Recently there's been discussion on the MetaCard list about getting
some sort of program out there that could run MetaCard stacks, while
still doing a mainstream computing task. One suggestion has been a
web browser.
I started up, prior to this discussion, on a word processor in
MetaCard that I wanted to allow plug-ins to be written for. The word
processor is called "New Tricks," I'll be pushing it as a
"Cross-platform word-processor with add-on capability." (so there
will probably be on available for every platform MetaCard is
available for) , and the "plug-ins" (which I call add-ons in New
Tricks) for it are MetaCard stacks.
I'd like to invite anyone to stop by the New Tricks web site (the url
is not open to the general public yet) at:
<http://karlbecker.com/newtricks/>
and download the developer SDK for whichever platform (hopefully the
Windows and UNIX sdks work... I've only tried the Mac version, but I
think the Windows and UNIX one should work, too) .
<http://karlbecker.com/newtricks/addons/dev/>
This SDK includes just small things, including the basic handler you
have to have in your stack to make it work in New Tricks -
"startupAddon". Other than that, the stack is just like any other
(except that it doesn't show the window unless you specify in the
stack's script to show it) . Any metacard stack could be run in New
Tricks with just that tiny addition.
If anyone's interested in developing the following add-ons that I'd
really like to have for the launch, e-mail me directly: a
spell-checker (it would be the "Czech Mai Spelling" that I mention on
the web site) , a quicktime media viewer (I'd really like to have
something like a playlist for quicktime media in it - and this would
be the "FastPlay" I mention on the site) , a tool to insert pictures
in files (I save files as HTML, so some kind of <img src=> inserter
of some sort...) . And I really want to hear new ideas for add-ons!
I'll be releasing New Tricks the program relatively soon - in the
next couple of weeks, as soon as beta testing is all done (it may
even be sooner) . The Mac versions (separate 68K and PPC) will be
released first, followed by Windows, and then the rest of the
platforms (Linux and Solaris being towards the top) . (if anyone
would like to beta test the Windows, Unix, and other platform
versions, drop me a note)
I'm planning to really push the program as soon as there is a good
number (say, 10 - 15) of add-ons. I'm working on a couple, and I'd
appreciate anyone else who would create some!
I'd love to hear everyone's ideas on this! This may be the way to
get MetaCard stacks out there in a big way! (Instead of making
someone download the MC player, just have them say "run this as an
add-on inside of New Tricks".) Let some sort of discussion (and
action!) begin! :-)
--
Karl Becker, KB Productions | Featuring Tiger's Eye Casino,
http://www.karlbecker.com | The Fishin' Hole, and New Tricks
|
| Also featuring un-cut writings of Karl!
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