Limits of DXScript

Is DXScript good enough for general applications development?

from Stardock Forums

Hello, I have just discovered DesktopX and I have to say I am impressed at the degree of customization it makes possible for WinXP and the neat little mini-apps that seem possible.  That got me thinking about DXScript as a general purpose application development platform.  Being an absolute newbie I thought the developers' forum would be the best place to look for an answer.  However, I have browsed around and have not found any posts that address this broad question hence this post. 


The kind of apps I am imagining are of the order of complexity of the following:


1) single purpose analytic tools like a graphing calculator


2) simple visual simulator of a mathematical function (e.g., the orbit of a body around another body, stochastic events such as the arrival interval between trains on a schedule, etc.)


In other words, these are things that can be done in Flash using ActionScript, is DXScript sophisticated enough to accommodate this level of applications complexity?


Thanks. 

2,396 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
a graphing calculator would require some sort of pixel placement ability (ie, drawing, using vectors or 'points'.) You *could* make a single pixel sized object and call it dot_template, then clone it hundreds of times in the correct positions on the screen (the positions being determined by a function, say y = sin(x))

in terms of actual animation (the above idea only needs placement of objects, it doesnt need to move them) I have found dx is a little slow. You CAN adjust the position of objects, and so can do that using mathematical functions within the limitations of VBscript/JScript so your 'orbiting' idea could be done for example, by using an object(s) as the axis, or centre, or focii (in the case of an ellipse) and then position objects based on a function from these focii, (like x = r cos (@) and y = r sin(@) for a circular orbit where r is the radial distance from the axis object.)

So there is no 'technical' reason why you couldn't model mathematical scenarios with desktopx objects, it just depends on the scope of mathematics you need and whether the model can be satisfactorally produced using the scripting languages available. DesktopX can then position your graphics wherever you need them.

DXScript = VbScript/JScript with a lot of simplifications and extra object models to make it usable within the context of desktop customization, its very sufficient for what it's for. You may find for specialist things like mathematical modelling a program like Matlab is better.




Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You would be better of making an ActiveX control or plugin to draw the graphs as scripts really do drawing. ActiveX controls are easier to make as you can use any langauge to make it, enabling you to use easy languages like Visual Basic or .NET framework. However, I don't think you can make their background transparent and you require that. In that case you have to make a plugin, for which you need C++. (There's a guy that is making a .NET plugin for ObjectDock that let you write docklets in .NET. Would be nice to see similar to DX.)
I've wishes for some drawing fuctions in DX for quite a while. I think I suggested that some while ago.
It'd be nice to know what they have got planned for DesktopX on Longhorn. They have been talking about integrating with XAML and Avalon I think. Apparetnly we should be able to use .NET language as well then. It'd be very interesting if we got access to drawing functions then.
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