Idea Console MFD

[sfpilot]

This idea is quite simple. what if there was an MFD that allowed direct access to the api through a basic C++ console. this would allow developers to experiment with the API in real time. i know this is possible to make things like this in Java, however with very little experience in C++ i don't know how you would approach this problem. i think this would make a very nice add on for beginner developers because they can play around with the api without having to deal with the compilers.

i think the hardest part of developing this add on would be the interpreter. it might be easier to use C instead of C++. in the case of C, i can help a lot. i know a decent amount of C.

if this sounds like a good idea to anyone else, please let me know. i am happy to help develop this add on.

 

[agentgonzo]

It's already possible for the developer to use C++ in realtime. It's called the Visual Studio debugger that allows you to modify code and inspect variables whilst the programme is running. IMO it's far more useful than a bespoke C++ compiler/interpreter will ever be.

An interesting notion though.

 

[Face]

This idea is quite simple. what if there was an MFD that allowed direct access to the api through a basic C++ console. this would allow developers to experiment with the API in real time. i know this is possible to make things like this in Java, however with very little experience in C++ i don't know how you would approach this problem. i think this would make a very nice add on for beginner developers because they can play around with the api without having to deal with the compilers.

I think the upcoming lua interpreter is even better in this regards. AFAIK it already comes with a console and is a core Orbiter feature.

With a completed Orbiter.NET, the idea could be rather easily implemented, but it is nowhere near a release state...

regards,
Face

 

[sfpilot]

the point of the MFD though would be to not have to use an ide. the VS debugger is nice if your already in the process of developing it, but the debugger is a very advanced tool, if you just want to experiment with the api, or maybe try out an idea you have, or even just change the situation a bit(i know the scenario editor can do that part), thats where the Console MFD comes in handy.

i'm also pretty sure you would not need to make or use an entire compiler to use the console, all you need is the interpreter. and you could probably get a prebuilt online.

another possibility for this add on, might be the implementation of a scripting language, this would allow you to make an add on in a scripting language (such as JavaScript). or you test an idea for an add on out in the scripting language, before implementing it in C++. the advantage to scripting languages, is you don't have to compile anything.

in fact, you could even use the Google V8 JavaScript Engine

---------- Post added at 04:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:16 PM ----------

i have actually worked with .net framework and scripting, its farely easy to do. just curious though, can you make MFD's with Orbiter.net? that is really what i'm interested in.

what got me thinking about this is an Open source project i recently braught back from the dead, jme game console

it is actually designed for a java gaming engine, but it has an enormous amount of capability. with this library, you can alter your game in real time in almost any scripting language you want. you could even use groovy or jython if you wanted to. i find it quite amazing, and thaught that it might be usefull to have something of that sort for orbiter.

 

[Face]

i have actually worked with .net framework and scripting, its farely easy to do. just curious though, can you make MFD's with Orbiter.net? that is really what i'm interested in.

Yes, as soon as the appropriate MFD callbacks/functions are wrapped, you could do MFDs as well in .NET...

But why not consider the built-in scripting language blessed by the doc's hand - Lua?

regards,
Face

 

[Urwumpe]

LUA is great for such tasks, I would not ignore it.