tcl是一个高级计算机语言,语法类似shell script与C语言之间.而tk是一个使用者界面开发工具,有buttons、menus、listboxes、scrollbars等等.把这两者结合起来,就形成了强有力的GUI开发组件.最新版本的tcl/tk支持了多平台的开发链接库.所以我们可以写一个tcl/tk的程序(也称为 script),然后在UNIX下看起来就像是Motif的应用程序;在Windows9x/NT下看起来像是Win32的应用程序;而在 Macintosh下看起来像Mac的应用程序.tcl/tk的优点第一是free(免费),你可以销售你开发的应用软件,不用支付任何的预付、执照费用或专利权税.第二是容易学习,你不须具备 object-oriented或threads或Microsoft Fundation Classes的基础,也不须写一大串的程序代码.像是传统的 Hello, World! 程序,在tcl/tk只要两行就搞定.第三是有许多的extensions(延伸套件)可以支持其它软件链接库,例如Oracle, Sybase, Informix, OpenGL等多达400种.

下载:Tcl/Tk 8.5.0 (Dec 20, 2007)

Highlights of Tcl 8.5

• Speed: 8.5 now runs 10% faster than 8.4 with bytecode improvements, object caching and reduced memory usage.
• Bignums: Tcl now supports arbitrary-precision integers, which improves math operations on large integers.
• Safer interps: Tcl's powerful safe interpreter mechanism now has improved control of time and command limits in slave interpreters.
• clock command: More robust implementation of command for specifying time, with significant l10n and i18n improvements.
• dict command: New data structure that allows access to data by value rather than a variable name, which is substantially faster.
• Additional improvements: Faster list search, new and improved mathematics procedures, anonymous procedures, new ways to package Tcl extensions, Tcl-level custom channel types, file and line location information for each command, and more.

Highlights of Tk 8.5

• New modern theming engine: New and complementary widgets that make use of platform-specific theming on Mac OS X and Windows to better fit in with those environments, and feature an improved look and feel under X11. (screenshots)
• New widgets: Part of the themed widget set, Tk now has core notebook, combobox, treeview and progressbar widgets.
• text widget: Smooth scrolling, widget peering, and improved procedures for counting and replacing text.
• Font rendering: Now uses anti-aliased text under X11, and a more modern text engine (ATSUI) on Mac OS X.
• Additional improvements: Window transparency, new fullscreen option for windows, enhancements to specific widgets and window layout, and more.

There is of course much, much more. See 8.5 Changes on the wiki for a complete list of new features.