GreatPirateEra wrote:

AWOL is not taken lightly, Ss4gogeta0.

you lost me

Lummox JR wrote:

Squizzle wrote:

Lummox JR, any plans to create a plugin system and API for the IDE? A plugin system would put customizations and extensions into the hands of the community which would allow them to add additional features to the IDE, like intellisense.

Plugins no, API yes. I really want to make map editing easier to work with via outside tools, or even make it feasible to do map editing in something like a .dmb file. That's a future goal, anyway.

Since byond is in C++, you could try using boost or swig. They're C++ libraries to extend and glue interfaces to high level languages. An example of a game that uses boost.python libraries is Civilization IV, which allows for extensible modding through python and XML.

You could work swig or boost.python into the dream daemon binary and have it as an optional API. Developers could take advantage of a separate runtime environment and extend what they can do for the more complex dreams, without needing the source.

Ter13 wrote:

Boost is insanely huge.

Yeah that's why I mentioned Swig as well. Swig is ~ 6 mb

Edit: boost is an all in one portfolio of different C++ libraries, and happens to have the boost.python library.

Swig is just a library.

That's why the size difference.

Edit 2: on the clientside, Lummox could look into awesomium. Instead of relying on explorer and maintaining levels of compatibility that even Microsoft has ditched, byond could have its own integrated browser.

You could guarantee that ads were played and viewed, and since you'd have a reliable internalized browser that supports things like flash and html5, you could extend them to dream maker code functionality.

An example of what you could do with that is vastly improve interfaces and interactivity.

As a bonus, since your html5 client for byond requires you to run it in an html5 compatible browser, you've by definition guaranteed compatibility to anything you change for the desktop client on the html5 side.

Been here since I was 12 (many, many alts) and have been around for nearly every major event that occurred in BYOND post the initial couple years. I remember spending every night logging in to play Mystic Journey, chat on wiz_chat, play Maeva, etc.

You gave me a gift in the fact that it was because I loved these games that I wanted to make them. I got to begin learning how to code at a young age, and it's only gotten better since. I got to work on Casual Quest with Iain and continue learning as I entered university, and now, 11 years later, here I am working for a major tech company in Palo Alto. I fell in love with compilers because of BYOND, and am actively working in language development because I thought BYOND brought something to me that I'd like to help continue establishing and progressing.

Honestly, I've attributed almost all of this to my humble beginnings here at BYOND, and it's for these reasons that though I'm not a regular user here, I make sure to pop in from time to time just to see what's new.

You might see yourself as not a financial success, Tom, but you have given myself and many, many others opportunities that might not have been possible had you not followed your dream. In that light, I'd like to pay it forward and continue to advance this field in a way that can give awareness to others the same way you did. So you aren't a failure, you are a huge success in the eyes of many of us, and I am incredibly grateful.

I hope this is not a true goodbye - it actually slightly makes me want to cry. Best of luck, Tom.

@ Lummox: You've been an amazing member of the community. Though I don't think we've ever chatted personally (sounds difficult to do that in over 11 years of being in the same community), but you've made solid improvements and you are the natural fit to take over. We know you'll do well.

Well if it isn't the dead rising!

My respects to you Tom!

I remember you sent me a book , the DM book and even signed it. It was cool. Haha!

I check on BYOND every few years. It saddens to me to see the community still so small with the internet so big , yet inspires me to see it still going strong.

Thank you both for your years of dedication, and good luck in your future endeavors. A little late, but still a bit early for Lee's millions. =)