News: What I've Been Up To

Friday, February 08, 2013

If you've read my blog in the past, you can tell the URL is different now. Sadly I lost access to the old URL, so you probably had to dig up the new one manually. As annoying as this change over has been, the good side is I now have a good, stable, and REAL URL! So from this point on people shouldn't ever have to bookmark anything new for my blog or the Z-Net site.

This may not seem like to big of a deal to some, but it is to me. It's like I've finally taken a step up with my websites, and further legitimized my projects.

Riding this new high, I've done some work on Z-Net I again. Mostly just adding new, but small features. It's nice to be working on a project again thats done to the point that ZNI is, because I can see and use the results of that work better. The Z-Net 3 project is so far away from anything even shareable for alpha testing that theres just little enjoyment out of running it. While the code quality in ZN3 is much more superior, ZNI is a better program at this point. I won't lie, it's ratty code has been a pain to work with after improving my skills since last year, but at least I'm familiar with the code to the point were I don't get stuck or slowed down because I can't figure out how to do something.

Well, after I worked on a few features, and improved some of the code, something dawned on me. Last year before I officially started working on ZNI, when I was waiting on the poll results, I was working on my Z-Band code. It was integrated into the ZNI client at the time, and once I officially stared work on ZNI I backed up the scraps of Z-Band code, and disabled/removed it all. Because of that, I've never tinkered with it since then, and showing anyone of a demo of my work wouldn't be easy. Well, what dawned on me was that I could try integrating the code into ZNI in a way that I could easily have all the Z-Band code disabled/not compiled when I want it, leaving ZNI builds functioning normally. But when I wanted to test or refine the Z-Band code, I could easily enable it all and compile it.

So after a bit of work, I got the Z-Band code running again, and in the most modern version of the ZNI source! From there I've had to make some tweaks after figuring out the state I left the code in, just to get it working properly again. Then I realized it wasn't the most convenient setup to use, because I just made it as a proof of concept. So I've made some changes to make it simpler to understand and use. Before both the client and host had to click a register button at some point before the host presses start. That never felt right, so I've now made check boxes labeled "Play Registered Match". When those are checked, then the host presses the start button, the normal ZSNES launch process will get interrupted while the users get their match registration automatically submitted to the server. Once the match is confirmed with the server, the ZSNES launch process will resume. While technically this requires the same amount of interaction from the users, it just feels easier, and much more proper.

I still need to add a password entry field somewhere (it links up with your forum.z-net.us account, so a password is needed or else people could easily tank your ratings or otherwise impersonate you in tournaments). Also status messages of the registration process could use some work. In some cases it's to spammy, and other cases it's just not informative enough.

Once I tweak those last little bits I'll finish up some work on the normal ZNI code where I've been integrating some small features I've seen requested. I may also try my hand at posting a video of Z-Band in action, since I've never posted a video before that I've created, and I've realized before that Z-Band can't properly be showcased in pics.

News: New Website for Z-Net

Saturday, January 19, 2013

I got around to making a new blog to replace the lost Z-Net website. Just as I said in my last post, I didn't put much time into it. At the moment it's mostly just a copy of the theme and layout I designed for my personal blog. I changed the background and dusted off an old header title banner though, to make it stand out as much as I can.

I would like to restore the image slide show or screenshots at some point. That and the forums are all that's really lost from the old site. Doing so may require more effort then other stuff though, so it will take some time for me to decide on what I'll do.

A link to the new site is back on the left. The old urls at this time, mostly work. The "www.z-net.cu.cc" version of the url works, but "z-net.cu.cc" is still pointing here despite me changing it not to, and giving it some time. The oldest url, "z-net.ne1.net" points there properly too.

So, check things out! Hopefully this all works out to be a positive thing like I think it might be! =)

News: Z-Net Homepage

Monday, January 14, 2013

I'm declaring the Z-Net website officially gone for the foreseeable future. I'm sick of bad free webhosts, as if its not one thing its another causing them to be horrible. I do want a website for the Z-Net projects, especially Z-Net 3. But I'll just have to wait for that.

