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<b>mdocml</b> – mdoc macro compiler
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<h1>
DESCRIPTION
</h1>
<p>
<span class="nm">mdocml</span> is a suite of tools compiling “-mdoc”, the roff macro package
of choice for BSD manual pages, and “-man”, the predominant historical package for UNIX
manuals. The mission of <span class="nm">mdocml</span> is to deprecate <a
href="http://www.gnu.org/software/groff/" class="external">groff</a>, the GNU roff implementation, for
displaying <a href="mdoc.7.txt" class="man">mdoc(7)</a> pages whilst providing token support for <a
href="man.7.txt" class="man">man(7)</a>.
</p>
<p>
What are UNIX manuals? Read <a href="manuals.7.txt" class="man">manuals(7)</a> for an introduction.
</p>
<p>
Why? groff amounts to over 5 MB of source code, most of which is C++ and all of which is GPL. It runs
slowly, produces uncertain output, and varies in operation from system to system. mdocml strives to fix
this (respectively small, C, ISC-licensed, fast and regular).
</p>
<p>
The core of <span class="nm">mdocml</span> are the <a href="man.3.txt" class="man">man(3)</a> and <a
href="mdoc.3.txt" class="man">mdoc(3)</a> libraries, validating compilers producing intermediate-form
output from -man or -mdoc input. Both are simple, fast libraries operating on memory buffers, so they
may be used for a variety of front-ends (terminal-based, CGI and so on).
</p>
<p>
The primary front-end is <a href="mandoc.1.txt" class="man">mandoc(1)</a>, which formats manuals for
display on the terminal. Its purpose is to deprecate usage of groff for displaying -mdoc and, to a
limited extent, -man manuals on the terminal.
</p>
<p>
<span class="attn">Please submit patches, bug reports and suggestions!</span> Although a significant
implementation exists, work remains for the backend library and especially the front-end utilities. See
the <a href="#contact">contact</a> information below for submissions.
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<h1>
INSTALLING SOURCES
</h1>
<p>
Sources correctly build and install on FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD and Linux operating systems, tested
variously on i386, AMD64, alpha and others.
</p>
<p>
The most current version is <span class="attn">@VERSION@</span>, dated
<span class="attn">@VDATE@</span>.
</p>
<h2>
Snapshot source
</h2>
<p>
CVS sources are checkedout and snapshotted with version updates. These may be found in the <a
href="/snapshots/">/snapshots/</a> directory.
</p>
<p class="boxed">
% cd /tmp<br>
% ftp -V -o- <a href="http://mdocml.bsd.lv/snapshots/mdocml.tar.gz">
http://mdocml.bsd.lv/snapshots/mdocml.tar.gz</a> | tar -zvxf -<br>
% cd mdocml<br>
% make all<br>
% make regress<br>
# make install
</p>
<h2>
Snapshot port/pkgsrc
</h2>
<p>
The source snapshot is automatically converted into OpenBSD, NetBSD and FreeBSD ports at <a
href="/ports-openbsd/">/ports-openbsd/</a>, <a href="/ports-netbsd/">/ports-netbsd/</a> and <a
href="/ports-freebsd/">/ports-freebsd/</a>, respectively. Please read the <a class="external"
href="http://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq15.html">OpenBSD Ports FAQ</a>, the <a class="external"
href="http://www.netbsd.org/docs/software/packages.html">NetBSD pkgsrc guide</a> or the <a
class="external"
href="http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/ports-using.html">FreeBSD ports
guide</a>, first.
</p>
<h3>
OpenBSD port
</h3>
<p class="boxed">
# pkg_delete mdocml<br>
# cd /usr/ports/textproc/<br>
# rm -rf mdocml<br>
# ftp -V -o- <a href="http://mdocml.bsd.lv/ports-openbsd/mdocml.tar.gz">
http://mdocml.bsd.lv/ports-openbsd/mdocml.tar.gz</a> | tar -zvxf -<br>
# cd mdocml<br>
# make build<br>
# make install
</p>
<h3>
NetBSD pkgsrc
</h3>
<p class="boxed">
# pkg_delete mdocml<br>
# cd /usr/pkgsrc/textproc/<br>
# rm -rf mdocml<br>
# ftp -V -o- <a href="http://mdocml.bsd.lv/ports-netbsd/mdocml.tar.gz">
http://mdocml.bsd.lv/ports-netbsd/mdocml.tar.gz</a> | tar -zvxf -<br>
# cd mdocml<br>
# make build<br>
# make install
</p>
<h3>
FreeBSD port
</h3>
<p class="boxed">
# pkg_delete -x mdocml<br>
# cd /tmp<br>
# ftp -V -o- <a href="http://mdocml.bsd.lv/ports-freebsd/mdocml.tar.gz">
http://mdocml.bsd.lv/ports-freebsd/mdocml.tar.gz</a> | tar -zvxf -<br>
# cd mdocml<br>
# make<br>
# make install
</p>
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<h1>
CONTACT
</h1>
<p>
Please contact Kristaps, kris<a class="external"
href="http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01jt88xIsFONwVjHZmGpc4AQ==&c=sb5E6ulipc-eTnpTVqI-BQ=="
onclick="window.open('http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01jt88xIsFONwVjHZmGpc4AQ==&c=sb5E6ulipc-eTnpTVqI-BQ==',
'', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=0,width=500,height=300'); return
false;" title="Reveal this e-mail address">...</a>@kth.se, with questions, bug reports, patches, and so
on.
</p>
<p>
If you'd like to submit patches, please contact us beforehand in case larger changes are pending but not
checked in. If making a bug report, please make sure it's repeatable on the most current snapshot.
</p>
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<div class="foot">
Copyright © 2008, 2009 Kristaps Džonsons, $Date$
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