[REBOL] Re: Multimedia REBOL... yes or no?
From: maximo:meteorstudios at: 10-Jul-2003 16:26
here goes,
MM in itself IS well covered by other languages... but that's the problem ... its not
rebol code ... that's why most (if not all) of us have changed to rebol for.. its the
syntax and grammar OF THE LANGUAGE we like.
I have built many tools for which rebol wasn't specifically the best platform as a programming
language... things like a (video) editing timeline, production pipeline tool, a distributed
rendering manager, a scsi-ddr (ddr: digital disk recorder) transfer and remote video
deck tool. All of these used many different aspects of rebol and the only one I had
to stop as a project was the timeline editing tool. That's because rebol does not have
any syncronization methods which can garantee a certain level of frames per second refresh
in view, even less if there is image manipulation, even less on windows.
also, as cyphre has illustrated last week, there are still limitations to the external
library access which means we cannot truly use outside tools which potentially could
solve that problem. MM depends on many things and the true problem is in syncro.. how
could we synchronise a 30fps animation to sound and also have some real-time vid/fx rendering
or draw dialect style gfx overlays in rebol ... currently its not possible....
And let me assure everyone that its not easy. I'm not saying Carl isn't up to the task,
who knows, he might already have a rebol|RT (real-time ;-) version on his desk...
Carl, You specifically asked If I was ready to loose some portability in exchange for
performance and added integration to the os... tough call... I'm pretty sure there are
two specific types of users in rebol, the utilities/applets/web/cgi/script types for
which rebol/core and view are PERFECT and then there are some of us which try to use
rebol as a general purpose language. The later group have more problems I think.
I also think that the later type would be more willing to accept a break in the program-once
use Everywhere philosophy. Open gl is the way to go, if you want to keep the maximum
portability... it is available in all flavors of UNIX and Linux, windows, apple (not
sure about amiga). People always think of OpenGL as a 3D language... its also a very
nice 2d language, with nice anti-aliased vector support.
maybe REBOL|OpenGL version could be integrated which has a face built with opengl (and
its various platform adaptations). IT would be compatible with view but would have open
gl library calls available too.
and anyways, what IS rebol using for ITS gfx engine.. wouldn't it be worth it to support
OpenGL when its present in the os anyways, in the current view?
BTW, has anyone looked at image magik... (www.imagemagick.org) I am planning on building
myself a rebol front end to it... thats a uber powerfull image manipulation api which
is used by many high-end tools and production facilities. Plus its free, even commercially,
and its not even bound by a gpl type license.
--
as far as being able to get the os calls and lib access free, I guess Carl will give
the software when he's finished the REBOL|END-HUNGER|PAY-MORTAGE module ... ;-)
Then, will I then get refunded... I have a pro license. I'd feel a little pinched
if they got free (but I won't cause its already paid itself ;) ... But I do agree that
its a pain you have to pay for something as basic as os-calls. I can understand for oracle
DB, Lib-access, etc, etc...
As far as I'm concerned, an easier library integration would be welcomed. that's the
main edge python has over rebol (a part that its free).
-max
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meteor Studios, T.D.
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Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman
