| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69894] |
Fri, 26 February 2010 02:25 |
penteado
Messages: 866
Registered: February 2018
|
Senior Member
Administrator |
|
|
On Feb 26, 4:26 am, chris <rog...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> I hope, that they will also give the opportunity to create real
> executable binaries are intend to do this in future releases. Make_rt
> is not a real option.
I would find that very surprising. IDL programs run on virtual
machines, so it would be a major fundamental change to make it a
native compiler. It is the same in other VM languages, as far as I
know, such as Python and Java, for instance. Even though Java uses
strong static types (much easier to compile), and has the JIT compiler
(to make some parts into native binaries), no Java program runs
without the VM.
make_rt produces a more complete solution than can be done in Java,
since it includes the VM, so it can be used directly (though there are
the IDL VM limitations, which exist because IDL is not free). The way
to distribute ready programs in Java, jar files, is more similar to
making IDL save files. Since everybody has the Java VM, distributing
jar files is more practical than distributing IDL save files. But IDL
will never be as ubiquitous as Java, since it is neither free or a
general purpose language.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69902 is a reply to message #69895] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 10:52  |
Spon
Messages: 178
Registered: September 2007
|
Senior Member |
|
|
On Feb 25, 2:42 pm, David Fanning <n...@dfanning.com> wrote:
> Maybe
> I can give Coyote the boot and hire that young
> thing with the doe eyes to handle the lighter
> load. :-)
>
I say go for it!
Nothing wrong with doe eyes - if they're fresh!
Good news, thanks for keeping us posted!
Regards,
Chris
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69905 is a reply to message #69902] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 08:49 |
David Fanning
Messages: 11724
Registered: August 2001
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Wayne Landsman writes:
> Thanks for the detailed and optimistic report. I know I shouldn't
> be greedy but was there any news about planned future enhancements to
> IDL widgets?
No news, but repeated requests from the audience,
especially during Tuesday's open forum. I think
ITTVIS acknowledges the need, but--as always--
has a lot on their plate. In my view, they
can't be doing graphics this nice without seeing
clearly that this in how widgets should work, too.
Personally, I think they understand the need. When
they might get it done is anyone's guess. I didn't
hear anyone give anything away, even in private
conversations.
Cheers,
David
--
David Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
Sepore ma de ni thue. ("Perhaps thos speakest truth.")
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69906 is a reply to message #69905] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 08:46 |
David Fanning
Messages: 11724
Registered: August 2001
|
Senior Member |
|
|
David Fanning writes:
> Maybe
> I can give Coyote the boot and hire that young
> thing with the doe eyes to handle the lighter
> load. :-)
I've been informed by Coyote's attorney this morning that
I can take this idea and "put it where the sun don't shine".
Apparently Coyote has an iron-clad contract through at least
2025. Oh, well, we can't have everything, I guess. :-(
Cheers,
David
--
David Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
Sepore ma de ni thue. ("Perhaps thos speakest truth.")
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69907 is a reply to message #69906] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 08:34 |
wlandsman
Messages: 743
Registered: June 2000
|
Senior Member |
|
|
On Feb 24, 11:52 am, David Fanning <n...@dfanning.com> wrote:
> Top Ten Features in IDL 8.0
>
Thanks for the detailed and optimistic report. I know I shouldn't
be greedy but was there any news about planned future enhancements to
IDL widgets? Thanks, -Wayne
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69911 is a reply to message #69907] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 07:45 |
Matt[2]
Messages: 69
Registered: March 2007
|
Member |
|
|
kBob <krdean@gmail.com> writes:
> Lets us not forget all those great presentation on day two - all very
> good and inspirational. I’m glade to be an IDL programmer. Especially,
> David's talk about Map Projections. Maybe in their new Agile
> programming environment, ITTVIS will give us new up to date (PROJ4)
> mapping routines by IDL 8.1 release or as a patch.
That might be a reason to stick with IDL.
Matt
--
Matthew Savoie - Scientific Programmer
National Snow and Ice Data Center
(303) 735-0785 http://nsidc.org
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69913 is a reply to message #69911] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 07:20 |
KRDean
Messages: 69
Registered: July 2006
|
Member |
|
|
On Feb 24, 9:52 am, David Fanning <n...@dfanning.com> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> An IDL newsgroup first: Live Blogging! from the IDL User's Group
> meeting, 24 Feb 2010, Boulder, CO.
>
> Kirk Bennel, Chief Technology Officer, "the best release we
> have had in the last 10 years, maybe even ever." I think he
> may be right about this. It *is* exciting.
