[FEATURE] Implement a preset editor.

Build a consensus with development team. Document and define things such as default keybindings and key features.

[revmischa]

#204 projectM-visualizer/frontend-sdl-cpp#8 #208 #217 etc

I wish we could get feedback from GEISS, Martin, or EOS about how they developed many of their creations. @revmischa I have no experience developing these milk drop presets, do you know how to get in contact with any of the preset designers?

[revmischa]

I don't but I'd start here: http://forums.winamp.com/forumdisplay.php?f=84

[PeterMalkin]

Actually I work with Geiss, can ask him something specific if you guys want

[jberg]

This document describes some of the keybindings: http://www.geisswerks.com/hosted/milkdrop2/milkdrop_preset_authoring.html

Flexi is active on twitter, and I imagine would be happy to answer questions: https://twitter.com/Flexi23

[revmischa]

My suggestion:
Get the emscripten branch fully working (#92) and make a web-based preset editor
And ask people on the milkdrop forums what sort of UI they would like to have

I would split up shader code into its own entry field and make the UI so people don't have to write the actual literal preset code by hand, but abstract out a lot of the fields into more friendly inputs

@revmischa I agree that the web-based version would get quick feedback. @PeterMalkin I do have a question for Geiss about the preset creation community. I would like to understand the essence of what exactly led up to the formation of an entire community interested in creating new and original milkdrop presets. What can we do to start encouraging preset creators and developers to contribute new content?

[teotigraphix]

If I could get this building on Windows, I can help a lot. I just feel intimidated here since I have no idea how to build this on Windows but could actually start developing it. I UMLed the framework and got a bunch of the relationships understood. @mancoast How are you developing and building the core framework?

Greetings, I am very happy to help! First, look in the msvc folder and open the projectm.sln Let me know when you are able to open the visual studio solution file. Please look at the appveyer.yml file for exact command prompt instructions to build on your machine.

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On Jun 26, 2019, at 12:58 PM, Michael Schmalle ***@***.***> wrote: If I could get this building on Windows, I can help a lot. I just feel intimidated here since I have no idea how to build this on Windows but could actually start developing it. I UMLed the framework and got a bunch of the relationships understood. @mancoast How are you developing and building the core framework? — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or mute the thread.

[PeterMalkin]

@mancoast
Here's what Ryan has to say:

"Back in the early 2000's, winamp was very popular, so it had quite a few more (daily active) users than it does today (I assume). With that one central site, which had a lot of users, all we really had to do was add a forum for milkdrop preset authoring, and it took off right away. It was a single and obvious place where folks could chat about how to do it, share their presets, and so on.

At first, I wrote a bunch of basic presets myself, just to show what you could do, and then other people started working from those. They shared their tricks (and presets) on the forums. One thing that surprised me was that a lot of the authors didn't actually know how to code, or how to use a sine wave, but were nonetheless able to hack together really amazing presets.

I upgraded MilkDrop to use pixel shaders in 2007, which opened up the graphical possibilities quite a bit, and I think that also gave the preset authoring community another kick. After that point, some authors did stuff I never dreamed of, like making mandelcube zoomers. Some of Martin's presets really blew my mind.

From my point of view, though, what I experienced was basically this: I just added the preset authoring capability, and created a few forums, and after that it pretty much exploded on its own. It was a fun and wild ride. :)

If I were reviving this, I'd consider creating a central website, with a good (not fancy) name that made its purpose obvious, that had both forums for people to talk, and (even better) places for people to upload presets and then vote on them. Even better, I'd probably port MilkDrop to webGL and then make the entire thing run in a webpage, including being able to author the new presets, view others' presets, vote on them, built custom collections (in the cloud), etc.

I think that if someone did those things, and made it really easy for people to use (no installation woes, works from any web browser), it would greatly increase the chances of rekindling a community -- and a strong userbase. :)"

[revmischa]

I super agree! A website where you can edit and preview presets would be amazing and really not so far off from where we are now on the emscripten branch.
I could help build a simple serverless backend and start a react frontend if people are interested in contributing.