| Blogging the IDL User's Group Meeting [message #69924] |
Wed, 24 February 2010 08:52  |
David Fanning
Messages: 11724
Registered: August 2001
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Senior Member |
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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.")
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