Add Linux TinyCC (tcc) CI cell and C99 CMake dialect.

.github/workflows/ci-cell.yml

@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ jobs:
         if: runner.os == 'Linux' && inputs.c-compiler == 'clang'
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y clang
 
+      - name: Install TCC (Ubuntu)
+        if: runner.os == 'Linux' && inputs.c-compiler == 'tcc'
+        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y tcc
+
       - name: Setup MSYS2 MinGW
         if: runner.os == 'Windows' && inputs.c-compiler == 'mingw'
         uses: msys2/setup-msys2@v2
@@ -58,6 +62,14 @@ jobs:
 
           mkdir -p "$DEPS"
 
+          # TinyCC is for the cstring C path only; build deps with GCC/G++.
+          dep_c="${{ inputs.c-compiler }}"
+          dep_cxx="${{ inputs.cpp-compiler }}"
+          if [ "$dep_c" = "tcc" ]; then
+            dep_c=gcc
+            dep_cxx=g++
+          fi
+
           # 1. STLSoft
           git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/synesissoftware/STLSoft "$STLSRC"
           if [ "${{ inputs.c-compiler }}" = "cl" ]; then
@@ -80,8 +92,8 @@ jobs:
           else
             cmake -S "$STLSRC" -B "$STLBUILD" \
               -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${{ inputs.build-type }}" \
-              -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER="${{ inputs.c-compiler }}" \
-              -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER="${{ inputs.cpp-compiler }}" \
+              -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER="$dep_c" \
+              -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER="$dep_cxx" \
               -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$DEPS" \
               -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=OFF \
               -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF
@@ -113,8 +125,8 @@ jobs:
           else
             cmake -S "$SHWSRC" -B "$SHWBUILD" \
               -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${{ inputs.build-type }}" \
-              -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER="${{ inputs.c-compiler }}" \
-              -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER="${{ inputs.cpp-compiler }}" \
+              -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER="$dep_c" \
+              -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER="$dep_cxx" \
               -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$DEPS" \
               -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="$DEPS" \
               -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=OFF \
@@ -147,8 +159,8 @@ jobs:
           else
             cmake -S "$XTSRC" -B "$XTBUILD" \
               -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${{ inputs.build-type }}" \
-              -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER="${{ inputs.c-compiler }}" \
-              -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER="${{ inputs.cpp-compiler }}" \
+              -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER="$dep_c" \
+              -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER="$dep_cxx" \
               -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="$DEPS" \
               -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="$DEPS" \
               -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=OFF \
@@ -177,13 +189,21 @@ jobs:
               -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=ON \
               -DBUILD_TESTING=ON
           else
+            # TinyCC: C library + C unit-tests only (deps built with GCC above).
+            build_examples=ON
+            no_cpp_api=OFF
+            if [ "${{ inputs.c-compiler }}" = "tcc" ]; then
+              build_examples=OFF
+              no_cpp_api=ON
+            fi
             cmake -B build -S . \
               -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE="${{ inputs.build-type }}" \
               -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER="${{ inputs.c-compiler }}" \
               -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER="${{ inputs.cpp-compiler }}" \
               -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="${RUNNER_TEMP}/sis-deps" \
-              -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=ON \
-              -DBUILD_TESTING=ON
+              -DBUILD_EXAMPLES=${build_examples} \
+              -DBUILD_TESTING=ON \
+              -DNO_CSTRING_CPP_API:BOOL=${no_cpp_api}
           fi
 
       - name: Build
@@ -209,6 +229,7 @@ jobs:
   run-examples:
     name: Examples (${{ inputs.cell-id }})
     needs: build
+    if: inputs.c-compiler != 'tcc'
     runs-on: ${{ inputs.os }}
 
     steps:
@@ -271,6 +292,7 @@ jobs:
   test-component:
     name: Component tests (${{ inputs.cell-id }})
     needs: build
+    if: inputs.c-compiler != 'tcc'
     runs-on: ${{ inputs.os }}
 
     steps:
@@ -302,6 +324,7 @@ jobs:
   test-scratch:
     name: Scratch tests (${{ inputs.cell-id }})
     needs: build
+    if: inputs.c-compiler != 'tcc'
     continue-on-error: true
     runs-on: ${{ inputs.os }}
 

