[Rant] Lets get things moving.

[Xtyfe]

I would like to discuss a topic that I feel has become the Cyberdemon in the room. Its not something thats talked about, out of respect I think. Despite that I feel it needs attention even if it could get me hated off the forums for even speaking it, I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. I had brought this up roughly a year ago but it didn't get much attention. I'm hoping this will be different if posted here with more people to see it.


To the point, we all love ZDoom and some of us even like to mod for ZDoom. I enjoy this myself, the Doom engine is simple and easy and ZDoom has expanded on that to make it better. The last 2-3 years have been slow with regards to development, for various reasons. Randi and Graf have been busy or otherwise unable to develop for ZDoom. We can all understand this, for its the same for us as well, ZDoom is a hobby project just as modding is for ZDoom. We have just seen a major release for ZDoom and I think thats excellent, and shortly before this release the bugs section was reduced to almost less than a single forum page!! It reminded me of years past when ZDoom saw major developments all the time just like that. But then things died down again, and it concerns me that things will return to the development slump that was just overcome with the latest release.

I would do anything to contribute and get things moving again but I simply do not have the knowledge to do this, very few of the forum regulars do. But I would like to ask those who can if they are willing to, I think this is the only solution.

TL;DR - With Randi's consent, I think we need someone active working on ZDoom.

[printz]

Do you have a feature wishlist to back this idea up?

[Springy]

I personally think that what we have now is a pretty good system and I personally think that a bigger development team is unnecessary as Graf, Randi and Blzut are doing a sterling job. The number of bugs being uncovered has reduced, we have the DRD team regularly releasing beta builds. Yes it does take quite a bit for an official release but I am quite happy with the way things are atm. These are my opinions however.

[Nash]

Randy just implemented so many new features the past 2 weeks... what exactly are you whining about? :O

[Blzut3]

While I'm not Randy, I don't think he really has a problem with more people on the development team. If someone wants to join then submit quality patches and then after awhile ask. That's how I got on the team anyways. This kind of rant has come up a few times now and I'm not exactly sure why.

[XutaWoo]

Presumably because new people join and don't realize that it's already been done a million times over.

[ReX]

Randy just implemented so many new features the past 2 weeks... what exactly are you whining about? :O

We have just seen a major release for ZDoom and I think thats excellent..... it concerns me that things will return to the development slump that was just overcome with the latest release.

He's not complaining about lack of updates (if, indeed, he's complaining at all). Instead, he seems to be making a plea for the community to pitch in to help the current developers, so that there isn't a slump that was seen the last time around.

[Xtyfe]

Do you have a feature wishlist to back this idea up?

Are you asking if I have specific things I want added? of course

I personally think that what we have now is a pretty good system and I personally think that a bigger development team is unnecessary as Graf, Randi and Blzut are doing a sterling job. The number of bugs being uncovered has reduced, we have the DRD team regularly releasing beta builds. Yes it does take quite a bit for an official release but I am quite happy with the way things are atm. These are my opinions however.

I guess it depends how long you have been following ZDoom, there was only one other time in ZDoom's development where things had slowed down this much if not more. The community came together to produce the community build. I'm not saying its that bad or that should be the solution. I'm just pointing out that there have been ups and downs.

Randy just implemented so many new features the past 2 weeks... what exactly are you whining about? :O

I don't want this to sound like whining or begging at all, I just want to rally the community together

[NeuralStunner]

Development never ceased. There wasn't an official release for about two years but that's just an arbitrary number. There was no "development slump" in particular, nothing that isn't routine anyway, if anything there was an unusual acceleration for a while.

I don't know what you mean by "someone active". Everyone takes time off. Really this is the most active programming project I'm aware of. Anyone competent can submit patches. Some do.

This kind of rant has come up a few times now and I'm not exactly sure why.

[Blzut3]

Really this is the most active programming project I'm aware of.

Good point. The day Eternity Engine catches up is the day I'll agree things have slowed down.

[Vaecrius]

slow

Dude, subversions.

[FDARI]

Randi did a tremendous job with the bugs section to get ready for a new release. I saw those threads go away and was impressed by the effort. There's little more boring than bugs, although they can give you a zen moment or two. Now, he's not pushing for a new major release (right? that'd be sudden), but he is still very much on the ball. I remain impressed.

A significant number of suggested features are either not coded or not processed (to rejection or addition), but overall, things keep moving.

If we were to rush it, we'd have either loss of life or drop in quality. (I don't mean actual death, just loss of life to the extent that you must subsequently "get a life" in order to have one again.)

[Gez]

This comes just after Randy introduced a layer system for HUD messages, as well as additive and alpha blending.

In fact, this section is growing fast enough. Any faster and documentation of the feature and stuff added wouldn't be able to follow anymore, which would be a disservice to everybody.

[Xtyfe]

Randi did a tremendous job with the bugs section to get ready for a new release. I saw those threads go away and was impressed by the effort. There's little more boring than bugs, although they can give you a zen moment or two. Now, he's not pushing for a new major release (right? that'd be sudden), but he is still very much on the ball. I remain impressed.

A significant number of suggested features are either not coded or not processed (to rejection or addition), but overall, things keep moving.

If we were to rush it, we'd have either loss of life or drop in quality. (I don't mean actual death, just loss of life to the extent that you must subsequently "get a life" in order to have one again.)

Development never ceased. There wasn't an official release for about two years but that's just an arbitrary number. There was no "development slump" in particular, nothing that isn't routine anyway, if anything there was an unusual acceleration for a while.

I don't know what you mean by "someone active". Everyone takes time off. Really this is the most active programming project I'm aware of. Anyone competent can submit patches. Some do.

This kind of rant has come up a few times now and I'm not exactly sure why.

This comes just after Randy introduced a layer system for HUD messages, as well as additive and alpha blending.

In fact, this section is growing fast enough. Any faster and documentation of the feature and stuff added wouldn't be able to follow anymore, which would be a disservice to everybody.

Project64, that has gone through a lot of long times without a developer doing anything. Whats worse is he asks for donations for them and in return people get the svn releases. Now that he's gone again, the community around it is in ruins with those who feel ripped off. After seeing Neural's, FDARI's and Gez's responses, it makes me thankful that ZDoom is nothing like that. I admit that I was wrong and I regret posting this.

I'll be honest and say that my concern came from the feature suggestion forum, its pilling up and feels ignored. Even its trademark function of self cleaning if not happening. My hope was for someone to take the reigns for that.

[NeuralStunner]

I'll be honest and say that my concern came from the feature suggestion forum, its pilling up and feels ignored. Nothing is getting "noed" even.

Erm, watch what you wish for.