Subject: Re: [linux-audio-dev] Re: Project: modular synth editor
From: Dave Griffiths (dave_AT_pawfal.org)
Date: Sat Jan 17 2004 - 13:13:42 EET
On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 10:52:18 +0000, Steve Harris wrote
> On Fri, Jan 16, 2004 at 10:49:48 +0100, Marcus Andersson wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > IMHO, think less about GTK and more about designing a language that can
> > be used to describe the GUI of a modular synthesizer. Why not for
> > example use XML or LISP or some other notation not being C. Then use
> > C+GTK to implement the new language.
> >
> > Features to consider for the language:
> > * A widget set particularly designed for synthesizers.
> > * A way to construct modules from widgets.
> > * Cable and port types/coloring.
> > * Canvas grid that modules snap to.
> > * How user events are sent to the backend.
> > * How backend events update the GUI.
> > * Reusability of widget declarations.
>
> Yes, yes, yes. Personally I would be very temped to do the rendering
> with OpenGL, you have to do a bit more work yourself, but if you
> start with something like GTK you will do a lot of overrinding and
> defining your own behaviours anyway.
>
> A system like this for describing plugin GUIs using XML, PNGs and OpenGL
> (but extensible in C + OpenGL) is on my list of future projects, but
> wether it will ever get to the top is another matter. The general
> lack of interest in linux UIs, and lack of skilled graphic designers
> with time to spare is a bit of a problem.
I don't know it, and it's not opengl, but would something based on XUL work?
They've probably done most of the hard work already.
> One potential problem with OpenGL is that people without working hardware
> acceleration will find it sluggish, I havent experimented to find
> out how bad it will be. For hardware accelerated systems the
> reduction in CPU load and memory bandwidth is impressive, and
> significant for DSP heavy systems. It has other fringe benfits too,
> like cheap but nice looking UI zooming and thumbnailing and
> platform independence.
I'm currently working on an opengl user interface for a game I'm writing. Once
you get a scenegraph set up (so child widgets inherit parent transforms etc)
it's not too hard to get something working.
Large applications like houdini use opengl based interfaces to great effect:
http://www.linuxjournal.com/modules/NS-lj-issues/issue66/3522f3.gif
dave
................................. www.pawfal.org/nebogeo
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