Core team to form language workgroup

[tomerd]

Some additional information on topics raised on this thread:

@mickeyl

2. Packaging

If it wasn't for @futurejones activities, we would install our favorite language (runtime) like in the stonehenge days…with tarballs.

There is an active project to create Swift.org issued and signed native Linux packages: see RPM and Debs for Swift: Call for the Community - #40 by mishal_shah. The project has been going on for a while and additional community participation is welcome.

@mickeyl

Combine this with the lack of static linking and proper cross-compiling for other platforms ([SR-15701] Linux: Compile error when cross-compiling with --static-swift-stdlib - Swift ) and then compare this miserable situation with other programming languages tools.

Static linking of the Swift runtime libraries is a supported feature. You may also find SE-0342 interesting, we would love to hear more opinions on this.

@stevapple

Packaging is also related. Distributing libraries and consuming them in applications form a rather complete ecosystem, which is different from what SSWG is currently focusing on. The way to package and install a library or an application is quite similar, both on Linux and Windows.

@stevapple

That’s true. Server applications also need the ability of consuming libraries, that’s why I believe binary dependency support falls to SSWG already.

SE-0305 introduces some capabilities towards this goal. The next logical step is to add library support which starts pulling on topic like system dependencies. Suggestion and follow up proposal on this topic are welcome.

@mickeyl

Even though there is a server workgroup, I can imagine a bunch of folks (including me) being interested in a Linux-interoperability group.

Given the proximity of Swift on Server on Swift on Linux, the Swift Server Workgroup has also been busy developing tools and documenting best practices for Swift on Linux: See GitHub - swift-server/guides: Guides for building, debugging and deploying Swift Server applications. Additional community participation is welcome.