every detail.
Core Primitives
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TObject TUI::Objects::Object [x]
TPoint TUI::Objects::Point [x]
TRect TUI::Objects::Rect [x]
TDrawBuffer TUI::Views::DrawBuffer [x]
TPalette TUI::Views::Palette [x]
TCommandSet TUI::Views::CommandSet [x]Color and Screen Primitives
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TColorAttr TUI::Drivers::ColorAttr [+]
TColor TUI::Drivers::Color [+]
TAttrPairs TUI::Drivers::AttrPairs [+]
TCellChar TUI::Drivers::CellChar [+]
TScreenCell TUI::Drivers::ScreenCell [+]Event System
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TEvent TUI::Drivers::Event [x]
KeyDownEvent TUI::Drivers::Event [x]
MouseEvent TUI::Drivers::Event [x]
MessageEvent TUI::Drivers::Event [x]
TEventQueue TUI::Drivers::EventQueue [x]Driver Layer
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
THWMouse TUI::Drivers::HWMouse [o]
TMouse TUI::Drivers::Mouse [x]
TSystemError TUI::Drivers::SystemError [o]
TScreen TUI::Drivers::Screen [x]
TDisplay TUI::Drivers::Display [x]
THardwareInfo TUI::Drivers::HardwareInfo [x]View Hierarchy
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TView TUI::Views::View [x]
TGroup TUI::Views::Group [x]
TFrame TUI::Views::Frame [x]
TScrollBar TUI::Views::ScrollBar [x]
TScroller TUI::Views::Scroller [x]
TListViewer TUI::Views::ListViewer [x]Application Framework
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TBackground TUI::App::Background [x]
TDeskInit TUI::App::DeskInit [x]
TDeskTop TUI::App::DeskTop [x]
TProgInit TUI::App::ProgInit [x]
TProgram TUI::App::Program [x]
TApplication TUI::App::Application [x]
TWindowInit TUI::Views::WindowInit [x]
TWindow TUI::Views::Window [x]
TDialog TUI::Dialogs::Dialog [x]Dialog Controls
Buttons and Clusters
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ----------------------------- ------
TButton TUI::Dialogs::Button [x]
TSItem TUI::Dialogs::StrItem [x]
TCluster TUI::Dialogs::Cluster [x]
TRadioButtons TUI::Dialogs::RadioButtons [x]
TCheckBoxes TUI::Dialogs::CheckBoxes [x]
TMultiCheckBoxes TUI::Dialogs::MultiCheckBoxes [x]Input and Text
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TInputLine TUI::Dialogs::InputLine [x]
TStaticText TUI::Dialogs::StaticText [x]
TParamText TUI::Dialogs::ParamText [x]
TLabel TUI::Dialogs::Label [x]Lists and History
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ------------------------------------- ------
TListBox TUI::Dialogs::ListBox [x]
TListBoxRec TUI::Dialogs::ListBox [x]
TSortedListBox TUI::StdDlg::SortedListBox [x]
HistRec TUI::Dialogs::HistoryViewer::HistList [x]
THistoryViewer TUI::Dialogs::HistoryViewer [x]
THistInit TUI::Dialogs::HistInit [x]
THistoryWindow TUI::Dialogs::HistoryWindow [x]
THistory TUI::Dialogs::History [x]Standard Dialogs
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
ffblk/find_t TUI::StdDlg::Dos [x]
FindFirstRec TUI::StdDlg::FindFirstRec [x]
TSearchRec TUI::StdDlg::FileCollection [x]
TFileCollection TUI::StdDlg::FileCollection [x]
TFileInputLine TUI::StdDlg::FileInputLine [x]
TFileList TUI::StdDlg::FileList [x]
TFileInfoPane TUI::StdDlg::FileInfoPane [x]
TFileDialog TUI::StdDlg::FileDialog [x]
TDirEntry TUI::StdDlg::DirEntry [x]
