LED-Wiz Dll on line! (with a sample of use in Delphi)

[youki]

Hi,

I released a Simple version of a Dll to Drive directly LED-Wiz Devices.

That's a very simple DLL , only few Kilobyte (52k) .

The DLL is provided "as is" with a sample program (with source in Delphi).

Source of the DLL are not avalaible , don't ask for.

Please read the readme file.

The Dll can be found on my website (http://www.atomicfe.com) , on the Download page.  (called Simple LED-Wiz Dll).

[gamenut]

Will this work with mamewah??
Idon't want to figure out another FE if i can get away with it.

[loadman]

Thanks Youki 

FYI Your Test app does not seem to recognise my Wiz #2. Only Wiz #1. I know Wiz #2 is working OK as I can talk to it fine using Randys OCX. Weird Ehh?

Will this work with mamewah?? 
I don't want to figure out another FE if i can get away with it.

If and when MinWah chooses to support it I guess 

You can use it for all kind of tools you want without my authorisation EXCEPT for a Front End.
Minwah , MameWah's Author is welcome to use this DLL for his front end.

Not that it matters, but to quell any speculation could you please tell us why you came to that decision. 

[headkaze]

You can use it for all kind of tools you want without my authorisation EXCEPT for a Front End.
Minwah , MameWah's Author is welcome to use this DLL for his front end.

Not that it matters, but to quell any speculation could you please tell us why you came to that decision. 

  I'll talk to RandyT myself and write a DLL that ANYONE can use in ANY front end.

EDIT: Hey loadman, why not try MikeQ's dll here? It supports multiple LEDWiz devices and has hotswap capabilities. I think it's  better than youki's anyway.

[youki]

FYI Your Test app does not seem to recognise my Wiz #2. Only Wiz #1. I know Wiz #2 is working OK as I can talk to it fine using Randys OCX. Weird Ehh?

Hum.. surely a bug in hte DLL that one, i'm going to correct. I have only one ledwiz.

Not that it matters, but to quell any speculation could you please tell us why you came to that decision. 

You can use it freely except for a Front End without my authorisation.  They just have to ask.

Minwah has my Authorisation by default because i like this guy and i like how it support his users and his mentality. And he loves Austin Mini! 

And you can perfectly use it to make a tool that any FrontEnd can run without my Authorisation. (ex : CPV2, Johnny5)

Anyway a Front Author shouldn't have the need to use my DLL. He is perfectly able to make one himself or use the OCX.

My goal is not to make easier the life to "competitor" , just to help other make some great utilility tool supporting LED-Wiz.

And i don't want my code be used in Commercial , Shareware or Nagware software.

And i said  , anyway the Randy's OCX is very good and perfectly usable and Does more than my DLL or as suggest HeadKaze use the MikeQ's one.

FYI, nothing force me to make this DLL public. So this kind of " " is inappropriate.

[loadman]

Thanks Youki... Was just wondering

[youki]

Ok, i updated the file on my server.  It correct the problem with other LED-WIz...  It was a stupid error...  i put a - somewhere instead of a +... 

You can take the new one, it should work with up to 16 ledwiz.

[loadman]

You can take the new one, it should work with up to 16 ledwiz.

Yep Wiz #2 is found and working

FYI the Fade button acts differently to the ALL ON/ ALL Off Buttons in that it fades LEDS on Wiz #1 first then Leds on Wiz #2 (

Minwah has my Authorisation by default because i like this guy and i like how it support his users and his mentality. And he loves Austin Mini!

My first car was a Yellow Mini which was a funny look as I am a tall fellow. Can I make a FE now   

[youki]

FYI the Fade button acts differently to the ALL ON/ ALL Off Buttons in that it fades LEDS on Wiz #1 first then Leds on Wiz #2 (

Yes, my Delphi code does that.  If you want change , you can change the imbrication of loops.  Invert the :

For i:=1 to 16
  For pbaval:=48 downto 0

Loops to have

For pbaval:=48 downto 0
  For i:=1 to 16

My first car was a Yellow Mini which was a funny look as I am a tall fellow. Can I make a FE now   

A yellow one??...humm...not a real.. the real one are Brown ones!... so sorry... no FE for you! 
 

