Lets see what we accomplish during this year:
New Graphical Interface
Although it is still a work in progress, Mission-X in Windows and Linux receives a facelift using Nuklear api as its front end UI. I think it looks good, but I admit that in the future if Laminar will make a new UI for developers, I'll probably jump wagon, since it is best for compatibility.
The feature was intended for simple 2D map display, but it could also display any image you need, as long as the size is correct. The benefits in this version, that you can display more than one map per "goal".
The MXPAD was designed at first, as a simple window to display message history.
Later on we added some input support to allow simple interaction with simmer (thanks to ptimib).
The MXPAD allow you to:
- Display history messages.
- Continues interaction with the simmer (scripted messages).
Example: ask the simmer to turn on taxi light, and if it won't be done in 30 seconds, we can turn it on (again using script). - Display selection options with the simmer.
Example: we ask the simmer to choose an option and then we will branch the code or mission according to the simmer choosing.
One of the key designs in Mission-X v3, was to add an external scripting support, to allow a much more flexible way to define simple and complex logic. It is up to the mission designer to make sure performance won't get worse (this is same as LUA script, but I think MY-BASIX is much simpler to implement and enhance, and its syntax is simpler for simple logic coding).
Scripts are now being intertwine into "tasks", "triggers" and "goals" and thus allow better freedom in manipulating the logic and course of mission.
It does make the designer life more challenging, but I believe that the added flexibility worth it. This also means that features that were part of the plugin, should be implemented through scripts (to certain extent).
External Code Snippet:
Like in version 2 of the plugin, 3D Object and moving ones were implemented in the plugin to allow better immersion. This is not WED replacement tool. You should first use WED to place objects in x-plane world, but if using this feature will make the mission better or will immerse the simmer, then you should use this capability.
Here is an example to a static and moving object:
To rap it up, I think this year was quite exiting for Mission-X plugin. we have reached BETA stage, which is a good point in the lifetime of the plugin. Ahead we have some more challenges like new Graphical APIs and how it all feats in the future. OSX UI does not work with Nuklear, but I'm planning to use the old xpsdk widget to build something generic so ALL oses will be supported, even if it won't be based on Nuklear. VR - still trying to wrap my head how it all feats.
Tutorials - hope to make some tutorials for scripting and MXPAD advance scripting to let designers better insight regarding implementation options and capabilities. Last but not least, how to open source the code but without others abusing it.
Until next time
Have clear skies
Cheers
Saar