Re: interrupting gtk_main

[Michael Torrie <torriem chem byu edu>]

On Sat, 2004-05-01 at 14:18, Marisa DeMeglio wrote:
> Thank you very much for the ideas.  I think GSignal
> might be useful.
> What I am wondering now is if I can implement this
> while still having the server-type part of the
> application (let's call this the gateway) be unaware
> of GTK?
> Basically the application is set up as an EXE (the
> gateway) with a bunch of DLLs (interfaces, including
> GTK, and backend logic stuff).  Everything is able to
> communicate because all DLLs expose an object that is
> written to our simple API.  The idea is that a user
> can choose to run the application with whatever types
> of interfaces suit them best - it is aimed at disabled
> users so some may want a gamepad interface or large
> font or just a command line.  others will want to use
> a standard GUI.  The toughest scenario is if a user is
> running a joystick along with the GUI, and sends a
> command (like "next chapter") using the joystick.  The
> GUI should be updated to reflect this.
> But since the GUI is not a requisite component, the
> Gateway (which syncs everything) is unaware of GTK and
> GSignals.
>
> The simple API looks like this:
> AmisComponentBaseObj->ReceiveData(const char* data,
> AmisComponentBase* pSender);
>
> This is the function that needs to cause an
> interruption of gtk_main.  So when something in the
> system has triggered a new data event, the gateway
> broadcasts data to all listeners by calling their
> instance of this function.  Seems simple...!
>
> It seems now that my path should be to make a special
> version of the gateway which emits GSignals, along
> with regular ReceiveData events.  But I would be
> grateful for a way around this.

GSignals is not part of GTK per se; it's part of the underlying glib
library.  You might consider using the glib part in all the aspects of
your project.  Glib is a powerful utility library (I use it in all my C
applications) and the signaling interface can be used directly by your
modules.

Another possibility is to put the GUI in another thread, then write a
routine that intercepts your ReceiveData calls and then sends a GSignal
into the GUI thread.  (A Thunk layer).

Michael


> Thanks again
> Marisa
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-- 
Michael Torrie <torriem chem byu edu>