posted 02-19-2004 09:58 PM
A new beta is now available. On the surface you may not notice much change since the last beta. However, a great deal of restructuring was done in order to make this beta more flexible, more organized, as well as more intuitive, more efficient, and more solid overall. The current feature set and syntax is likely to be pretty much what you might see in the final product, except for some minor changes. Things are gradually tightening up, detail by detail, until everything works as documented. And the documentation itself should continue to be refined until all the features are explained satisfactorily. A lot has been done, but there is also a lot left to do.Speed
Speed is a very important aspect of UCalc FMP. However, it was necessary to break things apart in order to rebuild them more efficiently. The rebuilding is not completed yet. As a result, the beta at this particular transitional stage is in certain ways much slower than previous betas, and even slower than 2.0. But in the end, it should be faster than ever, particularly due to optimized use of various data types.
Threads
One of the main fundamental syntax changes in this beta regards the way thread data is stored and accessed. Most of the work in this area is complete. But some minor details may prevent you from using multiple threads for the moment.
Help file
The help file is a lot more useful than the one in the previous beta. More VB examples should be accurate. However, C++ and Delphi examples still haven't even been touched yet. So if you're using those compilers, then look at the source code in the demo programs for those compilers for accurate examples. There are demo programs for PowerBASIC, Visual Basic, VC++, BCB++, and Delphi.
Though a lot of information has been clarified in the current help file, some of it is still incomplete. Examples that haven't been properly put into words yet can be found in the Test.Bas file (which compiles under PowerBASIC, but should be easy to follow, especially for VB users).
The help file Contents list is completely outdated. (The .CNT file was left untouched since version 2.0). So when you load up the help file, use the topics from the Index instead of from the Contents tab.
Note to VB and VC++ users
Overall, most things should work pretty much the same in all the supported compilers. However, in VB and VC++, some minor things do not work yet as described in the help file, due to data type differences. This is a temporary situation. For now, certain things work better with PowerBASIC, Delphi, and Borland C++ Builder.
VB no longer uses a COM DLL wrapper for UCalc.
Feature list
If UCalc FMP 2.0 is the last version you've tried, you will find a long list of new features in the help file, under the What's New topic.
I haven't forgotten .NET, but I haven't gotten to it yet.
Suggestions
I am always looking for suggestions. At this stage, I am unlikely to add a lot of new features, but it doesn't hurt to ask. However, what I am particularly interested in now, are suggestions on things like syntax etc… For instance, a number of things had to be renamed and modified for the sake of clarity and simplicity. I want to continue simplifying and clarifying the syntax. If you see an implementation that seems odd, confusing, or unnecessarily complicated, please let me know.
Release date
If you looked at the rough projections from the previous beta announcement, you perhaps might have expected today's message to announce the final beta. Unfortunately, that's not the case yet. At this stage, it is still too early to give an estimate that can be considered even roughly accurate. With that in mind, it will likely take a minimum (the maximum cannot be determined) of 5 months for the final beta to be ready. There are several key items left that will take an undetermined amount of time, after which it will likely become easier to give an estimate that could be considered roughly accurate.
As usual, the plan is to take however much time is necessary for every last detail to be implemented correctly.
Disclaimers
* There is no guaranty as to the date of release for the next version.
* There is no guaranty as to which features will make it in the next version.
* There is no guaranty as to the suitability of the beta versions for purposes other than beta testing.
* All parts of the beta version are subject to change without notice, and without regard to compatibility from one beta version to the next.
* Hints by me about the next version given via e-mail, online forums, or other method of contact should not be considered as promises of any kind.
* A license for the beta cannot be purchased. While the next version remains in beta, only a license for version 2.0 can currently be purchased.
To download the February 2004 beta, click on http://www.ucalc.com/mathparser/beta/ucfeb04b.zip
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Daniel Corbier
UCalc FMP author
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posted 02-19-2004 09:58 PM
