Practical Programming in Tcl/Tk is described as the "bible" for Tcl programmers. It is a guide to the Tcl/Tk programming language and GUI toolkit. This revision includes substantial updates to cover the new version 8.4-giving both an overview of the features, as well as details about every command in the language. The third edition, written on version 8.2, sold over 30,000 copies. Version 8.4 of Tcl - Tool Command Language-provides substantial updates to one of the most popular UNIX scripting languages. The latest release, includes the addition of a virtual filesystem (VFS), many additional programming widgets (spinbox, panedwindow, labelframe),and improved performance of about 20% over 8.3. The book provides a guide to the best ways to use the tooklit. It not only gives accurate details, but includes extensive examples that demonstrate the best way to use the toolkit. The authors are experts that have both developed the technology and used it to solve problems, so they have many valuable insights to relate to the readers.

Over the years I have incurred debts to many individuals in the preparation of this work. I have benefited from discussions with several colleagues, who were generous with their time and encouragement. Among these are Jeremy Noakes, Volker Berghahn, Richard Evans and John Hiden. I would like in particular to thank Ian Kershaw who read and made valuable comments on the manuscript. I would also like to thank Andrew Wheatcroft of Routledge for his support. I am indebted to the secretarial staff at Rutherford College, University of Kent for their unstinting assistance in helping me produce the Document Section. Finally, I would like to thank my wife Anne who was excessively patient and understanding during the researching and writing of this book. Without her loving support this book could not have been written. It is to our children, Chris and Lizzie, that I would like to dedicate this work, not least for the manner in which, in their own ways, they have tolerated their father’s preoccupation with history and even developed a resigned sense of humour.