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vvvv gamma 2020.1 preview

And here we go!

Only about a year after the first public preview of vvvv gamma we hereby announce what will be the final round of previews:
The vvvv gamma 2020.1 series.

We have a code-freeze. This is essentially what will be in the final release. We'll only be adding to documentation and fix showstopper bugs, should they come up. Of course we're aware of many more issues but we hope at this point to have squashed all the biggest buggers and are confident to release a first stable version within the next weeks.

Her majesty... at your service.

What's new compared to the vvvv beta series

General

Trivial installation via an installer
The overall performance is much improved
Projects can be exported as executables
All your work is automatically backuped
A help browser: press F1 without any node selected
Helppatches opening when pressing F1 with a node selected
You have quick access to your recent sketches
By default projects are now handled in one file
There are central settings per user, overridable per project
You can pause and step your patches frame by frame
Extensibility: Write plain C# to extend vvvv with custom nodes
Simply use almost any .NET library available e.g. on nuget.org
Proper scope and dependency handling
Structured documentation for your patches. Add summary, remarks, help to elements
Being close to C# allows for VL help to be found on msdn/stackoverflow

Patching

Patches are now zoomable
You can use frames to structure your patches visually
UI runs in its own thread
Tooltips show help and errors
IOBoxes allow for much faster configuration
You can doubleclick a link to insert a node or finish a link with a doubleclick to create a node
Patch your own pingroups
The color theme is now customizable and defaults to dark

Language

Besides staying true to its nature of being a an easy to use and quick prototyping environment, vvvv is also a proper programming language with modern features, combining concepts of dataflow and object oriented programming:

Define your own datatypes (Classes and Records)
Composed Datatypes (Spread of Spread,..)
No more binsizes needed!1!!
Loops to iterate within one frame
Recursive patches
Generics
Delegates
Reactive programming
Async data processing (multi-threading)
Easy caching of expensive operations

Node Library

While for now the number of libraries we ship is limited, the fact that you can essentially use any .NET libary directly mitigates this problem at least a bit. Besides there is already quite some user contributions available in the wip forum and here is what we ship:

A thorough core library for all your basic needs
State of the art 2d drawing with VL.Skia
Effortless computervision via VL.OpenCV
Support for Midi, OSC, ArtNet, Serial,...

Learning

The integrated help-browser comes with a lot of examples and howto-patches and a growing number of video tutorials is available on youtube.

Pricing

We've announced the pricing model of vvvv gamma in a separate post. Until further notice, the previews of vvvv gamma are free of charge but due to its preview-nature we don't recommend using it in commercial scenarios yet.

Download

Here you go: vvvv gamma 2020.1 preview 0040

Changelog:

Upcoming

0040 27 03 20

Re-enabled very rough and highly experimental support for attributes in roslyn backend - Elementa inspector patch working again
Fixed a crash related to recursive type rendering

0032 24 03 20

Fixed null pointer when opening patches making use of pin exposure
Fixed a few regressions introduced with one commit in previous version which caused issues like https://discourse.vvvv.org/t/2020-1-elementa-bang-broken/18354/3
Fixed Args node outputs
Added base64, url and html encoding nodes
Added more HowTos

Compared to the 2019.2 series

Args node now handles options without parameters
Added a bunch of new simple howto patches
Added clock to display call frequency of runtime value in tooltip
Added ToImage [IReadOnlyList]
Removed culture specific resource assemblies and disabled pdb files in release build
Fixed a sync issue in UI when disabling manual signature and fixed pin synchronization when using "Connect to signature"
Visualize model synchronization step in progress bar
Using Memory<byte> instead of unsafe IntPtr in IImageData
Fixed deserialization of collection of characters
Fixed assignments to pads sometimes having a side-effect on other pads with that same name

Ideally this will be the last preview, realistically we'll have to release some more. So please check back often and report your findings in the chat, forum or a comment below!

Yours truely,
devvvvs.

joreg, Tuesday, Mar 24th 2020 Digg | Tweet | Delicious 0 comments

Introduction webinars to vvvv (gamma)

Who joreg, david
When Thu, Mar 26th 2020 - 18:00 until Thu, Mar 26th 2020 - 20:00
Where online webinar, Germany

Dear all. I hope everybody is fine and healthy wherever you are on the globe.

Due to the COVID-19 situation we are finally forced to extend online activities. Surely everybody was waiting for this anyways... ;-)

As everybody should #staythefuckhome we now do the berlin vvvv meetup as an worldwide online meetup as mentioned in this post.

