[magick-users] Re: [magick-developers] ImageMagick Version Number

[Anthony Thyssen]

Ali Bendriss on  wrote...
| Hello,
| 
| I would like to know more about the numbering you use for the magic
| core API.  I'm mostly interested to to know if the ImageMagick version
| number reflect a change in the structure like struct _Image and or the
| ImageInfo. Does it reflect the removing of some deprecated elements ?
| 
| I'm going to download different version to check by myself but any info 
| are welcome.
| 
At the moment no elements being depreciated.  Actually I would like to
see warnings being output about the use of some of the older depreciated
elements so they can eventually be removed.

The oldest depreciated option I know of is  -pen
which is so old we don't even document it any more
I don't even remember if mean the -fill or -stroke!!!

Another depreciated option is   -linewidth
which currently an alias for the correct option  -strokewidth
that correctly reflects its meaning.

There are other depreciated options, I myself created.
The operator  -deconstruct being one, that has been superseded
by -layers CompareAny which again more correct prepresents what the
function does.

Its original intended purpose was superseded by  -layers Optimize
to perform GIF animation optimization. and which properly understands
how GIF handles disposal of previous frames, do the result is correct.


As for the numbers, this is my understanding, only Crisy know more...

The first major number IMv5 to IMv6  was caused by the complete
overhaul of the command line interface.  I very much doubt it will
change again, unless the IM command line interface chnages to
a full scripting language.  For that it needs control and looping
structures, as well as proper file handling.

I very much doubt that will happen for a very long time.

The fourth 'point' number are minor bug fixes, updates and development
releases, and usally happens once a week.

The  "-distort"  operator for example was first added on IM v6.3.5-1 but
the interface was not settled until IM v6.3.5-9  and the coordinate
input handling was changed in a major way for IM 6.3.6-0

Which brings the third 'minor' number to probably mean (ask Cristy),
a significate change.  For the IM v6.3.6-0 release it was a change in
data structure to add 'artifacts' which is used for special out-of-band
and rarely used settings like   -set option:distort:viewport geometry

These 'option:' settings override the normal internal working an
behaviour of operators, and are also usable by used for %[...] type
escapes of special temporary working meta-data.   It is in some ways
simular to the  -define  settings can override the normal behaviour of
image file format coders.

It is not always clear what the 'significant change' was.

The middle option I am completely unsure of its meaning, posibily
some type of 'library' change.

  Anthony Thyssen ( System Programmer )    <A.Thyssen at griffith.edu.au>
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    Science certianly does not claim to get things right,
    but it has a good record of ruling out ways to get things wrong.
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     Anthony's Home is his Castle     http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~anthony/