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Hello all, another monthly report about the KXStudio project is here.
- I skipped last month as there was not much to report.
+ A bit late this time, but let's ignore that. :)

+

DPF updates

+

+ + DPF + + got most of the attention again.
+ Things are progressing, not as fast as I hoped, but there is progress. + (I really underestimated the amount of time DPF would take)
+ The main reason for the DPF attention and rework + - updating its + pugl graphics backend + to latest upstream with no patches - is complete.
+ Only 1 small change is still custom, related to using + sofd + as a fallback file browser dialog on Linux.
+ After + some discussion with the author, + I realized such a change/patch doesn't belong in pugl. + I will change this part of DPF at a later time.
+ There are some small additions made on DPF-side of the code for pugl, but nothing that requires changing pugl itself. +

+

+ New stuff was added in DPF of course, first we have a complete + port groups + implementation, based on an + initial PR from Jean Pierre Cimalando.
+ It is supported on LV2, VST2 and JACK targets, wherever is possible on those anyway.
+ For LV2, port groups are set in the meta-data for both audio/CV ports and parameters.
+ For VST2, parameter groups are supported (named categories in VST world)
+ For JACK, lv2-like meta-data is set on the audio and CV ports.
+

+

+ Next, the JACK target can now always be built, by including + jackbridge + code from Carla (adapted to make fit DPF better, also liberally licensed).
+ This makes it so that: +

+
    +
  1. JACK headers and libraries are not needed at build-time
    2. +
  2. Compiled binaries to not link to libjack
    3. +
  3. libjack is loaded dynamically at runtime, printing an error if not found
    4. +
+

+ As a 2nd step on top of this, + RtAudio + is used as fallback in case JACK is not available or connecting to the JACK server fails + (usually because it is simply not running)
+ This has been requested a few times, and it is finally here.
+ DPF will setup RtAudio so it opens the default audio input and output as needed. MIDI is not supported yet.
+ In any case, such fallback makes testing of DPF plugins much easier, specially on systems that do not have JACK. +

+

+ Moving on, I started some + + classes that simply do event handling, + split off from the ImageButton and ImageKnob into something generic.
+ The idea here is to make it easier for developers to get a working widget from scratch.
+ Maybe this will help DPF based plugins to be more consistent on their behaviour too.
+ Note that this work is not yet finalized, so these classes are not yet documented.
+ I am using them on a new set of plugins, coding on a as-needed basis, so this will keep evolving over time. +

+

+ More stuff was added too, though not as substantial, including (in no particular order):

+

+ DPF is now at a point where I want to focus on stability and testing.
+ Out of all feature requests, only SVG support is deemed important and "breakage-worthy" (if that makes sense).
+ Once SVG support is in, there will be a feature freeze and then getting everything to work at least as good as before. +

-dpf update to upstream pugl finished (feature parity with old pugl) -plus: -- vst2 parameter groups -- load libjack dynamically -- Fallback to RtAudio when JACK fails -- port groups -- start of event handler helper code, now in use for internal image widgets and also blendish widgets (WIP) -Allow UI_TYPE = generic, so UI can be opengl or cairo, whichever is available -Initial work for VST3 compatible plugins, lots to do.. -Implement Window::openFileBrowser() fallback for state files - -future plans: -- ensure high-dpi works always and for all plugins in dpf-plugins suite -- svg support -- freeze features and begin all around bugfixing -- slowly get vst3 to work -- keep going at documentation +

One-Knob Series

+

+ As a way to stress-test the new DPF and also start having some usable + DPF-Widgets + I began a + new project called One-Knob Series + that is going to be slowly brewing for the upcoming months.
+ I am not taking a rush on this one, its initial purpose is to test DPF but it so happens that it is also a nice, fun and useful project.
+ The idea here is to make a collection of stupidly simple but well-polished and visually pleasing audio plugins, + with as little controls as possible, often just one knob and a few options.
+ Eventually they will be not just as a test for DPF, but also as a show-case of what it can do, plus give an example of good practices within DPF.