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -3,15 +3,13 @@ name: CI
 on:
   push:
     branches:
-      - master
-      - dev
       - boilerplate
+      - dev
+      - idiomatic
+      - master
       - rc1
       - rc2
       - rc3
-      - rc4
-      - rc5
-      - update
   pull_request:
 
 concurrency:
@@ -36,6 +34,10 @@ jobs:
             os: ubuntu-latest
             c_compiler: gcc
             cpp_compiler: g++
+          - id: linux-tcc
+            os: ubuntu-latest
+            c_compiler: tcc
+            cpp_compiler: g++
           - id: macos-clang
             os: macos-latest
             c_compiler: clang
@@ -74,6 +76,9 @@ jobs:
           - os: ubuntu-latest
             c_compiler: clang
             cpp_compiler: clang++
+          - os: ubuntu-latest
+            c_compiler: tcc
+            cpp_compiler: g++
           - os: macos-latest
             c_compiler: clang
             cpp_compiler: clang++
@@ -91,6 +96,10 @@ jobs:
         if: runner.os == 'Linux' && matrix.c_compiler == 'clang'
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y clang
 
+      - name: Install TCC (Ubuntu)
+        if: runner.os == 'Linux' && matrix.c_compiler == 'tcc'
+        run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y tcc
+
       - name: Setup MSYS2 MinGW
         if: runner.os == 'Windows' && matrix.c_compiler == 'mingw'
         uses: msys2/setup-msys2@v2

.gitignore

@@ -54,12 +54,10 @@ perf_test/
 
 scripts/internal/
 
-/include/b64/
 /include/shwild/
 /include/xcontract/
 /include/xcover/
 /include/xtests/
-/src/b64/
 /src/shwild/
 /src/xcontract/
 /src/xcover/

.sis/project_name.txt

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+cstring

AUTHORS.md

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 # cstring - Authors <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 
-## Major Contributors
+## Major Contributors:
 
-* Matt Wilson ([mwsis](https://github.com/mwsis))
+* **Matt Wilson** ([mwsis](https://github.com/mwsis));
 
 
-## Defect reports, fixes and suggestions (for which we are very grateful)
+## Defect reports, fixes and suggestions (for which we are very grateful):
 
 * \<none>
 

CHANGES.md

@@ -1,6 +1,22 @@
 # cstring - CHANGES <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 
+## 4.0.14-alpha1 - 7th August 2026
+
+* Aligned project boilerplate with **b64** / **Pantheios** (scripts, markdown, CI branches, `.sis`);
+* Added **.sis/project_name.txt**; helper scripts load `ProjectName` for status echoes;
+* CI `on.push.branches` set to lexicographic Pantheios set (`boilerplate`, `dev`, `idiomatic`, `master`, `rc1`–`rc3`);
+* **CMakeLists.txt** — set `CMP0177` for CMake ≥ 3.31;
+* **.gitignore** — removed stray **b64** include/src ignore entries;
+* **README.md** — C++ badge; CI badge alt text; **Introduction**; help links; heading fixes;
+* **AUTHORS.md**, **NEWS.md**, **FAQ.md**, **KNOWN_ISSUES.md** — peer layout/content alignment;
+* Added **HOW_YOU_CAN_HELP.md**;
+* **TODO.md** — marked `CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR` complete;
+* **run_all_examples.sh**, **run_all_unit_tests.sh**, **run_all_scratch_tests.sh** — coloured list/execute path output (via `tput`);
+* Linux **TinyCC** (**tcc**) CI cell and install-smoke row (via `apt-get install tcc`); deps built with **GCC**/**G++**; **`NO_CSTRING_CPP_API`** and examples skipped for the **tcc** cell;
+* **CMakeLists.txt** — when `CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID` is **TinyCC**, use `CMAKE_C_STANDARD` **99** (distro **tcc** lacks ISO C17);
+
+
 ## 4.0.13 - 2nd August 2026
 
 * Modular GitHub Actions CI (**ci.yml** + **ci-cell.yml**), with install-smoke and MinGW cells;

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 # Purpose:  Top-level CMake lists file for cstring
 #
 # Created:  21st December 2023
-# Updated:  2nd August 2026
+# Updated:  7th August 2026
 #
 # ######################################################################## #
 
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
 # CMake
 
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.20 FATAL_ERROR)
+if(CMAKE_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL "3.31")
+	cmake_policy(SET CMP0177 NEW)
+endif()
 