Next is the 2 hour absolute beginners intro to vvvv gamma. We set two webinar dates for now. more to come soon. Please check in here. You will receive a link to the webinar prior to the event..

https://nodeforum.org/announcements/introduction-webinars-to-vvvv-gamma/

Hope to see you in our screens soon.

david, Friday, Mar 20th 2020 Digg | Tweet | Delicious 2 comments

#1 vvorldvvide Meetup - Call for present...

Who evvvveryone
When Tue, Mar 24th 2020 - 20:00 until Tue, Mar 24th 2020 - 22:20
Where Internet, Germany

Helo vvvvorld,

so this is how you wanted it to happen all along: The next vvvv meetup on March 24th will be vvorldvvide and online only!

Here is the plan: We'll be using a video-conferencing platform for moderators and presenters and will be streaming out to evvvveryone via our TV channel with our chat as your backchannel. And we're looking for up to 4 presenters to show us what they are working on. Anything vvvv counts, 15min max. How does that sound?

Now it is up to you: Please get in touch via meetup@vvvv.org and let us know what you want to present. We'll then get back to you and organize for the streaming.

Hope to get some more international vvvvolks in this way...
Looking forward to this!

Confirmed Presenters

joreg, Thursday, Mar 19th 2020 Digg | Tweet | Delicious 1 comments

VL: List of all devvvv blog posts

As we near the official release of vvvv gamma, let's take a minute and look back on what happened so far.

Here's a compilation of every vvvv gamma and VL related blog post.

We hope it serves as both, an overview of historic developments and a helpful learning source for VL users that might have forgotten some along the way:

2020

Download and changelog of vvvv gamma 2020.1 preview: vvvv-gamma-2020.1-preview

Download and changelog of vvvv gamma 2019.2 preview: vvvv-gamma-2019.2-preview

Introducing help patches per node: vl-help-patches

A roundup of the latest features of the VL.Xenko 3d rendering engine: vl-xenko-3d-engine-update-3

2019

Reworked licensing model: vvvv-gamma-licensing-2

New web presence for vvvv gamma: visualprogramming.net

Introducing the HelpBrowser for easy in-app learning: vl-getting-you-started

Big feature, export executables: vl-exporting-an-application

Announcing our cooperation between Xenko and vvvv: vvvv-meets-xenko

Background information on the VL compiler overhaul: vl-new-roslyn-based-backend

Public VL presentation on a .NET developer conference: vvvv-at-dotnextconf-moscow-video

Download and changelog of vvvv gamma 2019.1 preview: vvvv-gamma-2019.1-preview

First draft of the new licensing model: vvvv-gamma-licensing

Switching all VL libraries to Xenko vector types: vl-switch-to-xenko-math

Tooltips and runtime value inspection are pretty and can be patched: vl-tooltips

IOBoxes are now feature rich and can handle collections: vl-the-big-iobox-update

Big progress on computer vision: vl.opencv-release-candidate

Dynamic input/output pins are here: vl-input-and-output-pin-groups

Understanding the difference between definition and application: vl-the-application-side-of-things

Added regular expression nodes: vl-regular-expressions

2018

Public vvvv gamma and roadmap announcement: the-road-to-gamma

Progress report on the VL.Xenko 3d rendering engine: vl-xenko-3d-engine-update-2

Improvements on the VL.Skia 2d rendering engine: vl-skia-update

Initial progress report on the VL.Xenko 3d rendering engine: vl-xenko-3d-engine-update-1

Announcing the VL.Xenko 3d rendering engine: vl-threedee

Announcement and insight into the VL.Skia 2d rendering engine: vl.skia

Reading and writing VL data types to disk: vl-serialization

Explaining the structural elements of VL documents: vl-groups-and-categories

Beatify and organize your patches with frames: vl-frame-your-patches

Update on file read/write: vl-improved-file-io

Big cleanup of the VL.CoreLib: vl-corelib-cleanup

Working with different threads and main loops: vl-patch-your-own-mainloops

Announcement of computer vision for VL: vl-opencv-is-in-da-house

The fundamental building block for timelines and searches in sorted collections: binary-search-for-your-keyframes

How to connect image data types of different libraries with each other: vl-image-exchange-interface

Prepare GPU data directly on VL to use it with dx11 rendering: dynamic-dx11-buffers-in-vl

2017

Better debug features: vl-one-frame-at-a-time

Maintenence release for Arduino/Firmata: firmata-updates-and-fixes

Import any .NET library (!) into VL: vl-using-.net-libraries-and-writing-custom-nodes

