Scripted Documents

Software used to be written as source code, which was then compiled and linked into a single machine-specific application program. With scripting languages, editable scripts are now executable without intermediate steps, but the dependency on lots of script files complicates robust deployment. A range of "wrapping" schemes are in use today to package scripts and extensions into a single file. The "Scripted Document" approach presented here goes further by offering a database-centric solution for packaging, installation, configuration, upgrades, as well as all application-specific data. An implementation for Tcl is described — using MetaKit as embedded database — with a summary of the experiences gathered so far.