Past, Present, and Future

I am currently getting down to the nitty-gritty of Python coding (I am a novice when it comes to Python programming). The Treenimation module I am currently implementing is called the TIL Loader. Its function is to take as its input the output of the Treescript Compiler (which is a text file), and to convert it into an in-memory program tree, which can then be processed by the Treenimation Runtime. (TIL stands for Treenimation Intermediate Language.) What follows is a roadmap of where I've been before, where I am now, and where I hope to be in the future, in regards to Treenimation development.

For newcomers to this blog, OLPC stands for One Laptop Per Child, a non-profit organization which aims to distribute millions of $175 laptops to schoolchildren in developing countries. Each laptop (called an XO Laptop) is Linux-based, includes Python (a free programming language), and comes equipped with wireless, peer-to-peer networking.

Past:

1. Design Treescript programming language
2. Design board-game components
3. Design animation components
4. Create web site documenting the Treenimation project
5. Implement the Delphi version of the TIL Loader
6. Start this blog
7. Announce Treenimation project to OLPC Games mailing list
8. Purchase XO Laptop ("give 1, get 1": buy a laptop and at the same time donate another laptop to OLPC)
9. Install Linux on my home computer
10. Install Windows version of Python on home computer
11. Install PyGTK and Glade on home computer
12. Write "Hello, world" program in Python (an ultra-simple program that does very little, but it works)
13. Modify above program to display the user interface of the Delphi version of the TIL Loader
14. Create basic classes of in-memory program tree using Python, for the TIL Loader
15. Lay the foundations for the heavy-duty Python coding necessary to implement the TIL Loader
16. Implement the core functionality of the TIL Loader
17. Temporarily change the page size constant from 1000 to 50, in order to test the multipage functionality of the TIL Loader
18. Translate the Delphi code which handles user input of arrow keys (to traverse the program tree) into Python
19. Implement the non-core functionality of the TIL Loader
20. Update web site: both Treescript and Python can be used to create games
21. Install PyGTK and Glade for Linux on home computer
22. Port TIL Loader from Windows to Linux (hopefully I can reuse my 3 Python source code files without modification)

Present:

1. Apply to OLPC for web hosting of Treenimation project (application not yet processed)
2. Advertise on the OLPC Games mailing list the position of Chief Linux Developer, which is basically an unpaid position, but if Treenimation eventually makes money, the Chief Linux Developer will receive 10 percent of the gross income of Treenimation.net
3. Write the detailed job description of the Chief Linux Developer, who will implement the Treenimation Integrated Development Environment (TIDE), or code editor, including the design specs of the TIDE, and post it on the Treenimation web site: http://www.treenimation.net/
4. Hire the Chief Linux Developer, Jake Beard

Future:

1. Sugarize the Linux version of the TIL Loader, enabling it to run on the XO Laptop
2. Work on Treenimation development at least 16 hours/week (6 hours on the weekend, mostly on Sunday, 6 hours on Thursday, 2 hours on Tuesday, and a total of 2 hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings)
3. Implement the Treenimation Runtime
4. Implement the Treescript Compiler
5. Build the Treenopolis web site, a destination for users of Treenimation (both game developers and game players)
6. Implement the rating/membership system, whereby avid gamers who need to know their ratings/rankings in every game they play are charged an annual membership fee of $24 (all XO Laptop users play for free)
7. Donate 25 percent of gross income of Treenimation.net to OLPC
8. Start version 2.0 of Treenimation, which adds support for animated games (not just multiplayer board games)
9. Advertise Treenimation.net on PBeM Server mailing list (Play By eMail, a site for email-based board games boasting 2000 members)
10. Implement Treescript versions of PBeM games developed by Cameron Browne, and pay him royalties

Goals of Treenimation

The following goals can also be found on the Treenimation web site, under Introduction > Overview > Goals.

The all-encompassing goal of Treenimation is ease of use. Here are the other goals, in descending order of importance:

1. The income from avid gamers, who are charged $24/year, exceeds expenses, such as web hosting fees, enabling Treenimation.net to donate a percentage of the profits to OLPC.
   
2. OLPC kids (One Laptop Per Child, see http://www.laptop.org), with minimal support from their teachers, can use Treenimation to create drag-and-drop multiplayer board games.
   
