Richard, Konfabulator basically integrates JavaScript and XML, using Adobe PhotoShop as the UI generator. It's not at all an integrated development environment like RunRev is. However:
- Since PhotoShop is the "UI design" tool, the created widgets end up looking freeform and artsy. - Alpha blending is basically on by default - All widgets have a shared UI accessible by right-clicking them for preferences/about/close So in one sense, Konfabulator doesn't really provide anything to make sexy UIs. On the other hand, they have an incredibly powerful UI tool in Adobe PhotoShop. Plus, by starting developers out in PhotoShop they "open the door" wide open for new "looks and feels." It's less likely developers constrain themselves to the traditional "windowed-looking" application. How would I propose adding this ease to Rev? 1) Making their own PhotoShop-->Revolution script similar Konfabulator's. (Or Illustrator-->Rev or Xara Xtreme-->Rev) The script would automatically set up a new Rev stack with the background being the window shape, layers converted to objects all in the right starting position, a preset right-click menu, that sort of thing. Bonus points if you could update the PhotoShop file and have the Rev file also update. 2) Updating Rev's own UI to look more modern, with more compact palettes, things like dockable tabbed palettes (like Adobe apps and Dreamweaver), some 3D or "gel" stuff here and there. 3) Tutorials and "how to" guides on making applications that look like these. 4) Better exposing/integrating the functions that support these capabilities in the top-level UI (as opposed to users having to find them in the functions documentation). 5) Sample applications that show off these capabilities. I believe for certain that a widget like the Konfabulator clock could be done with Rev, but I don't have the faintest idea of how to begin, and it seems like it would be a big project. (I'm going to start on it right now!) However, Konfabulator seems to make this pretty easy for a casual author. Bill "Richard Gaskin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Bill Marriott wrote: >> 1) About five to seven years behind the curve in UI. The reason why >> programs like "Konfabulator" get the attention is that they create >> widgets/programs that look modern/exciting, almost "by default." The same >> look-and-feel can be created with RunRev, but it's a lot more difficult. > > How does Konfabulator make that easier, and how would you propose adding > that ease to Rev? > > -- > Richard Gaskin > Managing Editor, revJournal > _______________________________________________________ > Rev tips, tutorials and more: http://www.revJournal.com > _______________________________________________ > use-revolution mailing list > [email protected] > Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your > subscription preferences: > http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution > _______________________________________________ use-revolution mailing list [email protected] Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences: http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