>
> "Expect to see not just marketing people, but people who
> build the product on the road, talking to customers."
>
> "Focusing on Software for Science."
>
> ;*******************************************************
>
> Bill Okubo, ID Product Manager.
>
> It wasn't a dream, which is what I thought when I woke up
> this morning. IDL 8 really does have new graphics programs
> that will change everything about how graphics are created
> and used in IDL. Bill says, "Power of object graphics, in
> an easy to use syntax." YES!! Even scientists will be able
> to use these routines. And better yet, half the Coyote
> Library can be retired forever.
>
> Language enhancements:
>
> !NULL arrays, scalars, etc.
> Object garbage collection (reference counted)
> List and Hash variables
> FOREACH operator
> Negative array indices
> ISA function
> Operator overloading (Yikes!)
>
> Graphics
>
> Simple, direct graphics like syntax for producing object
> graphics plots. YEAH!!!!
> Not everything here in this realize, but lots of it is
>
> Workbench
>
> Simplified the interface. Have gone back to combined
> command line/console. Simple, unclutter look, with
> toolbar functionality (that can be shrunk or hidden).
> Looks very nice.
>
> Help System
>
> Revamped again! But maybe this time they have it right,
> or mostly right. More emphasis on examples (click and run).
>
> Other
>
> DIMENSION keyword for Mean and Moment
> New plot symbols.
> Integrated PDF output. (Not ready yet, but will be there
> by release (May?)
>
> Beau Legeer, Technical Manager for IDL/ENVI
>
> Top Ten Features in IDL 8.0
>
> 1. Integrated command line/console. Content assist. Colors
> in console output. Completion tab for finding history
> commands.
>
> 2. Automatic garbage collection.
> Pointers and objects that fall out of scope are
> automatically cleanup up.
>
> 3. FOREACH control statement. Works with arrays, lists,
> and hashes (hash still comming).
>
> 4. !NULL Null pointers, objects, variables, free memory.
> Null arrays possible. VERY easy syntax: n = [] of n{}.
>
> 5. Dot for method calls.
>
> obj -> DoIt() becomes obj.doit()
>
> (Ed. Note:, this is said to be "bomb-proof", but I
> haven't had a chance to test this yet.)
>
> 6. Dot notation for Get/Set Property methods.
>
> obj -> GetPropery, NAME=name & Print, name
>
> becomes:
>
> Print, obj.name
> obj.name = 'Coyote'
>
> To use, objects must inherit IDL_Object.
> (Ed. Note. GREAT!!)
>
> 7. !Color 147 color names! Forget about FSC_Color()!
>
> 8. Operator overloading. All IDL operators, including HELP and PRINT.
>
> 9. Lists and Hash tables
>
> List - collection of different data types, access using array syntax
> Hash - like a list, but with string "keys" to access. (Not in current
> build, but will be in 8.0)
>
> 10. New Graphics. Resizeable windows, when change property automatic
> updating, no worries about color decomposition, layout controls
> (better !P.Multi). Buttons on window allow output to standard
> formats, including PostScript, printer, JPEG, PNG, etc.
> (Ed. Note. This is how this should be done!)
>
> --
> David Fanning, Ph.D.
> Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
> Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming:http://www.dfanning.com/
> Sepore ma de ni thue. ("Perhaps thos speakest truth.")
Lets us not forget all those great presentation on day two - all very
good and inspirational. I’m glade to be an IDL programmer. Especially,
David's talk about Map Projections. Maybe in their new Agile
programming environment, ITTVIS will give us new up to date (PROJ4)
mapping routines by IDL 8.1 release or as a patch.
Kelly Dean
Fort Collins, CO
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69915 is a reply to message #69913] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 06:42 |
David Fanning
Messages: 11724
Registered: August 2001
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Ben Tupper writes:
> Thanks for sharing the exciting details. Sounds like you are having
> fun and the the rest of us might have some soon, too!
For nearly 25 years, I have been trying to "fix" IDL,
either by writing programs that work the way I think
they should work, or by teaching people how to work
around IDL's shortcomings. I've grown old and cynical.
I really didn't expect to feel much different after
this week's User Group meeting. But I have to say that
what I have seen in the past two days is not only good
news for the casual IDL user, but is *great* news
for IDL developers.
I don't want to set expectations too high. This is
just the first release in a new direction, after all,
and I haven't really had a chance to play with the
code and understand how it all works together.
There are obvious pieces still missing. But this step
is just absolutely in the right direction. For me,
it provides tools that I can see myself using every
single day. That hasn't happened for a LONG time.