For now, as some can probably tell, I've reverted my personal blog back to being the home of the Z-Net I project. There's a new simple page available for it in the menu on the left, and the z-net.cu.cc and z-net.ne1.net urls once again point here.

In time I may make a blog specifically dedicated to Z-Net that will remain as the homepage until I can get a good web host to bring back a real website and forums. But if I do it won't be designed very well since I don't want to put much of my time on it.

For now, all that's really lost is the forums. But those weren't used much anyway.

News: Z-Net Website Down

Friday, January 11, 2013

I know about the Z-Net website being offline. This is just further evidence that I badly need a new server. My account with the host got suspended due to false assumptions, and I'm working to get it reactivated. This is sadly what you have to deal with when using free webhosts, something which I'm stuck with until the site and this blog can start generating enough ad revenue to pay for a real one.

For now, here's a link to the backup mirror for the Z-Net I v1.1 download.

Z-Net I v1.1 Download

EDIT: Getting the website back up isn't going well. Responces from the support staff are slow, and when they come, so far are idiotic. So until things are resolved I've changed the z-net.cu.cc and z-net.ne1.net urls to now point o this blog.

Things may take time before the changes are applied completely.

News: Z-Net 3 Progress... Part 3

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Things really have been going slow. Thanks to the horribly designed recent WoW expansion, the free time that WoW and my coding projects share has mostly been taken up by WoW. It it hasn't been until recently that I've had only little to do on WoW each day so that I could have more time to code. However, I did still find time here and there, but didn't get much done.

Since my last progress update, I tried working on some menubar stuff and hit some roadblocks. That got me sick of custom GUI work altogether for the moment, so I decided to work on building the basic window setup for the client with the goal of being able to plop in my IRC code as soon as possible. I've found that even when I intend to slow my development down, I still need to see results at a better rate then I have been, or else I have a hard time getting interested in working on things. So getting the client running as a crappy IRC client feels more like progress than several development projects I use to work on the different aspects of the final project.

As the project sits right now, it vaguely resembles my basic ideas for the final project. I do now have my IRC code plopped in, and outputting basic RAW IRC messages to a window. Soon I need to finish working on getting the RAW messages properly parsed, and resulting client generated messages outputted to windows instead. Then I need to start setting up the frame work for handling multiple IRC channel windows. If I didn't post it on the Z-Net 3 forum already, unlike Z-Net I, and more like Z-Net 2, I plan to have chat rooms available in ZN3. Not just one, but several. Ideally 1 for each Emu and common language.

Once that's done, I'll start working on the nick name list stuff for the rooms. Then finally it will feel like a project to me, and not just a mish-mash of code. My goal is now to get it into sharable alpha stages asap, even if it looks like crap. If it does something, I'm happy. Such a state for the project would allow me to more freely work on different areas of the project as I lose interest in other areas, unlike right now where I feel a bit more limited. I'll talk about more later, after I'm working on it, because I could theorize what things I'll do after what, all day.

Of note, seeing the way ZNI has gone since 1.1, I've found myself more willing to work on it. I haven't worked on it yet since then, I just realized I'm more willing now. ZN3 is still a priority though. If I do work on it, I would do so only because I'm in need of doing something that moves faster then the coding work on ZN3. What I've been considering doing if I do work on it, is likely some GUI additions/tweaks. Namely setting the recently revealed TCP option as switchable in the host window, moving the disable download option to the host window, and possibly adding a window for setting up the white/black lists. No promises on anything though. If I do make a update, none of those could be added, or perhaps some of those and something else.

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Just posting to say merry xmas!

Sadly I don't have much to show for a xmas update. But if you're a Z-Net I user, I released a small secret option for it for xmas, over on the Z-Net website.