TDirCollection TUI::StdDlg::DirCollection [x]
TDirListBox TUI::StdDlg::DirListBox [x]
TChDirDialog TUI::StdDlg::ChDirDialog [x]Color Selection Dialog
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ----------------------------- ------
TColorDisplay TUI::ColorSel::ColorDisplay [x]
TColorDialog TUI::ColorSel::ColorDialog [x]
TColorGroup TUI::ColorSel::ColorGroup [x]
TColorGroupList TUI::ColorSel::ColorGroupList [x]
TColorIndex TUI::ColorSel::ColorGroup [x]
TColorItem TUI::ColorSel::ColorItem [x]
TColorItemList TUI::ColorSel::ColorItemList [x]
TColorSelector TUI::ColorSel::ColorSelector [x]
TMonoSelector TUI::ColorSel::MonoSelector [x]Menu System
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TMenuItem TUI::Menus::MenuItem [x]
TMenu TUI::Menus::Menu [x]
TMenuView TUI::Menus::MenuView [x]
TMenuBar TUI::Menus::MenuBar [x]
TMenuBox TUI::Menus::MenuBox [x]
TMenuPopup (missing) [ ]
TSubMenu TUI::Menus::SubMenu [x]
TStatusLine TUI::Menus::StatusLine [x]
TStatusItem TUI::Menus::StatusItem [x]
TStatusDef TUI::Menus::StatusDef [x]Message Box System
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
messageBox() TUI::MsgBox::MsgBoxText [x]
messageBoxRect() TUI::MsgBox::MsgBoxText [x]
inputBox() TUI::MsgBox::MsgBoxText [x]
inputBoxRect() TUI::MsgBox::MsgBoxText [x]Validator System
Class Perl Module Status
----------------------- ------------------------------------ ------
TValidator TUI::Validate::Validator [x]
TFilterValidator TUI::Validate::FilterValidator [x]
TRangeValidator TUI::Validate::RangeValidator [x]
TLookupValidator TUI::Validate::LookupValidator [x]
TStringLookupValidator TUI::Validate::StringLookupValidator [x]
TPXPictureValidator TUI::Validate::PXPictureValidator [x]Collections Framework
Class Perl Module Status
-------------------- --------------------------------- ------
TNSCollection TUI::Objects::NSCollection [x]
TNSSortedCollection TUI::Objects::NSSortedCollection [x]
TCollection TUI::Objects::Collection [x]
TLineCollection TUI::Gadgets::LineCollection [x]
TSortedCollection TUI::Objects::SortedCollection [x]
TStringCollection TUI::Objects::StringCollection [x]
TStringList (missing) [ ]
TStrListMaker (missing) [ ]
TResourceCollection (missing) [ ]
TResourceFile (missing) [ ]Editors and Text Devices
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TEditor (missing) [ ]
TMemo (missing) [ ]
TFileEditor (missing) [ ]
TEditWindow (missing) [ ]
TIndicator (missing) [ ]
TTextDevice TUI::TextView::TextDevice [x]
TTerminal TUI::TextView::Terminal [x]Gadgets
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TCalcDisplay (missing) [ ]
TCalendarView (missing) [ ]
TClickTester TUI::Gadgets::ClickTester [x]
TClockView TUI::Gadgets::ClockView [x]
TEventViewer TUI::Gadgets::EventViewer [x]
TFileViewer TUI::Gadgets::FileViewer [x]
TFileWindow TUI::Gadgets::FileWindow [x]
THeapView TUI::Gadgets::HeapView [x]
TMouseDialog TUI::Gadgets::MouseDialog [x]
TPuzzleView (missing) [ ]Help System
Class Perl Module Status
------------------ ---------------------------- ------
TParagraph (missing) [ ]
TCrossRef (missing) [ ]
THelpTopic (missing) [ ]
THelpIndex (missing) [ ]
THelpFile (missing) [ ]
THelpViewer (missing) [ ]
THelpWindow (missing) [ ]