1 Topic by Cecilia (edited by Cecilia 2008-02-28 14:01:38)

  • From: San Francisco, CA
  • Registered: 2008-02-21
  • Posts: 98

Topic: Learning to write a widget

Hey all,

I just got my chumby on Monday, he doesn't even have a name yet lol Anyway, I think he's just great, waking up to the bugle every morning really makes me smile.  (and I know I'll smile bigger when I'm not woken up on Saturday lol)

But I'd really, really like to learn to program him.  I can do some programming, like MS Access/Excel, html/javascript, and that sort of thing, but I have never done any graphical programming or anything like flash.

My goal, because I know it helps to have a goal, is to learn to eventually create a widget to be able to see my ReplayTVs on my Chumby.  I think it might be possible simply because DVArchive (a server built specially for ReplayTV) has xml files, and even if I had to have my pc/NAS on, it would be a great idea.  I know I have to start with something easier, but eventually I'd like to get to this point.

But first I need to get started learning to program widgets, just basic ones.

What do I need to start in terms of software?  Obviously, not having done this before, I don't have hundreds to buy an expensive program, but there are always alternatives, no?

Then once I have the tools, where can I find a tutorial to lead me through the first one (or two)?

I have read the wiki which has ideas and such, but there doesn't seem to be a quick and clear way to go about learning for the first time.  I really don't want to go down hundreds of false paths using the wrong tools and following instructions that won't get me from here to there and making me super-frustrated in the process and not wanting to even try, so I was hoping that people here might help with a newbie guide for programming your first widget, or something like that.

Ideas, anyone?

TIA!

Cecilia  smile

Vice President of Duane's Chumby Buddies Inc, Pro-Clock faction                       Clocks are life; we all expire sometime.
http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=2565
  • From: Florida Panhandle
  • Registered: 2008-02-20
  • Posts: 92

Re: Learning to write a widget

Cecilia,

Goto Adobe.com and download the Flash Professional CS3 demo.
Goto your public library and get a Flash book.
Take 2 weeks to play with it before your book is due back, renew it or get another.
Then see if this is really something you want to do.

I don't want to discourage you, but if you do not have access to a copy of Flash through work or somewhere, the $650 sticker price is kinda a shocker.

MyridoM

PS.. I'm using the demo also. Until I can buy my own copy for home.

When someone annoys me, it takes 42 muscles in my face to frown...but it takes only 4 muscles to extend my arm and b**ch-slap you!
http://haunterofthenight.com/ * new blog location

myridom's Website

3 Reply by Cecilia (edited by Cecilia 2008-02-28 14:32:54)

  • From: San Francisco, CA
  • Registered: 2008-02-21
  • Posts: 98

Re: Learning to write a widget

Thanks, myridom.  So then the only decent way to do this is to spend $650 on software?  That is a huge bummer.  I can think of TONS of stuff I'd love to do with chumby, even if just from a database type POV.  But at that price, considering the time investment I'd already have to make just to learn, it's probably not worth it sad

Vice President of Duane's Chumby Buddies Inc, Pro-Clock faction                       Clocks are life; we all expire sometime.
http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=2565
  • From: St Ives, Cornwall, UK
  • Registered: 2008-01-18
  • Posts: 435

Re: Learning to write a widget

If you've got a PC there are cheaper alternatives to Flash

http://wiki.chumby.com/mediawiki/index. … evelopment

but you still need to master Action Script. The Flash demo is a good start - perhaps there are ways to do multiple demos to extend your effective demo period? Good luck!

View widgets by gingerbeardman

gingerbeardman's Website

5 Reply by Cecilia (edited by Cecilia 2008-02-28 15:03:45)

  • From: San Francisco, CA
  • Registered: 2008-02-21
  • Posts: 98

Re: Learning to write a widget

I was looking at those...I am both PC and Mac...but where to start?  Knowing what the alternatives are doesn't help if you're a newbie unless you've got nerves of steel to sit through doing things wrong over and over only to discover what you're using doesn't work properly.

