[gmx-developers] Dependence on libxml2

[David van der Spoel]

Hi,

the inclusion of the xml library is currently limited to stuff in the 
contrib directory. However we have discussed on many occasions which xml 
library to use if we were going to make the move. The de-facto standard 
in the linux world is libxml2 (foundation of the gnome project). Are you 
aware of any platform where this wouldn't work?

Do you see any other obvious drawbacks?

If not, the library will become obligatory straight after the release of 
4.0, that means you will not be able to compile gromacs without it 
anymore. Although one could offer workarounds, by e.g. shutting off part 
of the functionality (as is done now) this would be too confusing for 
many ordinary users.

-- 
David van der Spoel, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Molec. Biophys. group, Dept. of Cell & Molec. Biol., Uppsala University.
Box 596, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden. Phone:	+46184714205. Fax: +4618511755.
spoel at xray.bmc.uu.se	spoel at gromacs.org   http://folding.bmc.uu.se