- -OneKnob series WIP -goal for this, upcoming plans + ok-series

- -carla new release incoming, in 15 days for the release pact once again. -going to be bugfix release, more details later but these are the changes so far: -- pipewire connections fixup attempt -- vst2 paramter groups (linux vsts only) -- Fix initial size for LV2 macOS UIs with no UI resize extension -- allow canvas eyecandy for >= qt5.12 -Fix canvas split/join action -Remove favorite plugins from list when they fail to load -Use posix_spawn for macOS bridge mode scanning -Fix bridged plugin UIs appearing behind main carla window on macOS -Fix default rack "skin" for a few plugins -midipattern: always kill all notes on reposition -Improve countDecimalPoints -Make some macOS dialogs modal, hack around edit dialog on top + The guidelines for the collection are:

+

+ I have a few ideas for useful one-knob style of plugins, to slowly be put into action throughout the year.
+ Before you ask, you can already build and use them yes.
+ I don't recommend doing so right now though. +

-mod-live-usb mention -done on free time, even though related to work, might be useful for other projects later on -- based on archiso -- single qt tool running fullscreen. -using linux framebuffer, no x11 or wayland -- puts cpu in performance mode, has RT kernel, other common tweaks for audio -- has options for picking soundcard -- spawns a container matching MOD system, so libs, jack, plugins, everything matches -- different tabs for ..., main thing in 1st tab. can open terminal with ctrl+alt+t -- very barebones, intentionally. no internet. -- not optimized in size yet, problem coming from archlinux +

Other

+

+ A new Carla release is coming very soon, for the quarterly release pact once again.
+ It is going to be a bugfix release, I will write more details about it in 13 days for the 15th of July.
+ JACK2 will very likely see a new version too, pretty minimal but keeping with the spirit of doing regular releases.

- -now, into personal notes... -- a little frustrated, perhaps disappointed, that pushing for donations doesnt work. -number of subcriptions has been going down, not up. -while I want to keep doing these things, being realistic, it is really not sustainable. -all the free time is basically spent on this, but it does not pay off. - -it seems that (opinion), in order to make it really pay off, a whole lot more effort would be needed. -not just the coding, but more regular interaction with community, basically a whole lot of reporting and being present? -or maybe is not feasible at all, this is all very very niche, so who knows. -but it is clear that keeping this up is not possible, a lot of life stuff was ignored or put on hold (it was lockdown anyway, so not much of a problem). - -so going forward, for the next 6 months (rest of the year), plan is: -- no more new-feature developments, bugfixes only (the svg and vst3 support in dpf being the exception, I feel like they are essential) -- will restrict time spent working on floss stuff to whatever is left from main job, no more weekends -- when bugfixes get boring, try packaging, website updates or writting user manual + Now, into some personal notes...
+ I am a little frustrated, perhaps disappointed, that pushing for donations doesn't work.
+ The number of subcriptions has been going down, not up.
+ While I want to keep doing these kinda of things, being realistic, it is really not sustainable.
+ All the free time is basically spent on this, but it does not pay off.
+ Perhaps that should have been expected..
+ It seems that (in my opinion), in order to make it really pay off, a whole lot more effort would be needed.
+ Not just with coding, but more regular interaction with community, basically a whole lot of reporting and being present.
+ The projects that really succeed in such funding pretty much always have someone very "present" and visible within their community.
+ It is tough, and maybe was just not feasible at all. We know audio development, specially on Linux or open-source, is very very niche. +

+

+ So it is clear that keeping this up as-is is not possible, a lot of my life stuff was ignored or put on hold (it was lockdown anyway, so not much of a problem).
+ For the sake of sanity and balance, going forward for the next 6 months (so the rest of the year), plan is now: +

+ +

+ And that's all for now.
+ Obviously I will still keep working on these things, don't worry.
+ Specially Carla and DPF have my main attention, but will be on a more reasonable pace from now on.
+ As always, if you appreciate the kind of work I do, please + consider a donation.
+ Thank you in advance for your support, and stay safe out there! See you soon!

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