CDRBQ Files

Release note for version 1.3, the "now it works, and on Windows too" version.

2011, 6th May.

This version is the first update to cdrtoaster v 1.23 released 8 years ago.  
In the last 8 years, software development ceased but the package still remain 
in the repository of many Linux distributions like Debian and Ubuntu.  With the 
code-as-is, most features are broken on modern systems. The first error message 
"file not found: /usr/X11R6/bin/xterm" showed the age.

This release fixes many problems to make the package usable in modern 
environments. It also hid features that are a bit too rusty to fix thus better 
be replaced al-together in coming releases. It is tested working on Ubuntu 
10.10 and Cygwin 1.7.9.  A list of such change is at the end of this note. A 
list of dependency is in INSTALL together with the source code.

As well demonstrated by the success of GNOME, in the last 8 years opensource 
desktop quality raised, so does user's expectation. It's to note cdrbq 
revived from 8 years old could not yet satisfy modern desktop user's demand.  
For example, user can choose from the user-interface to burn the CD in any 
speed, but the burner will only use the closest available.  Such rudimentary 
user interface follows the "command-line front-end" concept that was well 
gone and forgotten.

The next releases will focus on bringing up user's experience and offering 
competitive features like multi-session backup. This version will limit to 
fixes only. That is to say, this version still target technical users. I 
welcome all developers and Linux (*nix) power users to try this version, but 
hold the horse: the coming versions should be the one you can introduce to 
your novice user friends.

To get most feedback the project will release as frequent as possible in the 
first year. The modern pair-and-impair (stable v.s. unstable) method will be 
used when the usability is close to novice user's need.
 
The changes in this version include:

- automatically detect and choose ISO image generation tool between 
genisoimage and mkisofs.

- automatically detect and choose CD burning tool between cdrskin, cdrecord 
and wodim.

- added option to exclude a directory

- added option to use a exclusion list file

- allow commandline options simliar to that of genisoimage. Use "cdrbq -h" 
to check details.

- allow user to select device to use, instead of asking user to type device 
node.

- remove the dependency of xterm which do not present on many modern 
distributions.

- Tested competible with tk8.5 and tk8.4

- Hide CD burning feature which could not work since many years ago.

- Hide preference setting as they were broken too.

Thanks everyone involved in original cdrtoaster project. Thanks to people 
behind tcl/tk 8.5 and tcl/tk 8.6. The regaining of pace of tcl/tk is the 
main reason that encouraged me to revive this project.