I said yesterday that one reason I haven't yet
written that 3rd Edition of my book is that it is
difficult to write while popping Prozac for
depression. If you don't see a future for the
software, why write about it? But this changes
everything. I can see myself writing with Happy
Thoughts once again. That, in itself, is
enormously comforting. :-)
Cheers,
David
P.S. The other thing cheering me up today is the
fact that I will no longer have to support
half the programs in the Coyote Library! Maybe
I can give Coyote the boot and hire that young
thing with the doe eyes to handle the lighter
load. :-)
--
David Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming: http://www.dfanning.com/
Sepore ma de ni thui. ("Perhaps thou speakest truth.")
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69917 is a reply to message #69915] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 06:27 |
d.poreh
Messages: 406
Registered: October 2007
|
Senior Member |
|
|
On Feb 24, 8:52 am, David Fanning <n...@dfanning.com> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> An IDL newsgroup first: Live Blogging! from the IDL User's Group
> meeting, 24 Feb 2010, Boulder, CO.
>
> Kirk Bennel, Chief Technology Officer, "the best release we
> have had in the last 10 years, maybe even ever." I think he
> may be right about this. It *is* exciting.
>
> "Expect to see not just marketing people, but people who
> build the product on the road, talking to customers."
>
> "Focusing on Software for Science."
>
> ;*******************************************************
>
> Bill Okubo, ID Product Manager.
>
> It wasn't a dream, which is what I thought when I woke up
> this morning. IDL 8 really does have new graphics programs
> that will change everything about how graphics are created
> and used in IDL. Bill says, "Power of object graphics, in
> an easy to use syntax." YES!! Even scientists will be able
> to use these routines. And better yet, half the Coyote
> Library can be retired forever.
>
> Language enhancements:
>
> !NULL arrays, scalars, etc.
> Object garbage collection (reference counted)
> List and Hash variables
> FOREACH operator
> Negative array indices
> ISA function
> Operator overloading (Yikes!)
>
> Graphics
>
> Simple, direct graphics like syntax for producing object
> graphics plots. YEAH!!!!
> Not everything here in this realize, but lots of it is
>
> Workbench
>
> Simplified the interface. Have gone back to combined
> command line/console. Simple, unclutter look, with
> toolbar functionality (that can be shrunk or hidden).
> Looks very nice.
>
> Help System
>
> Revamped again! But maybe this time they have it right,
> or mostly right. More emphasis on examples (click and run).
>
> Other
>
> DIMENSION keyword for Mean and Moment
> New plot symbols.
> Integrated PDF output. (Not ready yet, but will be there
> by release (May?)
>
> Beau Legeer, Technical Manager for IDL/ENVI
>
> Top Ten Features in IDL 8.0
>
> 1. Integrated command line/console. Content assist. Colors
> in console output. Completion tab for finding history
> commands.
>
> 2. Automatic garbage collection.
> Pointers and objects that fall out of scope are
> automatically cleanup up.
>
> 3. FOREACH control statement. Works with arrays, lists,
> and hashes (hash still comming).
>
> 4. !NULL Null pointers, objects, variables, free memory.
> Null arrays possible. VERY easy syntax: n = [] of n{}.
>
> 5. Dot for method calls.
>
> obj -> DoIt() becomes obj.doit()
>
> (Ed. Note:, this is said to be "bomb-proof", but I
> haven't had a chance to test this yet.)
>
> 6. Dot notation for Get/Set Property methods.
>
> obj -> GetPropery, NAME=name & Print, name
>
> becomes:
>
> Print, obj.name
> obj.name = 'Coyote'
>
> To use, objects must inherit IDL_Object.
> (Ed. Note. GREAT!!)
>
> 7. !Color 147 color names! Forget about FSC_Color()!
>
> 8. Operator overloading. All IDL operators, including HELP and PRINT.
>
> 9. Lists and Hash tables
>
> List - collection of different data types, access using array syntax
> Hash - like a list, but with string "keys" to access. (Not in current
> build, but will be in 8.0)
>
> 10. New Graphics. Resizeable windows, when change property automatic
> updating, no worries about color decomposition, layout controls
> (better !P.Multi). Buttons on window allow output to standard
> formats, including PostScript, printer, JPEG, PNG, etc.
> (Ed. Note. This is how this should be done!)
>
> --
> David Fanning, Ph.D.
> Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
> Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming:http://www.dfanning.com/
> Sepore ma de ni thue. ("Perhaps thos speakest truth.")
Wow!! Sounds great. I can’t wait.
