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
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