Locked: 3 months into the new year, still no public build in BYOND Discussion

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ID:454131
 
Mar 6 2012, 10:27 am
It's been three months since the announcement of a new byond version. Why isn't there a public build release yet? If there's a public beta going on (anyone can download that newest build) then where is the discussion for it?

I would like to see more textual / news / blog updates or something so I can feel like things are moving forward. Otherwise, this place feels dead.
#1 Mar 6 2012, 10:43 am
FIREking wrote:
It's been three months since the announcement of a new byond version. Why isn't there a public build release yet? If there's a public beta going on (anyone can download that newest build) then where is the discussion for it?

I would like to see more textual / news / blog updates or something so I can feel like things are moving forward. Otherwise, this place feels dead.

? How does that stop you from developing for Byond? Technically new releases have nothing to do with your ability to make games. Are you sure that the feeling of stagnation isn't coming from something else and you just "feel" like it has to do with byond?
#2 Mar 6 2012, 11:00 am
Technically it's just over two months into the new year. And the reason is simply that the website project grew some serious tentacles. We're coming out of that now, and the project I'm working on now is sort of a bridge project back to the software.
#3 Mar 6 2012, 11:23 am
In response to Lummox JR (#2)
Lummox JR wrote:
Technically it's just over two months into the new year. And the reason is simply that the website project grew some serious tentacles. We're coming out of that now, and the project I'm working on now is sort of a bridge project back to the software.

That's great to hear!
#4 Mar 6 2012, 8:17 pm
Translation: we're under staffed and historically have been, but we won't allow anyone to contribute to the software.
#5 Mar 6 2012, 8:20 pm
FIREking wrote:
It's been three months since the announcement of a new byond version. Why isn't there a public build release yet? If there's a public beta going on (anyone can download that newest build) then where is the discussion for it?

I would like to see more textual / news / blog updates or something so I can feel like things are moving forward. Otherwise, this place feels dead.

Actually the activity seems pretty good with the site update. We'll have a software update out this month.
#6 Mar 6 2012, 8:24 pm
What was BYOND's little moto when promising releases and the such I believe it was outputted when you make a new hub entry?

Something about never promising things but to mention them when they are completed? something like that...
#7 Mar 6 2012, 8:26 pm
The main problem is that everyone wants to wait on updates to do anything, because it gives them an excuse. I've been saying this for a long time, but if you can't make the game you want in the current BYOND, you may as well just use something else.
#8 Mar 6 2012, 8:31 pm
Very true, To be honest I hardly care about the update/s BYOND does what I want it to and it does it fine.

BYOND is free software you should all be grateful of that .. I know I am...
#9 Mar 6 2012, 8:52 pm
Unfortunately, people are not as grateful as they should. They take things like BYOND for granted and moan, and whine, and cry when a new update isn't released just to help them have native map-text for their cheap Anime Fangame Rip. The only people who ever have a reason to be critical about updates being useful for general game development, are the Members who pay money to help BYOND grow and thrive, but this is just me.

I am grateful for it being free, however. Had it not have been, I would have ended up pushing myself through C++ programming and game development. As a green-horn programmer at the time I stumbled upon BYOND, I would have fallen out ages ago, but programs like BYOND and the language DM has helped me not only become a better game developer, but a better programmer. It makes me smile every time I look through a book about a programming language, and I recognize various syntax because I learned them originally through DM.

I think that it's wonderful for young programmers to be able to dabble into a more simple syntax with DM before tackling C++ or Java. When they do that, it's so much easier to manage through the tougher stuff. Trust me, I know from experience and I'm so happy I learned to program in DM before moving onto C++.
#10 Mar 6 2012, 9:00 pm
DM pushed me towards PHP Javascript and some C++ it made it some much easier in a sense of course every language is different.
#11 Mar 6 2012, 9:02 pm (Edited on Mar 6 2012, 9:14 pm)
Thank you. That is largely the intent of the software-- to make programming more accessible to the masses. Although in today's information age, if you have the drive, can actually learn a lot of the more advanced languages for free. Still, I think DM/BYOND is a good stepping-stone and, in some cases, more than that.