EDIT: I decided to release another secret Z-Net I option for xmas, since the other shouldn't need to be used much, making kind of worthless to more then enough users. It's edited into the same news post as the other one on the Z-Net website.

Enjoy! Happy holidays!

News: Z-Net 3 Progress... Part 2

Sunday, November 25, 2012

In the time since my last post, I've found that I've become somewhat used to a routine of working on a project only a little bit here and there each day, getting little to maybe nothing done each day. I'm surprised how used to working this slow I've gotten. I still want to dive in more so, but my slow work plan is working so far, so great!

Mentioned in my last post, I have been working on creating a custom window frame. I wasn't having much luck for awhile, getting stuck on early stages of this task. But I finally learned enough to start making more educated guesses about the problems I was facing, and I finally figured things out myself. From there it's been only mildly rocky. But for the most part things have gone smoothly to the point were I got all the basics of the idea implemented with the custom window titlebar and borders. In my development project for this code, things look and work almost exactly how I could want them to now. From here, it's just fine tuning things. Like getting rid of a bug or 2, and covering a few loose ends.

I'm not certain what I want to get working on next. Either custom drawing some client controls like I would want, outlining the Z-Net 3 design I have in my head into a resource editor, maybe IRC message encryption, or tinkering with how I might go about addon support.

The latter 2 because it would be a change of pace from what I have been working on. The design outline, just because I'm thinking it might be good to get the things out of my head at this stage, just so I can fine tune my ideas as I'm working other things. And the first, because I learned a lot with the title bar/frame stuff, and I should be able to apply what I learned to that.

But I have time to think about all that, as I still have some work left to do with my current task.

I'd post a pic of the work on my custom frame stuff, but all the work has been on the code. Not the imagery itself. For development I've been using Bitmaps from the skin files of some commercial skinning libraries. I don't think their would be any copyright issues with me just posting a pic of me using them outside of their intended libraries, but I'd rather not show it just so that the frame looking like that isn't expected. I don't want to mock up my own quick crummy bitmaps either. Sadly, this type of work only looks as good as the images I display with it. I may change my mind about this later.

News: Z-Net 3 Progess

Sunday, November 11, 2012

I have begun working on Z-Net 3, but mainly just preliminary stuff. First on my list is what I expected to be the tougher challenge. I want Z-Net 3 to have a nice looking, stylish interface. None of the blandness of the zbattle style GUI. Not quite even the mIRC UI that ZN 1 and 2 had. It basically means I have to create my own skin, and before that I have to make the code support using such a skin. This means I have to use bitmaps everywhere. I've started with the frame and title bar. This part has been extremely tricky for me because it uses code and API functions that I have never had to use before, so it's all new to me. Making things more difficult is the fact that I can find zero help for doing this online. The closest topics I can find are about replacing the entire window with a simple bitmap skin, which isn't what I want and helps me very little. Such interfaces aren't resizeable. To make a resizeable interface you have to have at least 8 different bitmaps. The 4 corners, top, bottom, and both sides. I was quickly able to display the bitmaps as such, and tile or stretch them as needed when the window was resized. But I've been going in circles trying to basically get the parts of the bitmaps that I would want to be transparent and able to be clicked through to whats behind the window, to be as such. This is a necessary thing in order for the window to look attractive, else it will have to be a dull squared, 90 degree corner piece of garbage. Other programs do this, so mine should be able to as well. But for whatever reason, EVERYTHING I try fails, and there is just no help to be found yet.

Ideally, I wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. You would think that on the net there are probably several libraries to choose from to do such a thing, that I could use in Z-Net 3, or at least use to learn my mistakes. But nope. Everything is a "pay me some ridiculous amount of money", un-freeware-friendly, piece of crap. Ive tried a few things. All in the form of a binary dll, pretty much. Some look great and do exactly what I would want, some not so much. So far only one has any hope, being USkin.dll. For a short time the company that made it offered a free version. Its not optimal. So far it looks glitchy and flickery in its demos. But atm, free is free, and maybe I can add some code to negate that stuff. But so far that doesn't want to work either, even when compiled with a simple stock demo project. The program crashes after I run it, and atm I'm unsure why.