[loadman]

A yellow one??...humm...not a real.. the real one are Brown ones!... so sorry... no FE for you! 

It was brown but my Dad sprayed it yellow so I would not get hit by a truck.

If you wan change that you can change the imbrication of loops

OK I need all the Delphi tips I can get right now.  I'm gonna hang in there

[youki]

OK I need all the Delphi tips I can get right now.  I'm gonna hang in there

If you need tips or have question. Feel Free to ask , if i can i will help you.

[tspeirs]

My goal is not to make easier the life to "competitor" , just to help other make some great utilility tool supporting LED-Wiz.

And i don't want my code be used in Commercial , Shareware or Nagware software.

I assume that means me then

Youki, I think you need a vacation (or a BJ)! (Just kidding).

Chill mate, it's not a war!

 

PS: When your hosting reaches a terrabyte a month, or you need to pass up paying work in order to continue, believe me yourll want some extra cash too!

[youki]

Hi Tom,

I just disagree with the Nag Screen.  I consider that  exactly as a shareware in the way , where your software has a limitation  and you have to pay to remove it.

Everyone need some extra cash!     But that's clear you want have profit with your sofware.(It 's understable, it is not  a reproach).

So distribute it as a commercial software or a shareware .   Or if it is not the case Remove your Nag Screen. , and let user contribute without being "strongly" encouraged. 

When your hosting reaches a terrabyte a month

Terrabyte a month of bandwith???  ...   Do you host .NET on your server? 

I have a average of 60 gigabyte a month.    How cost your provider?   Just the hosting cost me 120 euros/year.
(for a limit of 500gigabyte a month)

Anyway, i'm sure you don't need my DLL.     And if really you want use it in GameEX , remove your Nagscreen and you are most than welcome to use it!.   I really appreciate your work and support you do.

 

[tspeirs]

Thanks for keeping it friendly.

To answer a few questions and misconceptions.

Yes I do host it on .net, (and contrary to what some people think it pisses all over a linux server). I'm up to about 500GB at the moment, I have to spend a lot on hosting now not just bandwidth but because of quality of service. The GameEx and Spesoft site are on a 100MB pipe and dedicated server now, it was something I had to do I had no choice if I wanted to keep the site up.

I'm not saying I dont want to make a profit from GameEx, because this motivates me just as much as having people use it, but have I made a profit, what do you think? The anwser is not much and its been nagware a year. Of course I've got much more donations than that but we are talking about profit.

Its not about profit, its just about "funding".


Cheers!


Anyway to sum up its not about the dll, its just if I wrote it I would not put such a restriction on it, its a little off in my opinion considering what it is and what it does and what it works with. Just sends a little bit of a wrong signal and mentalitiy in my humble opinion, and it was obviously specifically aimed at GameEx.

[tspeirs]

-

[tspeirs]

Sorry Youki, just wanted to apologise if that was a little harsh. I was out of order there, sorry.

[Circo]

In your defense tom, thanks for all that hosting you do for me at no charge.. Now you two get along 

Youki, it's good to see more support for the led wiz I have mine installed and really do not currently use it.

[headkaze]

I've been a little curious about Youki's whole attitude about other developers on here lately. The way I've always seen it, is that other coders on here create the tools and FE's and software to make our cab's cool. I see us in the same category, I don't see us as "competition". If this was some big industry where everyone was making lots of money I could understand the whole anti-competition behaviour. But like I said, I see us on par and it's the same in other coding scenes I'm in, were a community who help each other out. Although some people seem to think competition is healthy for the community, I see it as being somewhat childish. This is a hobby for most people afterall and noone is getting rich out of it.