I read the wiki too, but I was hoping for more of a tutorial approach...newbie guide...something a little easier to digest.  Or someone who is more experienced who can easily say "first do this, then do that."  Kinda like a "hello world" approach.

The other thing is that the programming part of it is only part of it, I can surf the web and find a flash tutorial but that isn't going to tell me a thing about how to create a widget specifically for the Chumby, no?

I'll take a look at the demo, but really, if it's not something I'm going to be able to sink my teeth into with limited capital investment, then it's probably not worth it for me.  Building widgets is a potential hobby, not something that would actually pay the bills.  sad

Vice President of Duane's Chumby Buddies Inc, Pro-Clock faction                       Clocks are life; we all expire sometime.
http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=2565
  • From: Florida Panhandle
  • Registered: 2008-02-20
  • Posts: 92

Re: Learning to write a widget

That's why I reccomend the library.  There are plenty of Dummy books on Flash that start right with the Hello World example.
Or if you want to buy it.. Amazon is a good place to start..

MyridoM

When someone annoys me, it takes 42 muscles in my face to frown...but it takes only 4 muscles to extend my arm and b**ch-slap you!
http://haunterofthenight.com/ * new blog location

myridom's Website

7 Reply by myridom (edited by myridom 2008-02-28 15:50:49)

  • From: Florida Panhandle
  • Registered: 2008-02-20
  • Posts: 92

Re: Learning to write a widget

If you have kids you could buy them a copy of Flash for I think $249, but you need a school ID. I have students here at work, so I might unblock Myspace as a bribe or something...LOL

Now isn't that funny.. Used to bribe adults to buy me beer, now I'm bribing kids to buy me software..

MyridoM

When someone annoys me, it takes 42 muscles in my face to frown...but it takes only 4 muscles to extend my arm and b**ch-slap you!
http://haunterofthenight.com/ * new blog location

myridom's Website

  • From: San Francisco, CA
  • Registered: 2008-02-21
  • Posts: 98

Re: Learning to write a widget

LOL  You do what you have to to get the job done, no? big_smile

Vice President of Duane's Chumby Buddies Inc, Pro-Clock faction                       Clocks are life; we all expire sometime.
http://forum.chumby.com/viewtopic.php?id=2565
  • Registered: 2007-10-31
  • Posts: 24

Re: Learning to write a widget

Cecilia,

I am going through the same path as you right now. Just two weeks ahead.

I would suggest starting with Adobe demo to learn the concepts and get the feel for the capabilities. Then - but before it expires - download FlashDevelop or any other open source environment and start playing with it. I tried using FD first and just got lost. Now that I have played with Adobe's IDE, I am starting to understand the differences and common issues.

The important points
*) timeline can only be designed in Flash IDE, so don't spend too much on time. FD (as far as I can tell) instead uses pure Actionscript 2 model, which is based around classes and dynamic building of the interface.
*) Make sure you borrow ActionScript 2 book that explains the class based approach, as most of the online examples talk about putting code into timeline (simpler, ActionsScript 1 style).

  • From: St Ives, Cornwall, UK
  • Registered: 2008-01-18
  • Posts: 435

Re: Learning to write a widget

You should check out one of the demo widgets from the Wiki, there are several of varying complexity and they are documented well enough. Go for it!

View widgets by gingerbeardman

gingerbeardman's Website

  • Registered: 2008-02-20
  • Posts: 5

Re: Learning to write a widget

I've been wondering how I was going to learn all of this myself...What a great community!

*GID E AN
  • Registered: 2008-02-21
  • Posts: 17

Re: Learning to write a widget

The Adobe flash environment - although expensive - is really the best way to do it.  Think of it this way - flash is a very marketable skill.  If you use chumby widget development as an excuse to learn flash - it's worth the investment long term...at least that's how I'm thinking about it. :-)

If you have a background in programming it helps.  Actionscript is where most of the magic happens with this stuff.   If you already know a scripting language like Javascript and understand object-oriented programming you'll be way ahead of the game.