Greetings to everyone at DonationCoder.com I'm new here but see alot of names from the old days of EccoPro at Yahoo.
I am excited to announce the first public showing of a late alpha version of StoryServer. DonationCoder asks that I state my relationship to Polywick. I am a soon-to-be user of StoryServer who has been waiting as long as everyone else for today. I'm also an Ecco user since almost day 1 and have been offering Polywick developers "old fart perspective" and early feedback. Sorry it has taken longer than anticipated to reach this point but hey, I have looked at SS for a couple days and I think "yes, this is the real deal" and "this is a dream come true". Looking forward to seeing what you think.
There has been skepticism whether someone/anyone could reproduce a modern, 64-bit version of EccoPro - one without memory limitations and one with modern web interfacing. And there is debate as to whether something like this is even needed/wanted/warranted in 2019. Understandably so. We'll have to let the 'market' decide if StoryServer is needed. As to the claims of a new Ecco .... over the years most of us have gotten excited only to be frustrated one too many times. Do you remember back in 2010 a developer posting something that looked promising, and then nothing? If I recall, it was rumored the developer had gotten sick from trying to replicate Ecco, it was so impossible. Well, let this be a lesson to us all...
Perseverance pays off.
Read the StoryServer story here for inspiration next time you get stuck.
https://storyserver....ss/briefhistory.htmlYes ladies and gentlemen, this software really has been in development - on and off - for over 10 years.
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StoryServer could have been released in skeletal form in January. If you develop software you know the concept of "feature creep". It has been the developer's desire to make ver. 1 of StoryServer robust and to that end has studied not only EccoPro, but all the great Ecco add-ons including Walter Hendle's early Ecco stuff, YSWT's EccoMagic apps, Cold Mountain's ideas, and of course Slang's EE. Figuring out new ways to do old routines takes time. As I mentioned, I've been in touch with Polywick for a few months offering feedback and I can tell you these people do not sleep. They are "on fire" to make an incredible new piece of software that honors an old tradition, and with a path forward. I see the progress and am amazed at the innovations. Good coders, IMHO. Please download the alpha, look through the menus and I think you will be happy at where this is heading.
Keep in mind this alpha is 'read-only'. Please note StoryServer writes *no data to the registry*, the install path is user definable, and SS can be installed 'portable' on USB stick. Also note there is an Ecco32.exe in the package. I am told this is a 'DDE dummy' allowing Ecco & StoryServer to talk to each other and the rest of the DDE world.
Installation is straight forward. Installer should place a shortcut on your desktop. If not, find "storyserver.exe" in the install folder and launch from there.
Documentation is still WIP but installation section is fleshed-out. If you need more info...
https://storyserver....ss/installation.htmlGet your alpha copy now at ...
https://my.pcloud.co...gNfvngavAztwtfxIkJjVLooking forward to your reactions and I'll check back to answer questions.
Cheers,
Mark/MD/airchecklover/EverEcco guy