Cheers
Dave
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69918 is a reply to message #69917] |
Thu, 25 February 2010 06:10 |
ben.bighair
Messages: 221
Registered: April 2007
|
Senior Member |
|
|
On Feb 24, 11:52 am, David Fanning <n...@dfanning.com> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> An IDL newsgroup first: Live Blogging! from the IDL User's Group
> meeting, 24 Feb 2010, Boulder, CO.
>
Hi David,
Thanks for sharing the exciting details. Sounds like you are having
fun and the the rest of us might have some soon, too!
Cheers,
Ben
|
|
|
|
| Re: Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69920 is a reply to message #69918] |
Wed, 24 February 2010 23:47 |
rogass
Messages: 200
Registered: April 2008
|
Senior Member |
|
|
On 24 Feb., 17:52, David Fanning <n...@dfanning.com> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> An IDL newsgroup first: Live Blogging! from the IDL User's Group
> meeting, 24 Feb 2010, Boulder, CO.
>
> Kirk Bennel, Chief Technology Officer, "the best release we
> have had in the last 10 years, maybe even ever." I think he
> may be right about this. It *is* exciting.
>
> "Expect to see not just marketing people, but people who
> build the product on the road, talking to customers."
>
> "Focusing on Software for Science."
>
> ;*******************************************************
>
> Bill Okubo, ID Product Manager.
>
> It wasn't a dream, which is what I thought when I woke up
> this morning. IDL 8 really does have new graphics programs
> that will change everything about how graphics are created
> and used in IDL. Bill says, "Power of object graphics, in
> an easy to use syntax." YES!! Even scientists will be able
> to use these routines. And better yet, half the Coyote
> Library can be retired forever.
>
> Language enhancements:
>
> !NULL arrays, scalars, etc.
> Object garbage collection (reference counted)
> List and Hash variables
> FOREACH operator
> Negative array indices
> ISA function
> Operator overloading (Yikes!)
>
> Graphics
>
> Simple, direct graphics like syntax for producing object
> graphics plots. YEAH!!!!
> Not everything here in this realize, but lots of it is
>
> Workbench
>
> Simplified the interface. Have gone back to combined
> command line/console. Simple, unclutter look, with
> toolbar functionality (that can be shrunk or hidden).
> Looks very nice.
>
> Help System
>
> Revamped again! But maybe this time they have it right,
> or mostly right. More emphasis on examples (click and run).
>
> Other
>
> DIMENSION keyword for Mean and Moment
> New plot symbols.
> Integrated PDF output. (Not ready yet, but will be there
> by release (May?)
>
> Beau Legeer, Technical Manager for IDL/ENVI
>
> Top Ten Features in IDL 8.0
>
> 1. Integrated command line/console. Content assist. Colors
> in console output. Completion tab for finding history
> commands.
>
> 2. Automatic garbage collection.
> Pointers and objects that fall out of scope are
> automatically cleanup up.
>
> 3. FOREACH control statement. Works with arrays, lists,
> and hashes (hash still comming).
>
> 4. !NULL Null pointers, objects, variables, free memory.
> Null arrays possible. VERY easy syntax: n = [] of n{}.
>
> 5. Dot for method calls.
>
> obj -> DoIt() becomes obj.doit()
>
> (Ed. Note:, this is said to be "bomb-proof", but I
> haven't had a chance to test this yet.)
>
> 6. Dot notation for Get/Set Property methods.
>
> obj -> GetPropery, NAME=name & Print, name
>
> becomes:
>
> Print, obj.name
> obj.name = 'Coyote'
>
> To use, objects must inherit IDL_Object.
> (Ed. Note. GREAT!!)
>
> 7. !Color 147 color names! Forget about FSC_Color()!
>
> 8. Operator overloading. All IDL operators, including HELP and PRINT.
>
> 9. Lists and Hash tables
>
> List - collection of different data types, access using array syntax
> Hash - like a list, but with string "keys" to access. (Not in current
> build, but will be in 8.0)
>
> 10. New Graphics. Resizeable windows, when change property automatic
> updating, no worries about color decomposition, layout controls
> (better !P.Multi). Buttons on window allow output to standard
> formats, including PostScript, printer, JPEG, PNG, etc.
> (Ed. Note. This is how this should be done!)
>
> --
> David Fanning, Ph.D.
> Fanning Software Consulting, Inc.
> Coyote's Guide to IDL Programming:http://www.dfanning.com/
> Sepore ma de ni thue. ("Perhaps thos speakest truth.")
Good news. I'm looking forward :)
Maybe Python has to wait....
Cheers
CR
|
|
|
|
|
|
comp.lang.idl-pvwave archive
Members
Search
Help
Login
Home
