[Enigma-devel] Re : Enigma level editor

[Busser Alain]

> One downside is that I know very little about java programming

Well, I guess Java was only a suggestion, think for example that Ruby is 
supposed to be specialized in GUIs, or you can build a GUI in Python, or other. 
If you want to federate it is better to choose a language and tools that 
everybody in your team knows!

> 
> I'm also wondering what making this level editor will involve? Will it
> require knowledge of swing GUI components?
> 

not necessarily, but it helps; anyway I am sure that the best way to know Swing 
is to use it, for example in building a project in swing!

>  
> 
> I am also thinking that I am going to use NetBeans IDE to create the level
> editor.
> 


NetBeans and Eclipse are also good for other programming languages like lua for 
example, there is also Eric5 ( 
http://eric-ide.python-projects.org/eric-download.html ) but this one is not 
the best for Java...

As I have absolutely no free time nowadays, I just want to give some advices to 
you:

1) Choose a forge like sourceforge to implement your project, it is the best 
way to find people who can join in;
2) Read the Enigma wiki about the API, it helps to know where you are aiming at
3) Handle the TODO list from the beginning on, if you want people to join in 
later on they must find it easy to understand what they can do; for the same 
reason, write as many comments as possible from the beginning on (after a few 
days it will be too late)
4) Be aware of what exists already (for example, pygame...): After 3 months 
spent at trying to create a solution, find that this solution exists already, 
gives a bitter taste to your project...


May the Force be with you (and some extra time might help too)

Alain