Timeline / Future Plans

[benny!]

Hi all,

I just downloaded the demo version of cobra and run the examples. Have to say that I am really
impressed. Now I wonder if there are any concrete timetables or plans about upcoming releases
of cobra. Heard that a special 3D module is planned ? Any more details about that ? Is Cobra
primarily designed for multimedia applications ?

Furthermore I really do like the clean structure of the program and the IDE with the treelist at
the right. This really gives you a good overview of your code as far as I can say from now.

Looking forward to see this languages growing ...

[GrahamK]

Thanks for the kind words Benny, I'm glad you like it (so far).

For the rest of the questions,
1. Plans ... Yes, timeline... no (well yes, but as you may have noticed, it's pretty difficult for me as a 'one man band' to be give accurate dates).
2. 3D is done, but I'm releasing Cobra in stages, the base 2d cobra is 300+ commands, after that is the 2d in 3d module (just a rework of current commands so no radical increase in the language there), then the Cobra3D module (additional 500+ commands currently). All 3D is openGL, as this is my prefered API to work with. The future may see a Dx/OpenGL renderer, but that will really depend on the takeup of Cobra/Cobra3D overall.. ie. if it flops, I won't be able to afford to do it 
3. Cobra is 100% focussed on doing Games/multimedia. I'm not trying to make Cobra general purpose, there are other things out there to do that (personally I'd use Delphi), but I think there is still a place for a targetted language.

As for the future, I have 2 new major modules planned (details closer to when they are ready to be released), and the IDE will be undergoing a bit of a rebuild once Cobra and Cobra3D are both out, this is to allow 3rd party plugins to be written for it, as well as a few other tweaks which I can't do easily with the current version).

Ion, is my other product range and consists of the Cobra2D/Cobra3D engines in DLL form for use with other languages. Ion2D is due after the 2d in 3d module is available, and Ion3D some time after Cobra3D (Yep, Cobra is my priority initially).

Anyway, sorry if this is a bit too much of a plug (but I was asked) 

[benny!]

Thanks a lot GrahamK, for taking your time and answering my questions.

...
1. Plans ... Yes, timeline... no (well yes, but as you may have noticed, it's
pretty difficult for me as a 'one man band' to be give accurate dates).

Ofcourse. I can understand that... no problem!

2. 3D is done, but I'm releasing Cobra in stages, the base 2d cobra is 300+
commands, after that is the 2d in 3d module (just a rework of current
commands so no radical increase in the language there), then the Cobra3D
module (additional 500+ commands currently). All 3D is openGL, as this is my
prefered API to work with. The future may see a Dx/OpenGL renderer, but that
will really depend on the takeup of Cobra/Cobra3D overall.. ie. if it flops, I won't
be able to afford to do it 

300+ 2D commands plus 500+ 3D commands sounds tremendous !!! 
Really looking forward to them.
Concerning OpenGL it is fine with me and I don't think we should start another
war about which API is better. At least you may have it a bit easier if you
plan to port Cobra to another OS (e.g. Linux or so).

3. Cobra is 100% focussed on doing Games/multimedia. I'm not trying to make Cobra
general purpose, there are other things out there to do that (personally I'd use Delphi),
but I think there is still a place for a targetted language.

I think that is a good decision to focus on whether supporting pure application or
to focus on multimedia commands. Escpecially when you are working in a small team /
alone on that product.
Guess we all prefer a solid language with good multimedia support than a language
with have 50% of both, multimedia and gadgets commands.

As for the future, I have 2 new major modules planned (details closer to when they
are ready to be released), and the IDE will be undergoing a bit of a rebuild once Cobra
and Cobra3D are both out, this is to allow 3rd party plugins to be written for it, as well
as a few other tweaks which I can't do easily with the current version).

Ion, is my other product range and consists of the Cobra2D/Cobra3D engines in DLL
form for use with other languages. Ion2D is due after the 2d in 3d module is available,
and Ion3D some time after Cobra3D (Yep, Cobra is my priority initially).

Anyway, sorry if this is a bit too much of a plug (but I was asked) 

This sounds very interesting as well. I wish you good luck and all the best with Cobra.