[HarfBuzz] chicken-and-egg problem with FreeType

[suzuki toshiya]

Dear Behdad,

Could you let me know more about what you mean by "HarfBuzz abstractions"?

Regards,
mpsuzuki


On 03/05/2014 05:30 PM, Behdad Esfahbod wrote:
> On 14-03-05 12:14 AM, Werner LEMBERG wrote:
>>
>> Folks,
>>
>>
>> I just want to give a heads-up that FreeType now links to HarfBuzz
>> even in non-devel mode; by default, it links only to it if it can be
>> found.  In case both FreeType and HarfBuzz need to be installed, you
>> have to first install FreeType, then HarfBuzz, then FreeType again.
> 
> Right.  I've been following the ticket.
> 
> 
>> Would be nice if this chicken-and-egg problem could be resolved
>> eventually :-)  Behdad, do you have already some ideas?
> 
> I have, but I'm not sure you like to hear them. :)
> 
> Allow me to digress a bit...  Today Peter Constable contacted me to ask about
> the status / plans of implementing COLR/CPAL in FreeType.  Reality is: it
> would have been much easier to implement those tables in FreeType if I could
> use some of HarfBuzz's design.  This in turn brought this idea: we should
> amalgamate FreeType and HarfBuzz, and over time port FreeType implementation
> to use HarfBuzz abstractions.  After that, redo FreeType API to adapt it to
> what we have learned in the past 15 years and call it FreeType 3.
>
> I'm just thinking loud right now, but something along those lines (building
> together) may be what we need.  Or maybe not.  I'll be thinking about it more.
> 
>