I also fail to see why people expect software to be free when the same engineering, time and sometimes money is spent in creating software. People don't expect Randy to give away his LEDWiz hardware for free with a paypal logo attached to it asking for donations, do they? If people want to distribute their software for "free" without a nagscreen then that is up to them. But don't put down other coders who decide to go that way. Most of the time registration only just covers expenses in hosting, domain's, traffic etc. A nagscreen is not commerical software, especially on a cab when you boot it up once in a day and that's it. Secondly the crippleware aspect of GameEx in particular only applies to a few of the extra features you often don't find in other FE's (Eg. CD Ripper, Karaoke). The basic functionality of GameEx without registration is like every other FE out there for free. If you think waiting a few seconds on startup is annoying you can always pay the small reg fee to remove it. It's also a great way to thank the author for his hard work. Personally I don't see the big deal in doing that.

[youki]

Here is my point of view. I'm going to try to be clear. Because i think sometimes i'm missunderstood.

1st Concerning software i make in general (out of the context of mame and FE) :

-I don't want somebody use my software AND receive money for it  without having a compensation.
 In another word, If you have money thanks to my software, i want have a part a that money.

-I thing i have the right to decide how my software is used.

Now, In the context of Mame and other emulator.

-Mame is (until now) Free , Most of other emulator are free.
Why you should have to pay for a "simple" menu software to choose a game and run a free emulator?
Honestly give your money to Emulator developpers not to Front End Devs.  They are the real magician who makes our dream true!

-Another thing, i'm sure that some others FE Dev have thought to sell their FE  (Shareware or else) and the fact that some other good quality FE exists for Free avoid to see this kind of thing Happens too often. 

2nd concerning my "Attitude about other developers" as said Headkaze.

I really appreciate other developers  and i always encourage all guys starting in develepoment and help them when i can.(you can ask Loadman i think, despite the fact he is a Mala fan, i gave him some Delphi code and tips).  But as everybody there are  some Guys i appreciate and others less.  So i can be harsh with some guy , but it is not linked to the Fact they are Developper or even FE Developper.   There are some character traits i can bear, that's all.


3rd concerning the "competition" :

Yes, there is a competition between FE.  Ok, it is not a business one . But more a technical one.  And that competition is good. It pull Front End qualities and features to the high.  And finally the user is the winner!
Each Front End Dev would like their FE be considered as the "Best".  Even if a "Best" FE for all user won't exists i think.
And honnestly , i play with that competition , It is funny to see how some FE Dev react a some features i introduce and the opposite is true too.  Just a play.


Concerning GameEX :

I'm the first to say it is a very good software. i can understand that it could be a Shareware, because it is more than a simple Front End (I don't say anymore it is a media center , because HeadKaze don't like that).
But most of user HERE , are more interrested by the Front End aspect.  And this part should be totally Free, without Nagscreen.  So why don't cripple some other features (which are already crippled if i well understood headkaze) and remove the NagScreen.

To answer to Tom

it was obviously specifically aimed at GameEx.

In fact, i had more Maximus Arcade in my mind.

In conclusion:

I think, it is the last time i post on that forum to propose a Dll or a tool  to help other developpers.

[loadman]

-I thing i have the right to decide how my software is used

.

I just think it came across as a bit 'inflammatory' to  'POST' that one FE developer could use it and nobody else. I think that was always going to spark a reaction as it 'seemed' against the spirit of the hobby. Maybe it would have been better to post nobody can use it in a FE please and let Minwah know via PM that it was OK for him.. I Dunno

I can't really comment of GameEx as I have not tried that yet (But I WILL!) 

 That's all, Apart from that you make some very valid points 

[headkaze]

loadman: I replied to your PM, I really only made a comparison with LEDWiz to emphasise the difference of expectations people have when it comes to paying for software and hardware. I'm not to say creating hardware like LEDWiz is like writing software. Sorry for the confusion.

