Thread: I think we should have an open source interface

Mine will be OSS when it's in a partially releasable state. I'll have to check the licenses of the few bits of sample code I have used and rewrite them if necessary, but GPLv2 (Maybe.. v3) is the plan on the license.

Language is Visual Basic 6.0 and Macromedia Flash MX (7.0) Engine is Windows Media Player 9.0. There may end up being some VC++ support DLL's but as of now, everything I've needed to do has been accessible from VB.

Plans include:

Touchscreen-based input only.
Support for playing anything WMP9 can including DVD.
Support for FM Tuners (D-Link USB and others too)
Support for TV Tuners (Hauppage BT8XX initially)
Support for XM-PCR Tuner once I get one.
Support for BMW I-Bus (via external program)
Proper aspect ratio correction for 16:9 displays under all resolutions
Maybe a DirectShow filter for adaptive scaling of 4:3 video to 16:9 fullscreen.. If you own a 16:9 tv this is the mode that plays video fullscreen but peoples heads are still the right shape..
NO @)&#)@&! SKINS

Obviously, I'm all talk until I deliver something, which will be a while. Please don't flame me about the skins decision until I make a release.

i'm doing an OSS linux app

In order to do it you'd need someone to step forward and be a code master and be sure all code is up to standard. That person would be in charge with CVS which means everything that gets checked in must be up to standard.

The hard part about group work is keeping up with coding stanards. Any newbie programmer can grab a copy of VB6 and look at the WMP SDK and pump out something easily but his code will probably suck hardcore.

I use to be the codemanager for kisemet and its a lot of work if the app has a lot of people checking in changes into CVS. I'm not interested in doing a windows app at all since i'm finally getting rid of windows totally but you'd need to get everyone that is interested together and talk about goals and what language to use and set standards. I've noticed of those people that show interest 90% won't do a thing. People get very angry when you say their code is garbage and re-do it.

Thats the hardest thing about an OSS project is making sure everything is done the same.

I am very interested, but...I dont code (will be learning when I get home from the fscking desert). What are your goals on this project. Will it support plugins or will it be a fully stand alone project. There are some outstanding apps out there for *nix and I intend to start working on an interface to call these separate programs from a single gui. This will be how I start learning how to use C++ or perl. I would love for your input but I will not be able to work on it untill at least December and probably not untill march. If anything, I would be glad to work on the gui. I have found that there are many different ways to code one, so your / my options are open as to what it will pe coded in. Do you intend on using the same sdk for both the actual backend and gui or are you willing to work on them separately in diff languages?

I will volunteer to atleast do beta testing and packaging (both .rpm and .deb) if youll have me, but it will be a minimum of dec or march till I get back and can work on it. Hopefully my wife will be willing to help, she has some expierence in c++, perl, and http. If you find someone else that can do the gui that youd rather use, I am still here for beta/alpha testing. BTW, my wife is solid at doing gui's but not so confident about back ends. I will help in any way I can.

Also, will you be using sourceforge for the base site?

Sorry for the long post.

ScYThE, i have a good base going already. Its using python with the SDL libraries. Right now SDL does all the audio, but soon it'll be based around mplayer which I think is hands down the best media player out there PERIOD!

Check out the post at

linux app preview (windows too)

Its what I have so far. Right now I've run into some memory leaks but I have those pretty much ironed out.

I plan on using sourceforge for my project if they accept my entry. Once I get a good stable source I'm gonna put it on a CVS for anyone to check out and see if anyone wants to help. Python is very easy to pickup. I learned it in like 2 weeks.

Originally Posted by hijinks21

Python is very easy to pickup. I learned it in like 2 weeks.

But what was your programming experience before that How hard would it be for someone with NO experience?

FrodoPlayer will be open source after first release and the code is cleaned

unrealer33, it should be pretty easy. A LOT easier then picking up C. python is known as a C prototyping language meaning its a lot more real speak type language. Also i've been programming for years.. gees.. probably over 8 now. The hard part about python is its a OOP language so once you learn the concepts its easy to pick up

like this

C matching vars (if i remember)
if (x == "something") { do something }

python doing the same thing
if x is "something:
do something



I'm seeing a lot more people go OSS with their projects and I think its a great idea. Frodo could create a great base and come back a week later and someone could implement some kick *** option. The great part about OSS is that your code is out there for people to look at and improve and it'll only help your coding style.

i thought about starting my own project, but due to my limited gfx design abilities , i gave it up very soon.... i am coding in delphi, so if i can contribute anything , tell me.

z.1: build a good base that allows it to easily be skinable and people will skin it. Look at ME in the early days, carcomp just made a good app that people can skin. I suck at graphics also