8.1 Introduction

This chapter is about the library interchange definition format, LID.

The DRM defines an interchange format for Dylan source files (DRM, page 21), but does not define an interchange format for Dylan libraries. Without such an agreed format, different Dylan development environments would find it difficult to import and build libraries developed using another Dylan vendor's environment. It would also be impossible to automate the process of importing a library into another environment.

LID solves this problem. It allows you to describe Dylan library sources in a form that any Dylan environment should be able to understand. Functional Objects and other Dylan vendors have adopted LID to make it easier to port applications from one environment to another.

Note: LID is a convention, and not an extension to the Dylan language.

Note: The Functional Developer environment can convert LID files to its own internal project file format, the .hdp file. It can also save project files as LID files with the File > Save As command in the project window.

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Common Dylan and Functional Extensions - 31 Mar 00