[wx-dev] status of wxGraphicsContext?

[Stefan Csomor]

Hi

> what is the status of the wxGraphicsContext classes
> and what do we aim for? 

I've added my thoughts to the SoC application, some points were

- I'd say that we first should make sure that the current API is
complete for real world usage, for performance reasons we'd probably
need a platform specific holder for things like ready-to-blit bitmaps
and ready to draw line layouts

- then have a sample app that shows off the capabilities and can be used
to verify the 1:1 match, I had only added a few things to the graphics
sample to test dcgraph. This can also be used for benchmarking.

- add an object model for a scene graph, eg something like SVG, with hit
testing etc...

> I'm wondering in particular
> if any tests have been made to print with this
> drawing API on the three platforms? Or at least
> on MSW and OS X? 

I'm printing with the old core graphics implementation in our own
sandbox, but to be honest I didn't think of add direct printing yet, but
you are absolutely right. I know how to do it on OSX and MSW, but I
don't know enough about the state of APIs like
gtk_print_context_get_cairo_context

> Are there any (major) features
> missing in these classes? How about cross-platform
> font-rendering, alpha bitmaps, blits from other
> DC etc.?

you mean things like freetype2 ? mac and msw should be ok for text
rendering, gtk should be using pango I guess ...

on mac alpha bitmaps should work, I'll have to verify msw. Blits would
have to be done via dc->GetBitmap() and drawing that bitmap. We'd need
special graphics contexts for printing, drawing on bitmaps, export for
pdf and svg

Best,

Stefan