Software : : Feelin release 050517
Posted By: Gofromiel. on 2005/5/17 8:45:08
Feelin is an object-oriented system (OOS) for the AmigaOS. It provides two things : A small shared library, fast and powerful (the object-system's core), offering everything needed to create a complete object-oriented environnement ; And an extensible system to create and maintain GUIs. Although Feelin comes with a lot of GUI oriented classes, Feelin is not limited to that, and can be used for a variety of projects.

20050512.png20050504.png

New preference item standard

Preference items are now defined in a CSS style format e.g. $button-frame (note well the dollar sign). The preference system has been partially rewritten and is now even more efficient.

Preview / Pop / Adjust

Created an adjust system with two new base classes FC_Adjust and FC_Preview. All previous adjust and pop classes are now subclasses of those two. FC_Adjust and FC_Preview subclasses are very modular, it's so simple now to create preview, popup and adjust classes.

Documents : XML / HTML

FC_XMLApplication has been split to create FC_XMLObject. FC_XMLDocument has been split to create FC_Document, which is now the base class for documents interpreting. FC_HTMLDocument is one of its new subclass. As FC_XMLDocument is used to parse XML code, FC_HTMLDocument can be used to parse HTML code (which is less formal).

XMLObjects

Feelin is not only able to create whole applications from XML files, but is now also able to create XML objects anywhere in your applications (and classes) very easily ! For example, all groups used by the preference editor are generated from XML files.

XMLApplications was a first step in the separation between code and GUI, now the user can do WHAT HE WANTS with its GUI.

FC_PreferenceGroup totaly rewritten

ALL preference groups (group objects used by the preference editor to adjust preferences) are now using XMLObjects ! XML files are available in the "Feelin:XMLSources/Feelin/Preferences" directory.

Only ONE tiny little line of code is needed to create a preference group !! It was already very easy to create preference groups, now everything is AUTOMATIC ! Thanks to the new preference items standard (e.g. $button-frame), the XML support and the FPreferenceScript type the whole preference process (object generation, loadin, saving and object disposal) is TOTALY AUTOMATIC !

A LOT of preference items have been added to a LOT of classes, making the GUI EXTREMELY configurable.

Layout & Rendering

At last, FC_ImageDisplay is capable of drawing GRADIENTS. This awaited improvement make the GUI really nice and soft.

Feelin GUI is now powered by a new layout rethinking system, the fourth and the last (I hope), it's just fabulous ! Rethink requests are now buffered, even if 20 rethinks are requested, only 1 redraw is performed ! And as usual only modified objects are updated.

Window expansion is nicer now. The window is expanded from all sides, thus a centered window expanding remains centered, instead of expanding only to the left and the bottom.

FC_Area and FC_Window are now subclasses of FC_Frame, which now handles the FA_Back on its own making refreshing just perfect :-) The complex refresh mode has been improved and is now fabulous !

Events

The new event code FV_EVENT_BUTTON_WHEEL of class FF_EVENT_BUTTON has been added and can be used to react on mouse wheel. Most classes are now uses this nice features. In fact, eveything that can be adjusted with the mouse can also be adjusted with mouse wheel e.g. lists, sliders, proportionals, cycles, event group pages !

Dialogs

Subclass of FC_Window, the new FC_Dialog class can be used to create a lot of commom requesters e.g. "Ok", "Yes | No", "Save | Use | Cancel"... Custom objects can be added very easily making dialog window fully customizable e.g. FC_PreferenceEditor is now a subclass of FC_Dialog.

FC_List

FC_List has been particuliarly updated and is now become as powerful as configurable. Column format is now defined in XML and a lot of features are available.

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With, 20 new classes (76 classes available), I've done my best to offer a more complete, powerful and pleasant framework for Amiga developers; and an attractive GUI for users that like customizing A LOT :-)
 
  • Targhan
    Joined: 2003/2/8
    Posts: 2833
    From: USA
    Why is this here?

    1. The author submitted it.

    2. The news post is well thought out and delivered, complete with pictures.

    3. It's 68k, but the author believes it works under MorphOS.

    4. The author has expressed an intrest in getting a MorphOS native version up and running (interested programmers apply within, eh?)

    That's why it's here. Personally, I am satisfied with MUI applications, as it's the accepted standard on MorphOS. However, I will not snub my nose at some other method because it isn't the 'standard' (nor should any of us - otherwise we would all be using PC clones 100% of the time).
    :idea:Targhan

    MorphOS portal? www.MorphZone.org
  • »2005/5/18 21:25
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  • Yokemate of Keyboards
    Yokemate of Keyboards
    Zylesea
    Joined: 2003/6/4
    Posts: 2057
    From:
    Well, it's not "just another MUI". From the first fast reading of the
    homepage, I must say it seems highly interesting. But I must admit I
    didn't understood too much yet. Anyway, seems to be worth to look at,
    if you like the object orientated approach. Have to read more,
    hopefully I get enlightend what's it all about.
    --
    http://via.bckrs.de

    Whenever you're sad just remember the world is 4.543 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie.
    ...and Matthias , my friend - RIP
  • »2005/5/18 21:36
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  • Butterfly
    Butterfly
    Ronald
    Joined: 2004/3/17
    Posts: 80
    From:
    I think it's hot. If it's got good docs then it should be very developper friendly. :-)
    - Ronald
  • »2005/5/18 21:50
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  • Just looking around
    Gofromiel
    Joined: 2005/2/14
    Posts: 12
    From: Toulouse, FRANCE
    @Targhan I posted on MorphZone because for each previous release I've received a lot of mails asking for a port on MOS/AROS and OS4. Since last release I've made Feelin open-source, thus people really interested could have a look at it from the inside.

    You may preferer MUI, but Feelin is not *just* a GUI toolkit. It may replace both BOOPSI and MUI (or Reaction) which are both BOOPSI extension btw.

    To be short, Feelin have its own memory management system, a dynamic ID allocation system (methods, attributes and attributes values are defined as strings, numerical representations are created at run time), an extremely customizable GUI, and a incredible XML support.

    Feelin is the only framework available on Amiga able to create application from XML files on the fly. Feelin can create whole applications as well as incorporate objects defined by XML sources. For exemple, all preference groups are created form XML sources.

    This unique feature gives the user a total control over its application. And the application development is easier and clean since GUI and core are splited.

    But this is all a matter of taste :-) If it's just a problem with standards... it's a bit sad.
  • »2005/5/19 3:17
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  • Targhan
    Joined: 2003/2/8
    Posts: 2833
    From: USA
    @Gofromiel

    Well, I think I meant in general, not so much in particular. I just remember the days of dozens of GUI toolkits and never knowing which one was needed (bgui, titon, etc). From everything I gathered from your project, it looks really interesting - In particular the XML parsing and app building side.

    I also noted that I would *not* snub my nose at something because it isn't "standard". Besides, if the XML side of it is powerful enough (maybe add a pipe to it of some kind?) it could become a great tool for the arexx writers around.

    I guess until we have a good couple of applications done with Feelin, it is all conjecture anyway. So how about it someone? Spew forth a gui for mplayer or something?
    :idea:Targhan

    MorphOS portal? www.MorphZone.org
  • »2005/5/19 16:17
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  • Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Priest of the Order of the Butterfly
    Joined: 2003/6/28
    Posts: 979
    From:
    The problem about people not like it is easier and sadder: Not looks like MUI, and MorphOS skins seems not change it aspect... They say that Feelin is ugly...

    People want more the aspect than really interesing features, sad but true. Visual stuff is over-valued...
  • »2005/5/19 19:30
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