I've been thinking a lot about where to take xLights next and I need feedback from the group.
In your reply, please RANK the features you would like to see from most important to least. Or if you like xLights just the way it is, no more changes, please state that. Justifications and constructive criticism are always welcome. As with any free software, there are no guarantees, but this will help prioritize my time. You may include in your list any of the items below, or feel free to add others (as long as you perceive the time investment to be modest).
So here are some possibilities I've thought of, in no particular order:
1) Updated Mac version - the version on SourceForge is way out of date. I have been working on this one, but have run into some bugs that I haven't been able to solve yet. If you vote for this one, would you be ok if the updated version was for Intel-based Macs only?
2) A compiled Linux version. Please specify which version of Linux if you pick this one.
3) Merge the Scheduler and Tester programs so that you can run tests while your show is waiting to run (currently you have to exit the scheduler to run tests).
4) Create an iPhone/iPad/iPod touch version of the Tester program. This would be E1.31 ONLY - so only compatible with the Etherdongle, ECG devices, and some of the projects on DIYC.
5) Create an Android version of the Tester program. This would be E1.31 ONLY - so only compatible with the Etherdongle, ECG devices, and some of the projects on DIYC.
6) Add startup parameters to the scheduler, so you could invoke it from the command line or from the Windows scheduler and have it play a particular playlist for a specified duration. The GUI would still be displayed, but you could give it direction on what to do via the parameters.
7) Since LOR controllers, and now D-Light controllers, speak DMX, I would like to remove support for the LOR and D-Light protocols. People with these controllers would have to run them in DMX mode. Even though people might bemoan the lack of flexibility, I think they will really like the improved responsiveness (i.e. no lag) in their shows. Secondly, if we take this step, then I can simplify the scheduler to only play xLights sequence files. LOR and Vixen sequences would need to be run through the xLights converter. This would make the xLights coding much simpler (I vote for this one
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8 ) Support for DMX Universes in LOR sequences (e.g. in S3, you select Insert Device, then select DMX Universe). I am going to do this one anyway.
9) Add support for LSP sequences in the xLights converter.
10) Display real channel names in the Tester, instead of "Channel 123".
11) Create a program to display, and possibly make simple modifications to, an xLights sequence file.
Please note that I think it is highly unlikely that xLights will support Vixen 3.0 sequences in 2012, unless Vixen 3.0 includes some sort of export to Vixen 2.1 format. Well there you have it. I look forward to reading your responses.
Matt