Using FreeType2 without having to suffer GD

Hi, is there a FreeType extension that doesn't rely on not-calling-freetype-in-the-slightest through GD? GD is lacking lots of function wrappers for things that are part of the standard FreeType2 API, like the super basic "get char index" function, which are essential for any kind of intelligent text rendering, Is there a way to access FreeType directly, without going through GD? Or is this going to end up being one of those "there's no way to do this, call an exec() to something in python or perl instead" things? - Mike Kamermans