by antipasto on Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:15 am I love the possibilities of Xlobby, but I have a few points that I need to address that are behind some of the reasons why I haven't worked on Xlobby lately. Some of this may be off base, and I'd love comments.
1. File Browser
Categorizing things and having good metadata is great because the interface can leverage that into a very intuitive and media-rich experience... however, when all else fails, and to start using XLobby without good meta data, and to use the program daily and in ad-hoc ways easily, a file browser should be a priority.
2. Uniform configuration
Screen / button editing is seperate from command editing...... I know that the setup does a great job in database management, and that it should perhaps be near the command editing, but its just too far away from the buttons that actually implement the commands.
I know that there have been articles recently about using the editor components that come with Visual Studio to use in your own projects and redistribute.... why reinvent the wheel when .NET provides the editing capabilities?
3. Basic Starting Skin
Yeah, I know, about the time the community has a chance to get to documentation is when we'll have this... but having a file browser could make this easier to get out quicker.
4. Release schedules
Yup... it's time... I've loved the bleeding edge that is available at http://www.xlobby.com/xlobby2.zip , but the last I messed with it it broke my skin I was working on, and I know my skin doesn't work on the latest release... my bad for not keeping track, but a revision history and all those things that come along with that are a benefit to the person that will live and breathe the product.
....
Now here, I'm going off on a rant, but....
The GNU manifesto says that if a company can be profitable by selling their software as well as providing support, then a company that provides support for free software should also be profitable.
In a nutshell, consider open source:
1. For nerds, that is documentation enough. Hell, there was a guy that didn't even need your source to make a plugin for XLobby!
2. I, for one, would lend a hand. You could also solidfy the work of those that have already lended a hand! Lots of good skins and documentation are being developed by people that are in the community!
3. If someone screws with you, you'll have the whole weight of the open source world behind you....
4. You won't have to worry about code "leaking"
5. You won't have to rely on a small group of dedicated people... your code will make its rounds and everyone can have a chance to improve it whenever they have time.... I would've loved to have cranked out a file browser for you by now.... that's just me.
....
Sorry for the rant, but thank you so much for all that you've done, Steven!
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