Re: interviews with groff developers

[James K. Lowden]

On Sat, 5 Aug 2023 21:52:26 -0400
Douglas McIlroy <douglas.mcilroy@dartmouth.edu> wrote:

> I can edit the content of figures, which I believe is impossible in
> PDF. One use of this capability is to overcome a
> deficiency in pic: filling polygons. 

I'm surprised you're forced to edit the object code.  What is missing
in the pic output that prevents the filling of polygons?  

troff has no concept of "box" or "circle", and \M relies on a "closed
object".  If the polygon is identifiable at the troff level, why can't
it be filled there, just by inserting the appropriate troff into the
pic diagram?  

--jkl