From: Rob Sacks (editor_at_realization.org)
Date: 2001-07-30 13:04:22
Hi Yaniv,
> one question how much percent is interface and
> how much percent is code ?
That depends on what kind of program we make.
If we're trying to make a general neurofeedback
program, then the vast majority of the code will
be interface. I think ElectricGuru is probably
around 70 or 80 or even 90 percent interface
code. When I say interface, I mean code that
talks to the serial port, or draws graphics on the
screen, or plays sounds, or keeps track of where
the mouse is, or manipulates the pulldown menus.
Most of that code is too tightly tied to the operating
system to be portable (unless we use a GUI
library like Joel suggested).
But actually, some of the interface code is portable
(for example, there's a routine that calculates the
precision and spacing of the numbers on the
scales of the graphs). And some of the non-interface
code isn't portable because it's too tightly tied to
the operating system.
So interface/non-interface isn't the same as
portable/non-portable.
No matter what decision we make about this,
there will always be some parts of the code that
are purely portable (like the FFT code) and of
course we should try to maximize the amount of
that code and keep it segregated in separate
modules so it's easier to re-use in other versions.
Instead of thinking about writing a single program
whose source code compiles for many operating systems
at once, I think it's more practical to think of a family
of programs that share a lot of the same source code.
> because win98 is great but also another goal - maybe not for now ,
> is portable device using palm pilot . so how hard you think it would
> be to "transport" the win98 version to palm ?
I've never done any programming for the Palm so I don't
know, but my guess is, some modules could be re-used,
but we'd re-use them in a new framework. In other words,
we'd write a new program from scratch, but we'd be able
to copy a lot of the code from the old version into the new
one, with a few changes.
> also this may require palm interface design in later stage .
> also maybe the s.w. should be build in a certain way for this or
> there should be no problems (maybe cheking memory and speed ?)
I don't think it makes any sense to try to limit the
functionality of the PC program to match what we
can do on the Palm. We should make the PC
program as powerful as possible, in my opinion.
Regards,
Rob
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