I make no demands from our users, aside from following a few rules of decorum. I appreciate those that become Members to support the cause, but I want that to be partially selfish, knowing that the money they invest now helps us keep the project going. I only request that they give us the same level of respect and phrase their issues as constructive suggestions instead of as demands, insults, or snarky comments (this is not directed at the OP, who appears to just want to know what's going on with the software). We have chosen to do things on a schedule dictated by myself and not our users. This is, in fact, the main motivation most people leave the financial security of a job to start their own project.
#12 Mar 6 2012, 9:28 pm
Tom, if a large intent was to help people get a good stepping-stone for programming practice, then you've certainly achieved a wonderful goal. I don't think I would be half the programmer I am today if I hadn't had DM as a starting point. That's what I believe is a big problem with younger programmers. They don't know where to start, and it can be frustrating trying to learn a skill so complicated and critical with no backed experience at all. DM is a largely self-taught language, which really gave me a lot of confidence when moving onto more powerful languages. So I guess it's more of a Thank You, for developing something so useful and fun to work with.
#13 Mar 6 2012, 9:32 pm
In response to Solomn Architect (#12)
Solomn Architect wrote:
Thank You, for developing something so useful and fun to work with.

^ is also my response I have been a valued members since 2001 and loved every year of BYOND.

Now get back to work and release the source! kidding.

#14 Mar 7 2012, 1:08 am
I made my first key in 2001 as well. Back then I had no clue as how to code or anything. After spending so long with BYOND, I learned a great deal from DM and was able to expand my skills to HTML, PHP, Java and even MySQL. If it wasn't for BYOND, I wouldn't have been able to get a grasp on things so easily. I'm well aware i'm pretty much repeating what's already been said, but the younger coders don't seem to appreciate the luxury of BYOND. It's free, teaches you the basics and even more advanced steps and if you know how to "ask" for help, you can get it here... Although, the odds of being flamed and bullied are just as high, but as for free software, there should be very limited complaining.

I'm sure I speak for nearly everyone when I say Thank you to the BYOND Staff for making this what is is today and for allowing us to expand our knowledge.
#15 Mar 7 2012, 5:39 pm
Thank you very much for the update. Looking forward to seeing momentum.
#16 Mar 8 2012, 8:56 am
BYOND is the reason I got into programming in the first place. I've been in college the past 4 years or so now working on getting a Computer Science degree. It all started with BYOND. I'll be working with BYOND for a long time to come.
#17 Mar 8 2012, 1:54 pm
In response to Airjoe (#4)
Airjoe wrote:
Translation: we're under staffed and historically have been, but we won't allow anyone to contribute to the software.

It's not just that they don't let people contribute, they seem to reject this idea entirely as a way to assert that BYOND is their project. The feature tracker could easily be named "List of Things We're Not Going to Add to Prove That BYOND is Our Project and We're in Control".

I haven't seen many users who focus on using BYOND to make games. Sure, people use BYOND to make games, but they don't use it like they use other applications. Nobody uses BYOND to churn out games like they user Powerpoint to churn out presentations. People like to follow BYOND's development as much as they like using BYOND to make games (sometimes even more so). People like BYOND not because it's great, but because it has potential. This is the source of the frustration - people hope to see BYOND live up to its potential but all they can do is watch and even that's questionable since the staff provides very little detail about its development.

The only conclusion I can come to is that Tom doesn't think that BYOND's development is significant enough to warrant posting about it.
#18 Mar 8 2012, 2:08 pm
Providing every little detail about development accomplishes nothing, save perhaps temporarily satiating the extreme minority of users here who badger us constantly about these things. I made an extremely long post at the beginning of the year stating where we were going with this, and we are still on course with that. We have a better standalone installer coming, some updates in the software with the map-text stuff, and the flash system. We're also finally back at looking into software bugs (which we'll update as we resolve).

This is a small-staffed operation and I have my reasons to keep it that way, and I wish people would just respect that because it's a waste of time to keep debating it.

And I think people like BYOND because it lets them make games that would otherwise be inaccessible, ultimately giving them some understanding of software and project development. We have plenty of testimonials on this very thread alone. I am quite proud of that.
#19 Mar 8 2012, 2:14 pm
In my opinion:
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