I just want to say something that I think a lot of us have thought, but a few (including myself) have either not known, or have misunderstood.
Since 2013 the software we now know as xLights has grown by leaps and bounds. So much so that the product that is being written today is so far ahead of what we started out with that we (those that have been here since the beginning) don't recognize it. It is damn remarkable what has happened to it.
From Sean's original version, through Matt's enhancements, with a bunch of guys and gals adding their talents to it over the years, to the current crop of master programmers (Gil, Dan, Scott, Keith and a bunch of others), the pace that they have set for themselves is nothing short of amazing.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DO CURRENTLY AND HAVE HAD INPUT TO THIS IN THE PAST! Your efforts are noticed, and appreciated. (And awed!)
Don't ever take any comment about a change of direction, especially from those that don't agree with the change, as a hit on the talents of these guys. It is not. Their enthusiasm, and talents allow them the ability to imagine a future for the software and the ability to make it go in that direction.
Raising a caution flag, especially from outside sources, is sometimes read as "don't go there." It is not. It sometimes takes someone to disagree with another to get some dialogue going and to get everyone to remember that there are sometimes unforeseen consequences to taking a different angle. Sometimes going over or around this is needed. Sometimes it is just necessary. (Sometimes it is more than likely just a misunderstanding.)
I've had long talks these past several days at the TransWorld Christmas Show with folks that are part of both of the sequencer camps (xLights and Vixen) as to where things may be going with each and what we may see next. It is all exciting. It is all being carefully weighed against what we have now, and what we can do with it. The future of both sequencers is very exciting. (Did I say that before? Well, it is worth repeating.)
I have also found out some very interesting information as to the number of hours that it takes to put something like these sequencers together and keep moving them forward. Even with all the current donations, the amounts received don't come close to rewarding those that are doing all this work for their time and the time away from their families to make it happen. Think of that when you see the donation button on the website.
There are many other things to talk about, but this will do for now.
Please take the time to thank those that are doing this for the betterment of us all. Add a few bucks to the donation pool. The quality of the software that we are seeing developed is truly worth our gratitude.
That is my 2 cents worth, for now.
ALG
P.S.,
If you read a shortened version of this earlier, please forgive me. I accidentally posted it in mid thought. My bad.
ALG
