[linux-audio-user] Concerning libfst, vstserver, and dssi-vst

Greetings:

  Users are constantly wrestling with issues surrounding the software
mentioned in the subject line, and I would like to find out what
directions are planned for those projects. Here's what I see now:

    1. The vstserver project is functionally dead. It cannot work with
newer versions of WINE, and it appears that Kjetil does not plan to keep
it updated to accommodate the new versions. Alas, this also means that
his nice vsti, ladspavst, and k_vst~ projects are also unusable. :(

    2. The libfst project is essentially unmaintained. Again, WINE
versions wreak havoc with users who want to keep both fst and WINE
up-to-date. Paul and/or Torben: Is the libfst project going to see any
more activity from your end, or should it be considered an open project
and up for grabs ?

    3. The dssi-vst bridge is still unknown to me because of issues with
RH9, and I've not had time to test it on FC3. But is there any general
feeling that dssi-vst is a better route to take, at least for the normal
user ? Btw, I like the DSSI API, but it seems slow in catching on with
developers. Is that perception correct ?

  Please understand that I'm in no way criticising the work done on
these projects so far. In point of fact, I'm extremely happy they exist,
but I'm also in considerable doubt whether they can continue to be
useful without further maintenance. Users are writing to other users to
figure out how to fix small problems (usually with libfst), but these
repairs are not making their way back into the codebase, which seems
rather non-optimal to me. I'm also aware that the greater problems exist
because of WINE's inherent instability (WRT its development, not
necessarily its usability) and that Linux audio developers can't be
responsible for WINE fixes too. Perhaps more crosstalk between the WINE
developers and the LAD folk (similar to the recent discussion re: the
kernel list and LAD) would help smooth the way for a more consistent and
more manageable VST/VSTi bridge for Linux ?

  So, any comments or useful suggestions ?

Best,

dp
Received on Mon Apr 11 20:15:04 2005