Tag - Development
StuffPlug 3.5 and 4.0 development progress
on Fri 28 Dec 2007 (00:31 GMT)
on Fri 28 Dec 2007 (00:31 GMT)
StuffPlug creator, TheBlasphemer, has just posted an insight into the development status of his popular add-on, StuffPlug being developed for Windows Live Messenger 8.5.
>> View TB's post discussing development
It's been a while since I last posted here. Now I mention it, it's been a terribly long time since I've actually shown something to the outside world!
Some people had already declared SP to be dead, but nothing is further from the truth; I've never really stopped working on it completely.
So what can you expect?
Well, I've kinda lost track on the number of bugfixes, optimizations and stuff like that, there's just millions of those ;)
We've also been working on some new features, but most of those are far from completed, and still need a lot of work before they go public. Speaking of which, there's been a "debug" menu in SP for ages now, listing all not-completed and experimental features, but it's been well hidden and locked down. With StuffPlug 3.5, that is going to change. Anyone can enable the "Experimental" feature category now, and they can try out some of the new features we're still working on. We can't promise they're stable, hell for some of em we can't even promise they work at all, but you're free to try em and give us some feedback on it when we release :)
Now, apart from the WLM 8.5 compatibility, the other big change is the user-interface. I'd grown sick and tired of the fact that all SP windows seemed completely seperated from Windows Live Messenger, and that's why I've introduced a major UI overhaul: All StuffPlug windows will now look and feel exactly like messenger windows :) I'm still working on several parts of it, but in the attachment you can see that I've got the most important windows nailed already ;)
When to expect all this? I'm trying to get it released by new years as a little present, but to be honest I'm not totally sure I'm going to make it. It'll probably be done around 7 januari or so, or 21 januari if you want a translated version ;)
- TB
P.S. I've deliberately shot the options window with the experimental tab highlighted, to tease you a bit ;) Feel free to speculate what some of the names might mean, I might throw in some extra screenshots later!
Some people had already declared SP to be dead, but nothing is further from the truth; I've never really stopped working on it completely.
So what can you expect?
Well, I've kinda lost track on the number of bugfixes, optimizations and stuff like that, there's just millions of those ;)
We've also been working on some new features, but most of those are far from completed, and still need a lot of work before they go public. Speaking of which, there's been a "debug" menu in SP for ages now, listing all not-completed and experimental features, but it's been well hidden and locked down. With StuffPlug 3.5, that is going to change. Anyone can enable the "Experimental" feature category now, and they can try out some of the new features we're still working on. We can't promise they're stable, hell for some of em we can't even promise they work at all, but you're free to try em and give us some feedback on it when we release :)
Now, apart from the WLM 8.5 compatibility, the other big change is the user-interface. I'd grown sick and tired of the fact that all SP windows seemed completely seperated from Windows Live Messenger, and that's why I've introduced a major UI overhaul: All StuffPlug windows will now look and feel exactly like messenger windows :) I'm still working on several parts of it, but in the attachment you can see that I've got the most important windows nailed already ;)
When to expect all this? I'm trying to get it released by new years as a little present, but to be honest I'm not totally sure I'm going to make it. It'll probably be done around 7 januari or so, or 21 januari if you want a translated version ;)
- TB
P.S. I've deliberately shot the options window with the experimental tab highlighted, to tease you a bit ;) Feel free to speculate what some of the names might mean, I might throw in some extra screenshots later!
>> View TB's post discussing development
StuffPlug 3.9 and 4.0 coming soon
on Thu 20 Dec 2007 (22:16 GMT)
on Thu 20 Dec 2007 (22:16 GMT)
StuffPlug creator, TheBlasphemer, has been very busy in recent years. As a result his add-on has took a bit of a hit, mainly trying to get a fully compatible update released for the new Windows Live Messenger 8.5. Despite this TheBlasphemer has been working hard on a new version and has outlined his plans for the future of one of the best add-ons for Windows Live Messenger:
Beta testers have been shown ideas for the new UI and we have discussed where we want the add-on to go. Development appears to be positive and you should be getting excited for the new release (whenever that may be).
>> View TB's news post discussing the update
- The current beta of StuffPlug 3 can be installed using this trick. It's not 100% compatible, but it works.
- StuffPlug 3.9, to be released soon, will be compatible with WLM 8.5, but not with 9.0.
- StuffPlug 4.0, to be released somewhere next year, will be compatible with WLM 9.0, but not with earlier versions. WLM 9.0 has changed too many things internally to make a version that is both compatible with 8.0 and 9.0, so SP 3.9 will be the last version for WLM 8.x, and SP 4.0 will focus purely on WLM 9.0.
- As I'm currently in a rather nasty personal situation, none of the above mentioned release dates or spans are definitive. It all depends on how soon I get my ability to concentrate on this stuff back.
- The new major version number was mainly due to a complete overhaul of the user-interface, but as having a separate major release for WLM 9.0 makes much more sense, this user-interface overhaul will now be in 3.9 (and in 4.0 too, but it won't be an overhaul then, will it)
Beta testers have been shown ideas for the new UI and we have discussed where we want the add-on to go. Development appears to be positive and you should be getting excited for the new release (whenever that may be).
