VegBun, Bundle vegs and all dependent files!

Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/21/2006, 7:45 AM

I didn't know what to title this, but I'm looking for some folks with a little time who wouldn't mind beta-testing and working with me on a new app called Vegbun.

VegBun bundles your Vegas projects with all their dependencies into *.vegbun files. These bundled files contain unique information about your Vegas project, like the project title, author, contact information, even sample videos / images, etc. VegBun makes it easier to share Vegas projects over the internet without worrying about compression formats, project settings, program versions, instructions, yadda yadda yadda. This tool isn't necessarily useful for everyone, so I'm more than open to criticism from folks who they have a better way of sharing.

I would like a trial team to minimize any lingering bugs and any other useful or exciting features. One such feature that I have already developed is the ability to watch rendered samples of projects from within VegBun before you view the source. I think having a small unofficial development team would be a lot better than releasing a virgin v1.0 to the whole community.

Some additional information: The project is about 95% complete and I finished graphic today work, so let me show you some images used in the program. Of course, remember that I started development yesterday, so there is a chance of running into some unforeseen roadblocks. Again, this is where a small group of helpers becomes very useful.

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

No programming skills are required to help me. Just some time, input, and a half-decent attitude. This is, of course, going to be another 100% Free app, because that's how I roll. That and I'm poor now, so why would I charge others for something so simple but yet I couldn't afford myself, you know? I'd just like to develop this application with a little higher quality since I could imagine it actually being useful to more than a small handful of people. :)

Comments

epirb wrote on 9/21/2006, 8:01 AM

Count me in Jonathan, Ill help how ever I can.
Not a programer but I break stuff pretty good ; )

Yarin VooDoo wrote on 9/21/2006, 8:25 AM

Hi Jonathan,

If you need help, I'm here!

Ciao ;-)

TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/21/2006, 9:39 AM

Is there a reason to use this instead of the "copy trimmed media with project file" (or whatever), zip that & send that instead?

Not downing on oyu, this could prove quite usefull to me, just wondering what's the advantages vs what i jsut said.

EDIT: i wouldn't mind testing this out eigther. i could probley use it in the next couple days. A display saying what version of vegas & needed non-vegas stuff (plugins, fonts, etc) that are req'd would be a great thing to have too!

Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/21/2006, 10:30 PM

Okay, birthday celebrations are over, but I didn't want to neglect this.

TheHappyFriar, the advantages come between Vegas users. I hadn't even thought about plugins & fonts, but that would most-definitely be a desired feature. Detecting such things probably wouldn't come around in v1.0, to be honest.

I've set up a forum just for this project @ http://madison.thewikies.com/viewforum.php?f=35

Thanks again, all volunteers!

Marco. wrote on 9/22/2006, 2:57 AM

I'm sorry I probably won't have the time to beta-test this tool in the next two months.

Anyway I'd like to drop the note I find this idea brilliant. This tool can be very, very useful so some of us.

Marco

ansorgj wrote on 9/22/2006, 4:24 AM

careful with bundling everything. I see copyright infringement attorneys lurking around the corner

There might be stuff like fonts and plugins, images and sounds that are payware and cannot just be shared with everybody

Although, the idea is nice :)

TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/22/2006, 5:46 AM

i just want a list of what's included. Perhaps you could have the program scan a project & then a listing of everything included with checkboxes to include the file in the archive. Torque Game Builder does this when you package something so you can decide what to include.

Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/22/2006, 5:52 AM

A settings.ini goes into each *.vegbun file, and it would look something like this.

[settings]

vbproject = Star Wars Opening Crawl

vbcreator = Jonathan Neal

vbcontact = jonathantneal@hotmail.com

vbwebsite = http://madison.thewikies.com/

vbversion = 7.0a

samplevid = sample.wmv

sampleimg = sample.1.jpg:sample.2.jpg:sample.3.jpg:sample.4.jpg:sample.5.jpg

vegpieces = project.final.veg:project.child-text.veg

All the dependent files of the veg would also be in the vegbun, but it separates our the actual veg projects and the sample images or videos.

I like the idea (when creating vegbuns) of having check boxes next to the detected dependency items, as you described. Thanks for the suggestion :)

cheroxy wrote on 9/22/2006, 10:50 AM

Jonathan, I would love to help. I wish there were more sharing going on as it is. It helps promote creativity. Anyway, you should have my email from the question I sent you the other day. If not, post here and I'll send it to you again.
Carson