 # require out-of-source builds
 file(TO_CMAKE_PATH "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/CMakeLists.txt" LOC_PATH)
@@ -64,6 +67,13 @@ set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 20)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
 set(CMAKE_CXX_EXTENSIONS ON)
 
+# Distro TinyCC (e.g. Ubuntu `tcc` 0.9.27) does not implement ISO C17; keep
+# a portable C99 dialect so the Linux TCC CI cell can exercise the C path.
+if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "TinyCC")
+
+	set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 99)
+endif()
+
 if(MSVC)
 
 	if(MSVC_VERSION LESS 1800)

Doxyfile

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 PROJECT_NAME           = "cstring"
 PROJECT_BRIEF          = "Extensible C-style strings and vectors of such, for Unix and Windows"
-PROJECT_NUMBER         = 4.0.13
+PROJECT_NUMBER         = 4.0.14-alpha1
 
 # Prefer SIS_CMAKE_BUILD_DIR-aligned output (same convention as Diagnosticism).
 # ./dox/ remains gitignored for legacy/local runs that override OUTPUT_DIRECTORY.

FAQ.md

@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@ it will be used to create one.
 ## Table of Contents <!-- omit in toc -->
 
 - [Q1: "How do I build cstring?"](#q1-how-do-i-build-cstring)
-- [Q2: "Does cstring have its own unit-tests?"](#q2-does-cstring-have-its-own-unit-tests)
-- [Q3: "How do I build without the C++ examples and tests?"](#q3-how-do-i-build-without-the-c-examples-and-tests)
-- [Q4: "Where are the examples?"](#q4-where-are-the-examples)
+- [Q2: "How do I install cstring?"](#q2-how-do-i-install-cstring)
+- [Q3: "How do I use cstring?"](#q3-how-do-i-use-cstring)
+- [Q4: "Does cstring have its own unit-tests?"](#q4-does-cstring-have-its-own-unit-tests)
+- [Q5: "How do I build without the C++ examples and tests?"](#q5-how-do-i-build-without-the-c-examples-and-tests)
+- [Q6: "Where are the examples?"](#q6-where-are-the-examples)
 
 
 # FAQs: <!-- omit in toc -->
@@ -37,7 +39,48 @@ $ ./prepare_cmake.sh -m
 Execute `$ ./prepare_cmake.sh --help` for the full set of options.
 
 
-## Q2: "Does cstring have its own unit-tests?"
+## Q2: "How do I install cstring?"
+
+See [INSTALL.md](./INSTALL.md) for details of how to install **cstring**.
+
+
+## Q3: "How do I use cstring?"
+
+Include **cstring/cstring.h** (and **cstring/cstring.vector.h** where needed)
+and link against **libcstring** (the **CMake** target is `cstring::core`).
+Create and destroy instances with `cstring_create()` / `cstring_destroy()`,
+and mutate with `cstring_assign()`, `cstring_append()`, and related APIs.
+
+A minimal sketch:
+
+```c
+#include <cstring/cstring.h>
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+int main(void)
+{
+    cstring_t cs;
+    CSTRING_RC rc = cstring_create(&cs, "Hello");
+
+    if (CSTRING_RC_SUCCESS != rc)
+    {
+        return EXIT_FAILURE;
+    }
+
+    printf("%s\n", cs.ptr);
+
+    cstring_destroy(&cs);
+
+    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+}
+```
+
+See [INSTALL.md](./INSTALL.md) and the examples under **examples/**.
+
+
+## Q4: "Does cstring have its own unit-tests?"
 
 Yes. Automated tests live under:
 
@@ -50,7 +93,7 @@ and run with **run_all_unit_tests.sh** (and **CTest** where configured). Tests
 require **STLSoft** and **xTests** (and may optionally recognise **shwild**).
 
 
-## Q3: "How do I build without the C++ examples and tests?"
+## Q5: "How do I build without the C++ examples and tests?"
 
 Pass `--no-cpp` (or `-C`) to **prepare_cmake.sh**, which sets CMake
 `NO_CSTRING_CPP_API=ON`. That omits C++ examples and remaining C++ tests.
@@ -59,7 +102,7 @@ The **C** unit-tests still require **STLSoft** and **xTests** unless you also
 pass `--disable-testing` / `-T`.
 
 
-## Q4: "Where are the examples?"
+## Q6: "Where are the examples?"
 
 Examples live under **examples/** (`c/` and `cpp/`), each with a short
 **README.md**. They are built when `BUILD_EXAMPLES` is on (the default); omit