>> View TB's news post discussing the update
Messenger Plus! Live 4.50 coming end of October?
on Sat 06 Oct 2007 (16:48 GMT)
on Sat 06 Oct 2007 (16:48 GMT)
Patchou has announced Messenger Plus! Live 4.50 is nearly ready for beta testing and could be released at the end of the month:
This is great news, I wonder what Patchou has in store for Messenger Plus!? As soon as beta testers get their hands on the new build I'll let you into what's changed and if it has been worth the wait.
>> View the announcement at the Messenger Plus! Forums
Hello,
it's now official, the next public version of Messenger Plus! will be labelled Messenger Plus! Live 4.50. This new version will be a major refresh of the software, the most important update since the release of 4.00 more than a year ago. Messenger Plus! has a new look, new windows, new features and even the web site will get an overhaul. Most of the code work is now complete, GFDD is working hard on the new visuals and the first beta version will soon be sent to the internal beta-test team (sorry, the team is currently closed to new admissions).
As announced previously, the new version is scheduled be released at the end of this month but a release in early November is not out of the question. That's the price to pay to get quality software that will improve your Messenger experience, not degrade it. Also, on a more personal note, I just realised that by the time the public build gets uploaded to the servers, 5 months will have passed since the last release. Is it me or does time go faster and faster, year after year? I easily spend 6 days a week doing my job and still, it always seems like I don't have time to do everything I want. After more than 6 years, I really must be a slow software programmer, either that or I should consider hire someone to help... anybody reading this good at C++?
New features and screenshots will be revealed later this month. Messenger Plus! is still Messenger Plus! though, don't set your expectations too high, it's still the same software, just with an additional 5 month of work done to it and one new feature in particular that promises to be as popular as scripts currently are. In the meantime, thank you all for your continuous support and for allowing me to live my passion for another year.
Patchou
it's now official, the next public version of Messenger Plus! will be labelled Messenger Plus! Live 4.50. This new version will be a major refresh of the software, the most important update since the release of 4.00 more than a year ago. Messenger Plus! has a new look, new windows, new features and even the web site will get an overhaul. Most of the code work is now complete, GFDD is working hard on the new visuals and the first beta version will soon be sent to the internal beta-test team (sorry, the team is currently closed to new admissions).
As announced previously, the new version is scheduled be released at the end of this month but a release in early November is not out of the question. That's the price to pay to get quality software that will improve your Messenger experience, not degrade it. Also, on a more personal note, I just realised that by the time the public build gets uploaded to the servers, 5 months will have passed since the last release. Is it me or does time go faster and faster, year after year? I easily spend 6 days a week doing my job and still, it always seems like I don't have time to do everything I want. After more than 6 years, I really must be a slow software programmer, either that or I should consider hire someone to help... anybody reading this good at C++?
New features and screenshots will be revealed later this month. Messenger Plus! is still Messenger Plus! though, don't set your expectations too high, it's still the same software, just with an additional 5 month of work done to it and one new feature in particular that promises to be as popular as scripts currently are. In the meantime, thank you all for your continuous support and for allowing me to live my passion for another year.
Patchou
This is great news, I wonder what Patchou has in store for Messenger Plus!? As soon as beta testers get their hands on the new build I'll let you into what's changed and if it has been worth the wait.
>> View the announcement at the Messenger Plus! Forums
If you can read this I managed to update Messenger Stuff
on Thu 30 Aug 2007 (13:36 GMT)
on Thu 30 Aug 2007 (13:36 GMT)
As announced in my welcome post, we've been working on a new version of the website behind the scenes here at Messenger Stuff. We're finally ready to release the design, site-wide. We've made many changes, and we're always looking for ways to improve our design. absorbation has worked very hard on our new website, kudos to him! Expect some other major updates to the site in the coming days as we move to the new version.
Any comments, suggestions, bugs, browser problems, or things you'd like us to feature on our website are very much welcomed. Feel free to e-mail us via our contact page. We're looking forward to everyone's thoughts & suggestions.
Comment by absorbation:
Phew, it has been a whole year since the last release of msgstuff.com with 1.6 hitting your screens. Today you can experience 1.7, a more user friendly and an entire re-code of the website. The design may not have changed but you will notice a new layout, if you have any suggestions for it contact us and I will try and implement your suggestion.
I have divided the website up into two sections based on the type of users who visit the msgstuff. One is for those seeking Messenger custom content and downloads and those after Messenger based news. The news system has a lot of new features, and contributing to the website is even easier. If you have any news tell us about it!
I will be updating the website a lot over the next couple of days, applying feedback as I receive it. I also have some new features to add soon, something which will make things easier for all our visitors.
If you can, please leave a comment with your opinions.
Any comments, suggestions, bugs, browser problems, or things you'd like us to feature on our website are very much welcomed. Feel free to e-mail us via our contact page. We're looking forward to everyone's thoughts & suggestions.
Comment by absorbation:
Phew, it has been a whole year since the last release of msgstuff.com with 1.6 hitting your screens. Today you can experience 1.7, a more user friendly and an entire re-code of the website. The design may not have changed but you will notice a new layout, if you have any suggestions for it contact us and I will try and implement your suggestion.
I have divided the website up into two sections based on the type of users who visit the msgstuff. One is for those seeking Messenger custom content and downloads and those after Messenger based news. The news system has a lot of new features, and contributing to the website is even easier. If you have any news tell us about it!
I will be updating the website a lot over the next couple of days, applying feedback as I receive it. I also have some new features to add soon, something which will make things easier for all our visitors.
If you can, please leave a comment with your opinions.