Having problems with message search?
This is all really too bad...
But I have to just get something out because it's been bothering me for a long time...when I first heard of this project and tried to get involved, it all just seemed far too complicated. Focused a bit too much on theory and parsers and nonsense, instead of making a working package.
A committed group of 5 people could have a working HyperCard clone in 7 working days. I know because in just a bit more time (maybe 3 weeks) I created a functional one on my own. The only thing it lacked was an xTalk but that isn't as critical as the environment (linking dialogs & simplified scripting UIs can provide the same benefits as xTalk but are easier to code).
That project fell apart because I wrote it in VB 6, no one was interested in it, and I made some big mistakes early in it's database's design.
I think that if a project was started with a few guidelines in place it would be a bit more successful:
* Use a portable database library like SQLite. In fact, just use SQLite. It's the answer: relational binary portability on many platforms. An object database would be nice but coding one on top of SQLite isn't that hard.
* Create a UI when a scripting language is too complex or time consuming to write.
* Use a simple XML based scripting language like Radio UserLand's stuff. Don't need to write a very complex parser (just a bit of expression magic in the lines themselves, all the block type stuff is taken care of by the elements), provide an outline based script editor, and you're "done". (It isn't really that simple obviously but it's easier than writing an xTalk.)
* Make it actually work first (starting with simpler stacks such as an address book, help library, picture gallery, etc.), then add the other stuff.
* Put it all in one executable.
* Make it run on Windows and Mac.
Just my two cents. At any rate, I will be working on a project like this at some point in the distant future.
Isaac
-----Original Message-----Someone brought to my attention the fact that the Sphere
From: sphere_project@yahoogroups.com [mailto:sphere_project@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jonathynne Bett'ncort
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 7:55 PM
To: HyperCard List; WildFire List
Subject: [sphere_project] WildFire/Sphere Project Archive
Project/WildFire-related downloads on the HyperCard Pantechnicon have
long since gone all brokey. What a sad state of affairs. It occurred
to me that it's very possible our work might eventually be lost. So
I've created an archive of everything related to Sphere Project,
WildFire, CHASM, RealHyperCard, etc. I could find on my hard drive,
old or new:
http://www.kreativekorp.com/swdownload/wildfire/
Anybody who feels like digging through there, feel free. Have fun. :)
--
Hasta la pasta,
Jonathynne Bett'ncort.
------------------------------------------------------------
I tried the real world once; didn't really care for it.
"I could counter with the fact that a disproportionate number of TG
women I know are computer programmers. ::grin:: In fact, there's a
joke going around that says exposure to computer screens causes
transsexuality." -- Kate Bornstein
Offline 
Send Email