My hope and plan for now is to just try and get USkin working, and move on for now. Ideally down the line I would hope I would figure out the issues with my own code and use that instead. But right now I'm eager to stop spinning my wheels and move on to something else. A lot of what will be in ZN3's code will be easy. Things I've done before with ZNI. So I'm less concerned with certain things, and more concerned with things such as protocol encryption, self updating software, addon support, etc. Things I haven't done much before, if at all.

If all goes well with the interface, I'll need to be looking for a artist to help design the UI. I could probably do it myself, but I'd rather not. I'm sure my UI would look good, but I'm not an artist, so it likely wouldn't look as good as it could. Once this project really gets rolling, I'll probably look for a website guy as well. It might be nice to have some team members for a change, outside of mods. But that's for a future day.

News: Not Even 2 Weeks...

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

... and I caved in, and brought Z-Net I back. Yes, you read that correctly! Z-Net I is now back online. But there has been a big change made for me to do so. You can read more about it on the Z-Net website.

Z-Net News Page

News: Screenshots of My IRC Client

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

There's still some polish left to be done, but it could now be considered as being finished. Well, I'm not sure I consider it finished yet because I know of several things left I would like to add or do better. At the very least though, it's now kind of screen shot worthy. But as I've mentioned before, don't expect much.

This first screenshot shows the tab for configuring all the basic settings for the client. It's not a pretty layout. I hate organizing controls in a dialog like this, because you add one thing, and everything gets messed up. Pay no attention to the button at the bottom. That's just a shortcut I added to open the settings ini file, for convenience. All the controls work as expected. Some disable/enable at connect/disconnect. The Nick Name box will send the /NICK command when the name in it is different and you press enter while connected.

This second screenshot shows what a chatroom window looks like, complete with a few demo lines. Also seen is the use of colors, both for text and the background of the controls. The url link seen at the top is underlined, because it does infact work and open up your browser just by clicking on it.

Whats not seen is Right Click context menus. One pops up when clicking the name of a tab, allowing you to select to close that tab. One shows when clicking the chat buffer to copy any selected text to the clipboard. And another shows when clicking the nick name list, showing a short list of basic IRC options you might expect from doing so. The Send button is disabled only because there is no text being typed. The server window and PM windows aren't shown, but they look exactly like the shown chat window, except without a nick list.

Yea. Nothing extraordinary. But it IS an IRC client. And should serve well as a base for a project like Z-Net 3.

What I have left to do on it is. I'd like to add code for allowing the window to be resized. And thus resizing the controls appropriately. The auto reconnect code still has issues. I'd like to comb through the code and comment more things. A few bits of code could stand to be refined. Also, unlike most IRC clients, this doesn't support DCC transfers yet. I'm uncertain if/when I want to work on that any time soon. I'd want it for Z-Net 3, I'm just not sure I consider it a basic IRC client feature, or that I feel like the hassle of going through adding it. Doing so is an entire sub project.

As far as releasing this. Well, in this form, it's grown beyond what I'd want to release as the commercial project I've mentioned. I could make the program simpler to use, and it could stand to see attention given to it to make it look more appealing. So if I go with that plan, I would likely copy the code to a new project and start peeling it back.

Now that this is shown, keep in mind that Z-Net 3 will likely not look anything like this. I have a different layout in mind for that. With this IRC client now at this stage, I may soon start working on the GUI for Z-Net 3. But due to WoW, lately I've been having a hard time getting as much done with programming as I would want. You can even see I used WoW running as a background in the screenshots. If I do start working on it soon, it may be awhile before I try porting the IRC client code into it as like I mentioned, I still have more I want to refine with it.