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Open-Source Front End Specs
Lilwolf:
To clean out up the last thread that was starting to be a flame war... To do this we would need to orginize it a little. I don't wan't to talk implimentation initially...
These are my takes on the development enviorment. It We should decide what is required... because some of these will narrow our decisions.
1) Crossplatform: (windows, linux, mac)
1.5) Crossplatform: dos
2) Free Development system:
3) Moduler
4) Easy graphics libraries available
5) Vertical and Horizontal text.
Lilwolf:
1) Crossplatform: (windows, linux, mac)
I think these are a must... (well, I never use mac's... but others do I guess)
1.5) Crossplatform: dos
I think this is also a must for many in the community. But this will make EVERYTHING else VERY hard to get.
2) Free Development system:
I can't afford to buy a development system at all. There seems to be GREAT development systems for almost all languages these days. And if we all agree on one, the make files can be destributed.
3) Moduler
It should be able to swap out parts... At runtime would be best, but not necessary. But the person compiling should be able to swap out modules and recompile. If it's forced to be a compile time, we should require the modules to live next to each other nicely... ie, you could have the xml and database modules loaded at the same time... and from the configuration files, it should be able to switch between them.
4) Easy graphics libraries available
I know how to write the code to draw a line from bits (fast)... but I don't want to write them. It would also be nice to have other utility objects available (vectors, hashtables, sorts, ect).
5) Vertical and Horizontal text.
This is really only for the text. If you can't rotate the text, its a pain to do it by hand... but there are a ton of vertical cabinets that could use a good FE
rampy:
I think we should start with broad strokes and then get more granular with the specifics... I'm a little mentally burnt at the moment, but here are some basic functional requirements off the top of my head.
The FE should:
* be able to launch any emu within reason (duh)
* have a customizable look/layout
* be easily configured "tweaked" (advanced gui/.ini files or both)
* support both PC monitors and Arcade monitors
I'm having a hard time at the moment separating "features" from "requirements" in my head... so that's all I got.
Rampy
PS I wonder if we're serious about this effort if a more "groupware" type exchange medium would be better than msg board posts... jsut a thought ... phpwikki? *shrug*
PSS did I misunderstand what you meant by requirements? if so ... sorry... I musta had my BA/project manager hat on...
Lilwolf:
I'm trying to create two threads (maybe more). But this one specifically trying to come up with things that could limit the development system.. Not which one we should use, but what we need it to do.
But great things to add.
Arcade monitors. I have no idea what this will impact, but it would be GREAT. But I think this will force dos.
Dave Dribin:
I would add:
* Playing background music with the ability to skip between songs.
* Fully themable
* GUI configuration program
-Dave