karl@ai.mit.edu (Karl Berry) (06/05/91)
(I'm posting this for Ghostscript's primary author, Peter Deutsch, who is taking a well-deserved vacation.) Ghostscript version 2.2 is now released. The following files are available on prep.ai.mit.edu:/pub/gnu (and soon at the other usual GNU software distribution points): ghostscript-2.2.tar.Z ghostscript-2.2fonts.tar.Z ghostscript-2.2msdos.exe ghostscript-diffs-2.1.1-2.2.Z Note that the fonts tar file includes both the BDF-derived and the Hershey fonts. The diffs from 2.1.1 are very large, and may not be very useful. In release 2.2, most of the reported bugs in 2.1.1 have been fixed. Major new features include: save/restore 24-pin Epson driver Band lists for high-resolution printers The fonts have been remade, and improved slightly, primarily by adding ligatures and accented characters where feasible. As usual, we strongly recommend that users of previous versions read the history.doc file, and that all users read README and readme.doc. The following planned features did not make it into this release, but are scheduled for a future one: Better (non-dithered) color for X windows A new PaintJet driver (there is one in the 2.2 release, but it is completely untested) It is likely that we will do a minor release in a couple of months specifically to include these features and also a couple of others that have been in the queue for a long time, such as the ability to specify file or pipe names for printer output. As usual, bug reports may be posted to gnu.ghostscript.bug, or sent directly to Aladdin Enterprises (the developer of the Ghostscript "core" and many of the drivers) at ghost@aladdin.com or ...decwrl!aladdin!ghost. When reporting problems, please identify the machine, operating system, and C compiler, and (especially if reporting by private mail) include as much of the PostScript input file as feasible. Plans for the next major release of Ghostscript are very much in flux. We plan to implement garbage collection, and some of the other features of Level 2 PostScript, but beyond that, we would like to hear from users as to what facilities they would find most useful. Some choices under consideration include: - Full Level 2 PostScript; - An implementation for MS Windows; - Support for other output formats (e.g., TIFF); - Embeddability in printers (job control, etc.). This is not an exhaustive list: please request anything that you particularly would like to see. The most frequently requested facility, namely a good previewer, has already been largely built (by users) and should be announced in the fairly near future. We wish to give special thanks to over 60 beta testers, located all over the world, who helped improve the quality of this release. L. Peter Deutsch :: Aladdin Enterprises :: P.O. box 60264, Palo Alto, CA 94306 ghost@aladdin.com ; ...decwrl!aladdin!ghost ; (415)322-0103 <<< new phone # "Implementation is the sincerest form of flattery."