jackmcslay

Here's the gist; the reason it's been so long since a new version has been released is because I switched languages. I just couldn't couldn't get the RAM usage as low as I wanted in Java so I'm doing in on C++ now which means rewriting all the instructions for connecting with other sites. And for that I'm taking my time by having my own XML, HTML and JSON parsers to my liking to make work easier.

Also It will have a new name and logo that I will reveal when it's released. And I will be reworking my patreon for that and other similar sites I've discovered.

Things to expect on the next release or later ones:

→ Get notified when someone mentions you
→ Ignore users
→ Reposting submissions
→ Rich text editor for descriptions and literature submissions
→ Simple builtin browser for adding accounts, enhanced privacy and quick account switching
→ Manage multiple accounts in the same site
→ Modability features (it is already modable but it will get mod management)
→ ARM server version for use in lightweight home servers such as Raspberry PI
→ Streaming interface - both stream and announce on the same in one go
→ Upload work files directly (.psd, .kra, .ora and maybe others) and have the program convert automatically to the proper format and your size of choice for uploading
→ Cropped thumbnail creator
→ Schedule submissions
→ Filtering messages and submission feed
→ Automatically linking users' multiple accounts (reduces redundant notifications of the same artwork being posted in multiple places, and allows better linking when writing descriptions on submissions)
→ Description templates
→ Keyword autocomplete
→ Importing/synchronizing galleries
→ Editing submissions

Also I want to have some form of commission management, but I haven't figured out how it would work yet.
To have something to show for have a screenshot, showing the filter interface:
www.dropbox.com/s/69qc548x7qt1…

Now here's a few questions:
- Would you be interested in watching dev streams for artwatcher and other apps?
- Which site(s) do you most want to use it for? Since I'm going to have to port things the next release, it should only have 4-6 supported sites initially, so I'll take than into account.
- Are you interested in it for following artists without having to check multiple websites, for the uploading features, or both?

Also I'm going to have something else interesting I'm finishing out, I'll talk about it when I later.

Since the Patreon campaign was unsuccessful I am moving ArtWatcher to Itch.io - jack-mcslay.itch.io/artwatcher… where you can now get the current and future versions of the application as well as support me on the development.

This also follows the release of a new alpha, the 1.0a001 deviantart preview. With the large change on design It will take some time till I restore functionality of other sites as well as upload functionality. This brings the advantage that the app is now a proper browser rather than just a service running on the background that you access through existing browsers. This will make it simpler to implement more sites and run using fewer resources.

So I'm making this update to give the status of the development of Artwatcher.

Development has been slow, I know, I've been busy and as such I can only spend so much time on a project that isn't giving me real returns. The good news is: next release will be 1.0, because it should be robust and lightweight enough to be considered stable. The solution is: next release will be a standalone browser rather than a local webservice.

That means it will be easier to implement further support (TECHNICAL: because I don't have to emulate a browser but rather just let the user login on the site himself and use the response cookies to authenticate) in addition that the following features will also be possible in the future:

• Switching between multiple accounts on a site
• Unobstrusive browsing, without annoying popups by fine-tuning to browsing art sites
• API to allow sites to interact with the browser - enables your own site to connect to it, for instance
• Lightweight execution, loading only the modules when necessary

In addition I will make sure that the next release will have proper installers for Windows and Debian-based Linux in addition to an universal Jar file so people running other linux or MacOS should still be able to run it via command line through their JVM.

If you wish to support development of this, you can support me on Patreon
You can also follow the development on Facebook and Tumblr

So I put up a preview of artwatcher 0.90 here - www.patreon.com/posts/2746012
Being a preview feature means it lacks features from previous versions - namely uploading and stream notifications. I decided to put it since it's been quite a while since the last one, so you can see how it's developing. Users of previous versions will not be asked to update to this one.

Also, 18 this month is my 31st birthday. Over the past years I really didn't feel like announcing my birthday since I didn't feel like I had achieved much through the course of the year but I feel like I should try to get my spirit up this time around.

I should have wrote this sooner but wasn't quite in the mood till now.

Duquesa, my 11-year old great dane died this saturday morning. Early morning she was crying a lot and we checked up on her took some care, and the next we went there she had passed away. It wasn't expecting her to last much longer because she was unable to get up since thursday and seemed very weak overall, although she didn't show any clear sign of sickness beforehand.

It seems to be a pattern, actually, that my dogs die quickly of old age showing clear signs only a few days before dying, if any. Dunno if I'm lucky or if they're just so happy and healthy that they last longer but that's how they went. But given she lived almost 12 years, which would be 3 years above the life expectancy for the breed, I'd say she lived a happy long life.

Now she used to come inside whenever a thunderstorm or fireworks hit since the was really afraid of explosion noises apparently, and sneaking into whoever she could find home. So I guess for better or for worse I'll remember her every thunderstorm.