Hi All:
It has become quite apparent that I could go to RC34572 if we continue as
we have been. So, in order to clear things up and to make life easier for
not only John (The Doc wizard) but for myself, Release 1.0 has been
released.
This is the new lockdown version. Are there bugs? You bet, more than
likely. But I suspect, as in any software program, bugs will always
remain.(Certinly Mach1 and Master5 have their fair share...) However, this
version has tried to clear as many as possible. Bug reports are very low,
almost 95% turn out to be settings and such. This is due not to stupidity,
but to complexity. As Mach2 has grown, the complexity has also grown. This
means that no matter what I do, bugs will remain and get added as features
grow. I am about to increase the complexity 10 fold with the new macro
capabilities, so while Turn will remain Alpha level for awhile, Mill is
ready for full release. This allows me to at least coordinate a proper
"LockDown version" which is now online.
Release 1.0 will become 1.01..etc as bug fixes are done, but a new
development version D1.0 will be added on next release and from there on the
D version will be transfered to the newest release version as the D Series
prove themselves.
The first thing that will get me in hot water here, is the screen layout
has shifted some. It is now a 4-axis screen layout with the screen somewhat
cleaner and less cluttered. (Before you scream at me, if you don't like it,
simply select "Layout/ Load Layout" and select the 1024Classic.set and you
will be forever more back to the classic layout.)
The new layout has a CV indicator light on it to tell if G61G64 are
working properly. They do on mine...
As bugs are reported, I will post them on a page to be added to the site
labeled "Known Bugs" so that you can check to see if your particular bug is
being worked on. This will drop the email traffic as well as the list
traffic on known bugs. My intent is to begin releasing bug releases when
necessary , but to keep the development rolling with macro commands being
added weekly until the list is quite large. User macro's will be released in
futrure D-Versions as we get to that stage. Turn will continue its
development at the same time.
All this is necessary due to extreme time limitations and demands. The
G2002 project is about to start in earnest, and I have several other things
being done in parrallel. I am a victim of unexpected success on this project
with OEM requests coming in weekly from around the world. I am very sorry
for the brevity of my responces lately, I am juggling heavily on many fronts
and its making me appear a bit schitzoid in some of my answers. This release
level is meant to address several things in terms of coordinating my time
properly and while I realize the opinion of a few will be "Its not yet ready
for full release", this is not backed up by the number of users who have and
are switching full time to Mach2. (If Windows waited for bug free operation,
XP would be RC76554764.2).
I would ask you to bear with me over the next few weeks while we get this
new lockdown version to a good level of stability for its user base and then
new features will appear in the D-Series.
Thanks, I appreciate your support and your help with this project. Mach2 is
now fully released and it reflects your experience, opinions, knowledge,
arguments, conversations...I hope you like the result.
(Behold..our fully functional ( or fully released anyway) Death-Star...)
Art
www.artofcnc.ca