Parser for serial data and other byte streams: new-tokenizer-nodes

Announcing reactive/async programming with observables: vl-reactive-programming

Nodes for working properly with MIDI: vl-event-based-midi

Parse, modify and write XML and JSON: vl-xml-and-json-nodes

Update on 2D and 3D editing: editing-framework-update

Nodes to work with network sockets: vl-networking-and-async

2016

Nodes for Arduino/Firmata: firmata-second-service

Nodes to work with input gestures: zoom-pan-rotate-touchgestures

Cummulative VL update (performance, clock and time, high DPI): vl-progress-report-4

Nodes for working with the file system: vl-many-paths-lead-to-rome

Initial file handling nodes: let-me-present-to-you-file-io

Cummulative VL update (UI improvements): vl-progress-report-3

Cummulative VL update (UX improvements): vl-progress-report-2

Cummulative VL update (new UI elements): vl-progress-report-1

Huge update overall and new downloads: vl-midsummer-nights-dream

VL progress report (pads, fields, properties, operation signature): vl-spring-update

VL progress report (patch structure, categories, library): vl-winter-update

Learn about the fundamental data types of VL: integer-and-primitive-types-in-vl

Nodes for 2D and 3D editing: introducing-the-editing-framework

2015

VL progress report (new devices, library, nuget, UI): vl-autumn-update

Working with value ranges: mapping-and-ranges-in-vl

Understanding spherical and cartesian space: polar-spherical-and-geographic-coordinates

VL progress report (library, eye tracker, UI, loops): vl-summer-update

Add type annotations to properties: vl-type-browser-now-in-alpha-builds

Community feature voting: vl-feature-voting

First official download of VL: vvvv50-vl-pack-alpha

Preparing for the first launch: 50-pre-release-roundup

Understanding data type patches: 50-custom-datatypes

Understanding generics: 50-generics

2014

Understanding properties aka. fields: 50-properties

Understanding operations aka. methods: 50-colors

Initial thoughs: 50-that-next-big-thing.-an-overview.

Object oriented patching for the masses: 50-vl-features-i-a-patch-is-now-a-class

The very first applications built with VL: 50-the-humble-quad-bundle

Anything to add? Let us know in the comments.

yours,
devvvvs

tonfilm, Wednesday, Mar 11th 2020 Digg | Tweet | Delicious 1 comments

NODE20 Call for Workshops, Lectures and ...

Dear all,

Here is the call for workshops, lectures and presentations. NODE20 is taking place from October 2nd to 8th 2020 in Frankfurt and we're getting started planning the program for the community. Together with you!
We call the community program the summit for creative technologies. We are david and joreg and we are the spearheads of its curation. In our quest to improve the process of the selection and curation of the overall workshops we’ve chosen a board consisting of vvvveterans sebl, miik, kathi and motzi to help us make decisions. But since we are creating this program for you, you are of course our most important advisors, because we need to understand what interests you in order to make the program meaningful for everybody.

Therefore we want to hear from you:

What do you want to learn?
What can you offer to teach?
How does our theme affect you?

The NODE20 Theme

This year, NODE will examine art-making and creative practice in times of planetary crisis. A crisis that is, in large part, fuelled by our technology needs (Internet use, for example, accounts for one billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year). How seriously do we as a community of digital creators take our share of responsibility? How can we rethink our practices both in terms of footprint and criticality and empower others to do the same? And how do we leverage NODE as a cultural platform that brings the public into the conversation?

The arts and culture program, spearheaded by this year’s curatorial team of Jeanne Charlotte Vogt (NODE), Carmen Salas (Connecting Dots), Alexander Scholz (HOLO) and other experts in the field, will tackle some of these questions head-on. Taking the form of an interdisciplinary laboratory jam-packed with discursive and hands-on formats, we want to collectively explore how art and technology can be used for creative countermeasures that – hopefully – effect change. To do so, we invite you, particularly those of you typically underrepresented (gender, race, sexual orientation), to submit ideas for talks, workshops, and creative interventions.

Also: in order to be able to shape the program with the community’s needs in mind, we’d like to hear your thoughts about the subject from all of you! Please take a moment to fill out the Google form linked below and let us know if and how environmental concerns affect you.
https://forms.gle/N9Xbxsnxj7aCPRPG6

What’s going to be different this time

We used to start the festival on Monday and end it on a Saturday. This time we start on Friday evening and will have the closing party on a Thursday night! Like this we’re expecting a more public audience in the beginning and will be going more nerdy towards the end.

There will be no more complicated workshop-seat booking-system. Everyone with a ticket for the day can join any event. First come first serve. This comes from experience in the past where we’ve never really had the resources or even saw a necessity to enforce the seat reservations. We still believe that no one will miss their favorite workshops because typically there was always still the chance to find a spot in each room, even if only standing. Also we’ll try to record many of the events again so that they can be revisited later.

