should I upgrade?

[JRF]

Hi
I have a version of xlights downloaded back on December 2015. I really like it, but should I upgrade to the latest version? Is it simply just downloading the new version and it overwrites the older version? Any precautions I should take? I have 4 sequences in my current version...

Thanks

[mararunr]

I would suggest waiting based on something Sean said on FB.  While 2016.9 is outstanding, my understanding is the release next week will be "the other half" of what was released this week....


Sean Meighan Well, actually there is more than this. we had to cut this release in half, because bigger changes are coming. We wanted to get the first half out because of all the bug fixes. Next release More effects, new audio library by Keith using ffmpeg library to allow almost every audio file type and more. Next half will come out prob in the next week

[Gilrock]

My advice is if you do upgrade you can make it where there is no impact.  Copy your entire show directory somewhere else so you can restore it if needed.  When you install you can choose a new directory so you can always run the one you have if needed.  Some people have every version installed side by side.

[gerry]

JRF,

I always upgrade and overwrite the current version . But I have backups of the entire show directory (a few of them) plus other regular F10 backups.
It helps you to keep up with the latest changes and what people post qn/and also then makes sense. On the other hand , it may not be as stable when released as say the Dec one.

As Gil said , you could ruin them side by side . Diff install directories and diff show directories for each.
To do so , rename the existing xlights install directory (in Windows the default is in the C:\Program Files (x86) \ xLights ) and rename and repoint any icon shortcut. Then download the latest version. Copy the show directory and rename it and when you open the new xLights , change the show directory to the new one.

If you have used images , then you will need to correct the location.

 

[Dave Nibeck]

Personally,  I'm waiting.  Still have physical layout changes to plan for.  With the rate of XL updates,  staying current can be a full time job.  Lol.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

[sean]

we will probably be making weekly releases for the entire year. Which version do you use? Whatever meets your needs for this show.

If you dont take the weekly updates you will be missing bug fixes, new effects and most importantly new bugs introduced that could affect you.

I upgrade all the time. As long as i can run my shows, i want the new stuff. Until we work out the changes and get to stability I will keep the BETA label on every release. If you cant deal with the changes WAIT until April or May. At that time we should be stable like a rock. You will have missed all the new effects (like vumeter, blur, rotozoom). I plan on using all of these in this years show so i dont want to lose 2 months, but april/may is still enough time to start sequencing.

PLEASE, do not use our BETA releases (Dev releases) if the changing landscape bothers you. WAIT.

 For BETA testers who help us, thanks for helping us expand the  testing coverage.

[JRF]

Ok thanks everyone, I will update when the next one comes out and back up my existing sequences. Something I noticed this weekend is that when I close out xlights ( a version from Dec 2015 ) it brings up a crash report. I have not looked into it too deep, but it crashes when I make a change to layouts, and then to sequences.
Anyway, thanks

[mararunr]

rotozoom?  that sounds interesting :-)