[Announce] New TADS 3 Release
Mike Roberts
information and download links at http://www.tads.org/tads3.htm.
If you've been using the testing version that's been progressing through the
alpha/beta process for the past year and a half or so, this is only a minor
update to the software - really just bug fixes. However, if you're still
using the last general release, or if you haven't looked at TADS in a while,
this is a major upgrade, particularly for Windows users. The big news is
that the Workbench environment on Windows is now a full-fledged Integrated
Development Environment, with all of the tools you need to create a game,
all under one roof. Workbench additions include a powerful built-in
programmer's text editor (with auto-indent, syntax coloring, etc), numerous
customization features, documentation viewing with full text search,
project-wide text and regular expression search, an automatic session replay
feature, and one-click release packaging. You can now comfortably handle
the entire game development lifecycle right in Workbench, without switching
to external text editors, ZIP programs, or other tools. Of course, if you
do still prefer to use your own editor, that's still supported - in fact,
new customization features let you invoke any number of external tools (not
just text editors) from within Workbench.
The documentation set also features a major addition: Eric Eve's new
introductory book, entitled "Learning TADS 3". This is an all-new book
that's designed to complement "Getting Started in TADS 3". The new book is
written for the confident newcomer, and for people who already have a little
programming experience; it takes a systematic, feature-by-feature approach
that makes it well-suited for someone who wants to get going on their own
game as quickly as possible, and who doesn't need or want as much
hand-holding as Getting Started offers. In addition to the new book, the
Technical Manual has lots of new coverage in the areas that users said were
most in need of it.
The Windows and source-code releases will be in the IF Archive shortly, but
they're available immediately on tads.org - just follow the links to the
TADS 3 page for downloads and other information. (The Linux/Unix/Mac
versions are not up to date yet, but check back soon.)
If you're just curious about TADS 3, and you'd like to know more without
going to the trouble of installing it, the full documentation set is
available on-line. This is also reachable through the main TADS 3 page.
--Mike Roberts
Kevin.L...@gmail.com
release for a while. Congratz on all the hard work you, Eric, and all
the beta testers have to get this to full fruition.
I look forward to diving into this, and seeing what can be done.
Jim Aikin
Michael Martin
be approaching that DM4 sweet spot I've missed in other systems.
--Michael
Conrad
> I'm pleased to announce a newTADS3 general release. You can find full
> information and download links athttp://www.tads.org/tads3.htm.
>
> If you've been using the testing version that's been progressing through the
> alpha/beta process for the past year and a half or so, this is only a minor
> update to the software - really just bug fixes. However, if you're still
> this is a majorupgrade, particularly for Windows users. The big news is
> that the Workbench environment on Windows is now a full-fledged Integrated
> Development Environment, with all of the tools you need to create a game,
> all under one roof. Workbench additions include a powerful built-in
> programmer's text editor (with auto-indent, syntax coloring, etc), numerous
> customization features, documentation viewing with full text search,
> project-wide text and regular expression search, an automatic session replay
> feature, and one-click release packaging. You can now comfortably handle
> the entire game development lifecycle right in Workbench, without switching
> to external text editors, ZIP programs, or other tools. Of course, if you
> do still prefer to use your own editor, that's still supported - in fact,
> new customization features let you invoke any number of external tools (not
> just text editors) from within Workbench.
>
> The documentation set also features a major addition: Eric Eve's new
> that's designed to complement "Getting Started inTADS3". The new book is
> written for the confident newcomer, and for people who already have a little
> programming experience; it takes a systematic, feature-by-feature approach
> that makes it well-suited for someone who wants to get going on their own
> game as quickly as possible, and who doesn't need or want as much
> hand-holding as Getting Started offers. In addition to the new book, the
> Technical Manual has lots of new coverage in the areas that users said were
> most in need of it.
>
> The Windows and source-code releases will be in the IF Archive shortly, but
> versions are not up to date yet, but check back soon.)
>
> going to the trouble of installing it, the full documentation set is
> available on-line. This is also reachable through the mainTADS3 page.
>
> --Mike Roberts
I'm late upgrading here, and wanted to say that this is really
fabulous! Stellar work, guys -- really dazzling.
My thanks to all the team. I'm a kid in a candy shop right now...
Conrad.
Ken
dedication. And thanks Eric for the great new guide.
>> Workbench additions include a powerful built-in
> > programmer's text editor (with auto-indent, syntax coloring, etc), numerous
> > customization features, documentation viewing with full text search,
> > project-wide text and regular expression search, an automatic session replay
> > feature
That color syntax editor is one thing I had been really needing for a
long time. I tried several older syntax plugins some users had made a
long time ago to work with other thridparty text editors but they were
so out of date and incomplete that they weren't really very helpful.
That project wide search feature sounds extremely useful as well as
the session replay feature if I understand what that is correctly. I
am assuming that means I can more easily resume a certain point in a
game instead of having to play back through everything to get to that
point for testing? I tried using that record session feature before
but I didnt find it as useful since as soon as I'd make any changes to
the game my previous recording of the session would be rendered
useless. Anyway, after my long hiatus from T3 programming this seems
like a great time to get back into it!
A friend of mine started up a game designer's Forum recently if anyone
is interested. I have my own section there dedicated to all things
TADS 3 related. I haven't posted there much yet since so far I seem to
be the only T3 gamer on there. :.( But hopefully that will change now
that I have a new reason to resume work where I left off a year ago.
The Forum I can be found at is www.seditionproject.info. There are
sections there for other types of game development too like Dungeon
Craft, RPG Maker XP, and FPS Creator. I like it there because there
are resources from each of those that could be used or creatively
adapted for use in a TADS3 game.