Ideas for 'Pro' version
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:22 pm
Hey everyone,
I'd like to get your input on an idea that I've been kicking around for a while. As some of you know, CW supports 'plugins'. These plugins can do many things. I sell customized plugins to commercial vendors of machine to customize CW (splash screen, icons, re-arranging controls, removing controls, adding buttons, theming,etc.. ). I've actually gotten pretty good at it, but I've noticed that every time I write a plugin, about 90% of the code is the same as every other plugin, with a few changes to the GUI configuration.
I would like to write a 'Pro' plug-in for Creation Workshop.
This 'Pro' version will give users the ability to:
-Create custom skins/themes
-Change Splash screen
-Remove portions of the GUI / Re-arrange controls
-Add a new GUI to help skin/theme the app and write scripts / sequences.
-Add a new scripting system
This new scripting system allows for several things. It will allow you to define GCode sequences (or binary sequences) and send them to the serial port. It will also allow parsing of any return values from the gcode (temperature, position, etc...). These parsed values can then be placed into program variables ($VARNAME) that can later be used. This is a logical extension of the GCode pre-processing that currently occurs when slicing. The new scripting system also allows the user to define buttons that appear on the toolbar. When the button is clicked, it can run a script, or send sequences to the machine. This will allow for several things. As an example, I just used this feature to add a new 'Setup For Build' button for a client. When pressed, this button: turns on the projector, homes the Wiper, homes the Z axis, moves the Z axis to a pre-recorded build position, and levels the resin (top down machine). I would also like to provide several program 'Events' that can be scripted. Some events might include:
- Machine connected /disconnected
- Slicing started / completed
- Build started / paused / stopped
Any number of complex script-able sequences can be performed and tied directly to user-defined buttons on the GUI. Often I receive a lot of emails of people asking to customize the GUI for their machines in a very specific way. I think a system like this will allow the user to make any number of modifications to their system to customize and tailor the appearance and behavior for their specific hardware and needs.
I would like to sell this 'Pro' version of a plugin both at a low one-time price for the home hobbyist, and as a yearly-price for the commercial vendor of machines.
I'd like to hear back from you all regarding:
- Features you'd like to see in the Pro version
- One-time price for the home hobbyist (non commercial)
- Yearly price for the commercial vendor/re-distributor
Thanks!
-Steve
I'd like to get your input on an idea that I've been kicking around for a while. As some of you know, CW supports 'plugins'. These plugins can do many things. I sell customized plugins to commercial vendors of machine to customize CW (splash screen, icons, re-arranging controls, removing controls, adding buttons, theming,etc.. ). I've actually gotten pretty good at it, but I've noticed that every time I write a plugin, about 90% of the code is the same as every other plugin, with a few changes to the GUI configuration.
I would like to write a 'Pro' plug-in for Creation Workshop.
This 'Pro' version will give users the ability to:
-Create custom skins/themes
-Change Splash screen
-Remove portions of the GUI / Re-arrange controls
-Add a new GUI to help skin/theme the app and write scripts / sequences.
-Add a new scripting system
This new scripting system allows for several things. It will allow you to define GCode sequences (or binary sequences) and send them to the serial port. It will also allow parsing of any return values from the gcode (temperature, position, etc...). These parsed values can then be placed into program variables ($VARNAME) that can later be used. This is a logical extension of the GCode pre-processing that currently occurs when slicing. The new scripting system also allows the user to define buttons that appear on the toolbar. When the button is clicked, it can run a script, or send sequences to the machine. This will allow for several things. As an example, I just used this feature to add a new 'Setup For Build' button for a client. When pressed, this button: turns on the projector, homes the Wiper, homes the Z axis, moves the Z axis to a pre-recorded build position, and levels the resin (top down machine). I would also like to provide several program 'Events' that can be scripted. Some events might include:
- Machine connected /disconnected
- Slicing started / completed
- Build started / paused / stopped
Any number of complex script-able sequences can be performed and tied directly to user-defined buttons on the GUI. Often I receive a lot of emails of people asking to customize the GUI for their machines in a very specific way. I think a system like this will allow the user to make any number of modifications to their system to customize and tailor the appearance and behavior for their specific hardware and needs.
I would like to sell this 'Pro' version of a plugin both at a low one-time price for the home hobbyist, and as a yearly-price for the commercial vendor of machines.
I'd like to hear back from you all regarding:
- Features you'd like to see in the Pro version
- One-time price for the home hobbyist (non commercial)
- Yearly price for the commercial vendor/re-distributor
Thanks!
-Steve