Instead of only 3 or 6h workshops, this time we’ll have different formats:

daily 3h vvvv gamma fundamental
3h vvvv gamma beginner workshops
general 3 or 6h hands-on workshops
1h lecture
1h presentation

ad 1) We’ll be running daily 3h vvvv gamma fundamentals workshops. Like this we’re hoping to level the knowledge of people who will be attending the follow-up beginner workshops. The content of these will be standardized so that it is easy for many people to host them.

ad 2) If you’re hosting one of these you know that your participants will at least have gone through the fundamentals. So here we are looking for creative, playful hands-on workshops that should work towards some kind of output that participants can take away. Consider a little music-visualization as mp4, a printed generative design poster, an executable app, a lasercut, a 3d print… These workshops are targeted at people who’ll have their first contact with vvvv at NODE20. These workshops are targeted as well at people who did not know about vvvv before. The argument for the workshop should be the output that we create with the help of vvvv. Also other tools are of course not forbidden!

ad 3) The classic hands-on workshops we had in the past editions of NODE. These are targeted at the classic vvvv user and can range from intermediate to advanced. If you propose or request a workshop for non vvvv users that’s fine also. Think combining tools and practices. Think in subjects. Think also about the leitmotiv.

ad 4) There are topics that are relevant but don’t need to be taught as hands-on workshops. Think:
How are you using vvvv and other tools in your production pipeline
Best practices (technical, creative process, workflows)
About the tool you created with vvvv (Timeline, VJ Tool, CMS solution,...)

ad 5) Here we’re looking for more inspirational and theoretical talks targeted not necessarily only at vvvv users but anyone with interest in design, art & technology

Apart from those five types of formats we’ll curate a schedule out of, like last time, there’ll also be a chance for participant-provided content. More on that in a later announcement.

vvvv beta and gamma

This year is crucial for the vvvv world, we know. We basically have two tools that are relevant to teach, with VL being the link between them. Ideally vvvv gamma is released with 3d support before NODE20 making it a complete alternative to vvvv beta and NODE20 the best moment to kickstart you into the future. But keep in mind: Anything you learn about vvvv gamma will be applicable to vvvv beta via VL, and also the other way round, many concepts you can learn with vvvv beta, like Transformations, Shaders, Physics, Protocols... can also be applied to vvvv gamma.

Not too many people may yet feel confident enough to teach with vvvv gamma. This is where the vvvv group will help out. Teaching the teachers first. So if you show your interest in teaching with vvvv gamma they are offering to help you prepare the workshop and make sure you are confident teaching it.

How to contribute

For details on how to contribute please read

Feel free to request/propose as many events as you like. Only before you do so please check if there is already a similar request/proposal and consider adding to that existing discussion rather than starting a new topic. Discussing entries is very much encouraged hoping that it can help us all to better define individual proposals/requests.

Then for both requests and proposals use the like-button of the topic to show your interest in it. The six of us will then look at the discussions and like-counts to get an idea of what's hot and what's not. Please note that a high like-count here will not be a guarantee for a workshop to take place as requested/proposed. We'll have more parameters to consider for each workshop than just the likes but they'll certainly be a factor for our decisions.

Deadline

This call doesn't have a strong deadline but we'll make a first curatorial assessment on April 20 2020. So to maximize your chances of being heard make sure your entries are there before that day. What happens afterwards, we'll announce by then.

What we offer and what we expect.

Instead of paying fees for workshops/lectures, at NODE we always decided to rather spend our financial resources on covering contributors stays for the whole week. We believe that making sure they stay longer, allows for more meaningful interactions and results in a better investment of our limited resources to the benefit of the whole community.

Our budget is not fixed at this stage, but compared to NODE17 we already know that we have to be more cost-effective. So this time around we cannot cover travel-costs by default for every contributor. Instead we'll want those who cannot afford it to contact us and we'll try to find individual solutions.

So to sum up, here is what we can offer:

You get a full festival pass for the whole week
You get accomodation for the whole week

And here is what we expect:

You pay your own travels unless you need support in which case you get in touch with us to find a solution
You co-host at least one other workshop
You help out in the preparation of at least your own workshops and events

Happy brainstorming to you! Let us know if you have any further questions. We are very much looking forward to your submissions and discussions!

And finally some refreshment for your memories:

david, Monday, Mar 9th 2020 Digg | Tweet | Delicious 0 comments

vvvv gamma 2019.2 - preview

Moments later,...

...we're announcing the immediate availability of the vvvv gamma 2019.2 series of previews, finally including one of the more anticipated features in vvvv history: Executable Export.

This means we are now in the final stage of the preview leading up to a proper initial release after the waves introduced by the new features in this series have been smoothed out.

Her majesty... at your service.