Memo device for players... is it possible?

[challism]

I would love to have the ability to add memos to the player stack (similar to Selig's ReMark and Jiggery Pokery's TMAs). Unfortunately, non-player devices cannot be stacked between players. Is it possible to create a player that serves no other purpose than displaying text? If so, I can't imagine that would be terribly difficult to create. I know nothing about making REs or coding, but I wonder if this would be a good project to get my feet wet. I would offer it for free in the shop. Anyway.... is it possible and can anybody point me in the right direction to get started?

..... or.... even better... would any of you coding whizzes consider building it?

Thanks

[Loque]

I want that too and would be surprised if it is not possible. Hopefully with exchangeable colors.

[challism]

I think a lot of people would want and use it.

[pongasoft]

That is indeed a very simply project. You can create a blank player with all the proper wiring at RE Quickstart.

Then it is just a matter of adding a property for the text. An example being A/B Switch:

1. define a gui owned property of type string (in motherboard_def.lua):

Code: Select all

custom_properties = jbox.property_set {
  gui_owner = {
    properties = {
     memo = jbox.string {
    persistence = "patch",
    }
    }
  },
  

2. then you add it in device_2D.lua / hdgui_2D.lua as a jbox.value_display (example) and you refer it as "/custom_properties/memo"

And that is pretty much it

[Billy+]

And that's the easy bit done, now for the hard part.

Finding a registered developer willing to publish, if only there was some way to have a community/open source release platform.

[visheshl]

oye pongasoft why dont you do it ? theres demand, supply it

[joeyluck]

oye pongasoft why dont you do it ? theres demand, supply it

Well it would be a great project for someone just getting started. It would also help realize some of the purpose of this RE development forum.

[visheshl]

oye pongasoft why dont you do it ? theres demand, supply it

Well it would be a great project for someone just getting started. It would also help realize some of the purpose of this RE development forum.

you want me to do it ? I'll give it a shot...

[joeyluck]

Well it would be a great project for someone just getting started. It would also help realize some of the purpose of this RE development forum.

you want me to do it ? I'll give it a shot...

I think it's great if anybody is inspired in this subforum to give developing a shot.

[challism]

Well it would be a great project for someone just getting started. It would also help realize some of the purpose of this RE development forum.

you want me to do it ? I'll give it a shot...

Yes, give it a shot! Are you a registered developer with RS?

And that's the easy bit done, now for the hard part.

I think we found a developer.

[Billy+]

Yes but are they setup to publish and distribute, that's the biggest barrier.

[challism]

Yes but are they setup to publish and distribute, that's the biggest barrier.

I don't think it's as big a barrier as you think. I've even got a developer account with RS. It's not hard to do. We have a ton of developers on this site, some of whom are moderators of RT, that would probably be willing to release it. I would release it under my username, not a problem. And it's a huge form of goodwill for any developer to release a free RE (also free advertising and branding).

[Billy+]

I was making reference to the legal requirements,

From my limited understanding you need to be a tax registered company, which is a massive barrier to the casual developer.

[challism]

Again, I don't think it's as big a barrier as you think. A legal business can be started within a matter of minutes in most US states. You just need to file a form with the Sec of State and you've got yourself a business. It's quite easy.

I think the process is much more difficult in some other countries, but it's easy in the US (I'm not talking about a corporation, just a basic sole-prop). But that's a moot point because most active developers already have a legit business entity. And if this device were to be free, there wouldn't be anything to report, anyway. So again, a moot point.

[pongasoft]

Again, I don't think it's as big a barrier as you think. A legal business can be started within a matter of minutes in most US states. You just need to file a form with the Sec of State and you've got yourself a business. It's quite easy.

I think the process is much more difficult in some other countries, but it's easy in the US (I'm not talking about a corporation, just a basic sole-prop). But that's a moot point because most active developers already have a legit business entity. And if this device were to be free, there wouldn't be anything to report, anyway. So again, a moot point.

It might be "easy" but it is not free... My pongasoft LLC legal business cost me money every single year and you also need to file some legal documents with the state every year. Price and difficulty highly depend on the state. If you don't live in that state, then you need a registered agent which also costs money.

That being said, I believe that if you are not going to charge for the device you no longer need a real company. That was not the case when I released my first RE, but I think this has changed since then.

Second, yes I could develop this RE, but like @joeyluck said, I think it is a great starter project and I think somebody who wants to learn should do it

[challism]

Yeah, if nobody else is going to do it, I wouldn't mind working on such a project. I've got a good friend who has agreed to help teach me coding. This would be an ideal project to get my feet wet getting started with some kind of "coding." And since there aren't any sales actually taking place, I would question the requirement of having a company. But if a company is required, this wouldn't require starting a corp/LLC; I could simply start a new sole-prop in a matter of minutes (which is free to setup and maintain in my state, and doesn't require an agent or annual reports... easy peasy especially if there aren't any actual sales).