NICE!tperry2x wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2023 11:39 pm
Download links for OpenXTalk Lite 0.94
These links remain the same as in previous versions.
Firstly, the mac version is offline at the moment as I'm having a few issues with Gatekeeper again. I hope to have this dealt with either tomorrow or at least by the end of the week.
What's changed?
- Removed the theming as it was inconsistent across different platforms (this needs to come from the engine to truly be accurate).
- Added the option for Tool Snippets, which can be toggled off in the preferences - so that newly created objects have sample code pre-applied (good for those new to XTalk)
- The draggable top bar containing the "Code, Inspector, Group" etc, - the draggable option can be toggled via the preferences now.
- Because the "Player" (video) tool is so broken and can cause a spontaneous crash on some versions of linux, added the option to disable this under "Compatibility" mode in the preferences.
- Added a global variable for getting the system version (as 'get the SystemVersion' did not function correctly under MacOS 11+). You can now use 'put tSystemVersion' - returns "MacOS 14" for example. You can alternatively use 'put tSystemVersionNumber' to just get the short version string. - will tweak this in future so it hopefully replaces the SystemVersion command entirely.
- Other changes since 0.93 include fixes to a few other colour swatch applying bugs in the preferences.
- Changes to the preferences path (no longer uses runrev for preferences location), uses ~/.xtalk for example.
- Modified the windows Installer so you don't get prompted / stopped by a previous existing installation.
- Added a few extra "Colorization" options for the script editor - you have a choice of more colour themes in the preferences.
Mac: .../sites/openxtalk/openxtalk-lite-0.9-osx.dmg (offline currently)
Linux: https://www.tsites.co.uk/sites/openxtal ... 9-linux.7z
Windows: https://www.tsites.co.uk/sites/openxtal ... 0.9-win.7z
List of known issues (as they unfold):
https://www.openxtalk.org/forum/viewtop ... 4441#p4441
BTW: The OpenXTalk Mac Native library already includes a function macOSVersion(), which is an LCB library but it just evaluates a regular xtalk script that calls a shell() function to get the accurate macOS version, using same method that the macOS System installer uses.
Theming / DarkMode on Windows 10 probably does require engine level change to really do dark window frames (unless you 'fake' your own window frames for ever window in the IDE), but I'm curious is anyone running it on Windows 11? That has dark support from the get-go, where on Win10 it's an after thought, with some devs hacking undocumented stuff into their apps to support it.
But I prefer dark theme on Mac and Linux(es), and I don't think those really need engine level changes to support it on those platforms, maybe just some more work. The OXT macOS Native Tools library method of supporting darkmode on macOS however, is the proper way to do it on macOS, using Apple's API/AppKit, but the IDE/engine could definitely support it better then it currently does (which it does have some support for it on macOS). But yeah...it's never going to be consistent across platforms, that's somewhat of an issue with the platforms themselves I think.
Tool Snippets sounds really interesting, there was some sort of Snippets Pallette that was in the IDE at one point, but I wasn't sure if it that was useful because it seemed to be related to the advanced AutoComplete features (which was only in plus, commercial, indy versions) but I could be mistaken. There was some sort of script left in it, and it was functional for inserting the script into a script editor window, but didn't seem to have any snippet storage mechanism. I think it would be great to include such a thing, a 'scripter's scrapebook' for reusable scripts or just saving some quick notes. I would really like to have an OXT autocomplete (and spell checking, because that's a sore spot for me). I messed around with that idea using Trevor Devore's NSPell/ASpell cross platform wrapper library, created a xTalk syntax specific dictionary for it.
Draggable toolbars sounds good too.
I'd love it if we could have a palette similar in style and functionality to old QuarkXPress(3) measurements palette, horizontal layout, compact, but extremely useful. I did a bunch of work on a palette with the goal of building it, but it gets frustrating managing focus, selection, getting properties info from controls in other stacks, and that sort of thing. I'm starting to think maybe it would be better to entirely rebuild some palettes, like Tools, using widgets, existing separate from the Engine, but still having two-way communication with the IDE. Most of the IDE palettes all already use widgets for the gear/palette-settings pop-out menu).
Added a few extra "Colorization" options for the script editor is much needed, I'd really like to make a mechanism (as opposed to being "hard-coded") for adding custom sets. If the default color or 'no color' could be made to really have the value 'empty' instead of "0,0,0" (which is RGB Black, and not the same as empty) then it would auto-change from light/darkMode when toggling that in the macOS system menu. As it is now you have to manually switch SE to the darkMode script either theme in order to have scripts default coloring be white text, not a real big a deal as most people would probably set it the way they like and then forget about it.
"Because the "Player" (video) tool is so broken"... is it? I was't aware it was a problem, but I haven't really ever much tested the built-in player object on Linux(es)... are they like window layering issues or what? I'm going to have to spend some real quality time with the Linux build again.
I really need to get more into building extensions on Linux, I'm sure a player object could be built, maybe using libVLC or FFMPLAY, that could be a suitable replacement. Incidentally I've been messing around with FFMpeg/FFMplay using shell scripts to play files, render audio waveform images, convert media formats, etc. FFMPEG has become quite a capable multimedia system over the years, mixing, muxing, etc. can even do streaming/and serving streams (like act as standard DLNA media server).
Anyway thanks for the work! I will give this a spin this long holiday weekend (Thanksgiving here in the states).
I'm going to try to make some videos to put up on OXT YouTube channel too, if I'm not in a food coma from gorging on pies.