3. Non-programming adults and teens can easily use Treenimation to create drag-and-drop multiplayer board games, without being coached by Treenimation gurus and/or tech support.
   
4. Non-programming high school students and undergraduates can learn Treescript as a first programming language more easily than any other Graphical User Interface (GUI) programming tool.
   
5. Programming novices (who are already familiar with at least one other GUI programming tool) can master Treescript in one month or less, on their own, with little or no coaching from Treenimation gurus and/or tech support.
   
6. Advanced programmers can master Treescript as easily as falling off the proverbial log, unlike most existing GUI programming tools.
   
7. A vibrant Treenimation community blossoms, consisting of game developers and game players from all around the world and including OLPC users.

Designed GUI of TIL Loader

Today I used Python, PyGtk and Glade to design the form (screen layout) of the TIL Loader. I have already implemented the TIL Loader in Delphi. The next step is to translate it from Object Pascal (Delphi) into Python.

I now have both Linux and Windows installed on my home computer. I installed the Mozilla Thunderbird email client, which is now working. Also I successfully modified the "grub.conf" file to boot up Windows by default. So things are moving along nicely.

Installed Linux

Yesterday and early this morning I burned the DVD and installed Linux on my home computer. It went (surprisingly) fairly smoothly. There are still 3 issues outstanding:

1. I want to change the boot loader's default operating system from Linux to Windows.
2. Every time I log in to Linux, I must remove and reinsert the Bluetooth thing so I can use my cordless mouse/keyboard. Luckily I can use one of the USB ports on the front of my computer to make this task easier.
3. I can receive but not send email. I emailed tech support but this is still an issue. I intend to ditch my email client and download Mozilla Thunderbird.

I guess the next order of business would be for me to get busy learning the Python programming language and PyGtk, in both Windows and Linux environments.

Ordered XO Laptop

I just invested $400 in my Treenimation project, by ordering an XO Laptop (and donating one at the same time). So there's no turning back now, I'm committed to learning Python, PyGtk, Sugar, and Linux (or I will have wasted all that money). The next steps are to translate my TIL Loader into Python, and then install Linux/Sugar on a separate partition on my home computer. Later I must bring my computer to work so I can install our development tools on it (so I can work from home, only going in to the office on Mondays and Wednesdays).

All in Python

Please disregard my previous post. I am not going to use Delphi to implement part of Treenimation. Instead, I am implementing both the Windows and Linux versions of Treenimation in Python. This month I intend to acquire an XO Laptop, which I will use to test the Linux version of Treenimation. The To-Do list in my previous post, Working from Home, is still valid, except I can skip Step 4 (I don't need Partition Magic).

Dual Treenimation Versions

I plan to implement the Treenimation Runtime in Python for both the Windows and Linux versions. However, I intend to maintain 2 versions of Treenimation Builder (the part that lets you create your own games): the full Windows version will be written in Delphi, and the less feature-rich Linux/XO version will be written in Python.

Implementation Phases:

1. Translate TIL Loader from Delphi to Python
2. Install Linux/Python/PyGtk/Sugar etc.
3. Port TIL Loader from Windows to Linux
4. Implement Windows version of Treenimation Runtime using Python/PyGtk
5. Port Treenimation Runtime to Linux
6. Implement Treescript Compiler using Delphi
7. Implement Linux version of Treescript Compiler using Python
8. Add animation capability to Treenimation Runtime using PyGame
9. Implement Windows version of Treenimation Integrated Development Environment (TIDE) using Delphi
10. Implement more limited Linux version of TIDE using Python
11. Start building the Treenopolis web site (City of Games) for Windows/Linux
    

So after Phase 6 is completed, Windows users will be able to create games (using the text editor of their choice), and XO users will be able to play those games, but won’t be able to create their own games until after Phase 7 is completed.

I’m still in the early stages of learning Python. It seems like a nice language but it’s a lot different from the Object Pascal/Java/C#-style languages that I’m used to. The Treescript Compiler is perhaps the hardest part of Treenimation to implement. Being able to use a familiar tool (Delphi) for that job seems less intimidating to me. That's how I rationalize it, anyway.

Phase 4 is a big job. Maybe by the time I complete that phase I will be confident enough in Python to ditch Delphi and just use Python to implement Treenimation Builder.