Dylan Library Catalog
A Dylan Library Catalog is a collection of XML files containing metadata concerning software libraries written in the Dylan programming language. The metadata includes information useful to both the compiler and to human users, and includes:
- Human-readable short titles and long descriptions.
- Copyright and redistribution license information.
- Library taxonomy information, placing libraries into conceptual categories.
- Specifications of where the compiler and development environment can locate databases and compiled libraries for binary-only projects.
- Specifications of where the compiler can locate project files (and sources) for libraries it opens.
- Specifications of where the compiler and development environment should place intermediate build files, compiler databases, compiled libraries, and profiling information for libraries built from source code.
- Specifications of whether certain libraries should be treated as “system” libraries (treated as read-only, and for which certain types of information should be hidden) or “user” libraries (subject to recompilation when necessary).
A Dylan Library Catalog file can incorporate another catalog by reference, optionally overriding its settings with its own. This allows users to control excactly which libraries the compiler sees and how it treats them according to their own preferences.
Additionally, a Dylan Library Catalog file can refer to a library catalog retrieved from a remote URI. This allows a Dylan compiler to, at the user's option, automatically retrieve and install Dylan libraries as they are needed for compilation.
The Dylan Library Catalog facility was designed as a replacement for the Registry and Dylan Library Pack facilities of the Open Dylan compiler, and to alleviate the extensive use of -L options with the Gwydion Dylan d2c compiler.