Programmers/Developers

[bubbe]

I finaly find a few hour to play a little bit with DC and I must say it's pretty cool.
I will take a deeper look next time, when that will be I don't know. :| I come back to you then.

bye for now.

[Tarlanon]

I hate to burst any bubbles, but the core DC code is based on DirectX, and makes heavy use of the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFCs). Unfortunately, this pretty much restricts being able to build the code in anything but the MS Visual C++ compiler.

The good(?) news is that you can get a copy of MS Visual c++ 6.0 (what I have, and works fine) from e-bay for a fairly decent price sometimes. I got a used (but otherwise pristine) copy for about $60 US (retails at like $300).

But, if you can find a free environment that will actuall work for building DC, let us know. It would be great to be totally open source on this.

[bubbe]

Just as Tarlanon point out, you need MS visual C++ compiler.
This is a big problem for the future of this project. I'm sorry.

I haven't had time to watch the source yet, but if this is true then I can't really help you.
Maybe I get MCVC++ from school and then I can help, but I have never worked with MFC and don't have time to really learn it. :|

If I find more time, and feeling for it. I will learn MFC. But I don't think this will happen in the next 2 years. I have school, learning other things which is more importent for me at the moment.

I wish you luck though, bye.

[manikus]

Originally posted by Tarlanon: I hate to burst any bubbles, but the core DC code is based on DirectX, and makes heavy use of the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFCs). Unfortunately, this pretty much restricts being able to build the code in anything but the MS Visual C++ compiler.

That would explain some things. [img]tongue.gif[/img] Maybe I'm not as hopeless as I was beginning to think.

[Tarlanon]

Yup, it's unforntunate, but that is just the way things are. Back when DC was started, I have no doubt that the use of MS VC++ was absolutely the best choice available for getting everything DC has to offer done with a minimum of fuss. Back there, there were no well-developed interfaces to a computer's video/sound subsystems like DirectX, and the MFCs do simplify a lot of Windows programming.

The code for DC could be converted to all open source libraries these days, but the effort would be enormous considering the size of the current code base.

However, if someone was enterprising enough, they could try converting the CDX library to an open source library like SDL or something. That would be a start.

On a side note, you CAN get the CDX library to compile with some open source compilers. I've done it.

[LurchBrick]

I've been looking at both the SDL and Allegro libraries as possible replacements for MFC. I think getting us out of being reliant on MFC would encourage a lot more developers from taking on some work.

The equivalent commands in MFC are much easier to do in SDL or Allegro and it would enable us to be truly cross platform as Tarlanon pointed out.

Even though I'm just starting out with DC development, I believe this is a high priority for the future of DC to become easier to manage in the future.

[manikus]

Here's my 2 cents. [img]smile.gif[/img]

From what I've looked at, this seems to be a pretty large undertaking. My concern is that it must be fully implemented before it's any good to DC. I think it would be very confusing to be drawing on multiple libraries (not to mention inefficient).

I would love to avoid dependence on MFCs, but not to the point of not getting the project done. If this can be done so that it assists with the finishing of DC, I'm all for it. But, if it's something that will slow down or put off the finishing of DC, I think it should wait until after version 1.0 is achieved.

[SilentThief]

yeah, its going to be a major overhaul (and I know this without looking at the sourcecode; but instead in the thinking of the fact that the microsoft libraries will cover basics such as mouse movement and drawing to the window, as well as more detailed stuff such as playing wav files and memory allocation). Re-inventing the wheel is not going to be easy nor will it happen in any timely fashion. If anything like this were to be done, it would almost be easier to start anew.

That being said, if there was anyone out there who would be willing to do this, then we certainly wouldn't want to hold them back becuz of naysaying. Just don't expect the poor, besieged programmers who have given blood, sweat, and tears over to making DC what it is today to want to take on this at this time.

I think we should make the change (from microsoft developer c++) so as to offer DC to non-windows users; but I just don't see it happening soon (if ever).

SilentThief

[ 06-23-2007, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: SilentThief ]

[LurchBrick]

That's why I mentioned those specific libraries as they contain equivalent commands to the microsoft libraries. But I do agree that this is a major undertaking that shouldn't be put in the way of DC development.

Once I can get the source code to compile on my computer, I can start doing something about moving DC forward and squashing those bugs.

[manikus]

I tried to compile last night, thinking that I had worked out a way to use the free MS express edition, since it actually recognizes MFCs, but alas I didn't get it to compile.

Hopefully soon I will have a student copy of MS Visual 6 (I've just got to turn in my paperwork and get approval by the department chair.) Then, I'll be compiling and can help a little in the coding area as well.