From: rjk@... (Richard J. Kuhns)
Date: 2002-03-04T23:58:03+09:00
Subject: Ruby newbie would appreciate some help with a C extension

Greetings.  I've written some C code and a SWIG interface file that I can
use to access a third-party database library that I'm currently using with
TCL and, more recently, Python.  I've also recently discovered Ruby, and I
like what I've seen -- it looks to me like Ruby started with most of the
features I want and like that Python is currently struggling to
achieve. I'm afraid TCL isn't in the running any more :).  My only problem
is a time constraint; if I want to be able to potentially use Ruby instead
of Python I've got to start soon (within the week, actually).  I'm hoping I
can get either answers to two questions, or pointers to online
documentation.  I know I could figure the answers out myself eventually,
but I'm hoping to shorten the cycle so I can demonstrate some code written
in Ruby.

OK, without further ado, here's what I need.

First, a SWIG typemap to convert a (Ruby) list of stings into a char **.
The SWIG documentation includes such a typemap for (at least) TCL, Python,
and Perl, but not for Ruby.

Second, I can't use a dynamically loaded module; it has to be static.  Yes,
it's extremely annoying, but I have no choice.  The copy protection scheme
used by the third-party library involves "branding" the executable, and
their "branding" program won't touch either a shared object or a binary
that doesn't have their library included.  I've already wasted several days
trying to find a way around it :(.

Oh yes, if it makes any difference, I'm running FreeBSD 4.5 and RedHat
7.1.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks, as they say, in advance.
        - Rich
-- 
Richard Kuhns			rjk@grauel.com
PO Box 6249			Tel: (765)477-6000 \
100 Sawmill Road				    x319
Lafayette, IN  47903		     (800)489-4891 /

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