-Mame is (until now) Free , Most of other emulator are free.
Why you should have to pay for a "simple" menu software to choose a game and run a free emulator?
Honestly give your money to Emulator developpers not to Front End Devs.  They are the real magician who makes our dream true!

Of course Mame and the other emu developers are the magicians that make our hobby possible. And I agree, you should donate to them. But that doesn't take away from the work involved in writing a FE also. Who says that people who donate to the Mame project then can't afford to donate money to their FE author? Have you ever received a donation Youki? Your being a hypocrite if you have, and I have seen the Paypal donate button on your site. Asking for donations on your website is no different to a nag screen, one is just more annoying than the other.

There are some character traits i can bear, that's all.

Yeah I hear you there!

And this part should be totally Free, without Nagscreen.  So why don't cripple some other features (which are already crippled if i well understood headkaze) and remove the NagScreen.

This comes down to personal taste and opinion. I would prefer to have less options crippled than no nag screen. Your making it sound like you have to wait half an hour for the FE to start up! I mean have a little patience, it's like 10 seconds or something, probably the same time it takes to boot Windows!

[youki]

Have you ever received a donation Youki?

Yes, i have donation. Some in money, other in items for my collections , others people gave me some time to help me.
And i really appreciate that. thanks to all!

Your being a hypocrite if you have, and I have seen the Paypal donate button on your site. Asking for donations on your website is no different to a nag screen, one is just more annoying than the other.

I think there  is a big difference.

The nagscreen and crippleware is like :

ok  i give you a car (said of a value of 5000$)  for Free  , but the tank is empty , and a tire is flat,  the first  gas station is at 10 km .  If you want i give you some fuel and repair the tire, give me a Donation of 3000$ .

asking for a donation on a website is like :

Ok, i give you a car , it is fully operationnal you have fuel and all is ok . Use it freely  and if you like it , you can if you whish give me a donnation of the amount you want. It will be really appreciated.

Anyway, Tom is free to do what  he wants as i am and as you are.

I just disagree with the Nagscreen concept for a FE , I don't force you or every body else  to agree with me.

And i did'nt want speak about that. I just post  a DLL at the begining....

If FE Dev wanted use my DLL , he had just to ask me by PM or mail   and if i disagree i would said why and we could discuss.

I remind you , i just wrote in my readmy that to use my DLL for a Front End it needs my authorization. That's all.

Minwah having it by Default.

[headkaze]

ok  i give you a car (said of a value of 5000$)  for Free  , but the tank is empty , and a tire is flat,  the first  gas station is at 10 km .  If you want i give you some fuel and repair the tire, give me a Donation of 3000$ .

That better describes crippleware that has basic functionality you expect from a FE removed. So a better analogy would be a $5000 car for free where you will only get an extra subwoofer at the back and turbo for the donation fee. And it takes 10 seconds for the car to start after you turn the key. *shugs* well you started the car thing!

For the record I originally started setting up MameWah on my cab and even helped WinWah by giving him the source for volume control. If MameWah was just a little bit easier to setup at the time, the chances are I would still be using it as my FE and writing tools for it. But when I tried GameEx, I donated the money to get the reg version and remove the nag screen. I had no issue in doing that, as I had already paid a heap of money on getting my cab setup anyway and paying for the software didn't seem extrodinary.

But lets just agree to disagree otherwise this thread will never end. It's nice of you to make a dll for LEDWiz and share it with other developers as you have no obligation to do that. There are two other options for LEDWiz now anyway. Mala for example has a new plugin using the official ocx.

[headkaze]

Youki: I don't mean to rub it in, but I notice your using my chankast_launch wrapper in your Chankast plug and play module. It's okay I give you permission to use it 

[youki]

Oups...sorry, i didn't make myself  that  plug'n play module . And i have to admit i didn't look what there is inside exactly.

Anyway , thanks for the permission.