[Request] Converting from Konfabulator to Avedesk

[voltaic]

After doing a number of searches I'm finding that there isn't too much information regarding the use of Konfabulator widgets with Avedesk. I have come across a few isolated cases of conversion (widescape weather converted from Konfab to Avedesk for example) but I found no specific instructions to help me understand the process.

Is converting widgets to avedesk installers a difficult thing to do?

I would like to know if there is a possibility of a tutorial that would guide current Konfabulator users in converting their widgets.

I would like to replace Konfabulator with Avedesk, especially knowing that it is more efficient. My only issue is, and has been, that a lot of the popular widgets are only out for Konfabulator (I'm mostly interested in widescape widgets, and things converted from Dashboard). Not to mention Konfabulator is now officially called Yahoo! Widgets, which is a little concerning to me.

[Unbeliever]

there is no way to convert them.

You have to rebuild them.

[neal]

Which widgets - you think - would need conversion voltaic?

[SirSmiley]

Which widgets - you think - would need conversion voltaic?

Umm...he kind already answered that "widescape widgets".

Been playing around with a bunch of them. Most seem somewhat straight forward.

Maybe we should put some thought into a porting thread? Not just for AveDesk but, vice versa, etc.

[voltaic]

Which widgets - you think - would need conversion voltaic?

As I said in the original post, I would like to see the widescape widgets and the Dashboard widgets ported to Avedesk.

Here are a few links if you guys need to see what I'm talking about:

http://www.widgetgallery.com/view.php?widget=35962

http://www.widgetgallery.com/view.php?widget=35751

But my thought was why not, as a community, explore the options of converting between these two very common formats (namely .widget and .aveinst)?

As SirSmiley noted I think it would be an helpful idea to start something and see if any of the members would have interest/knowledge in cross-converting between the formats.

neal, in case that was an offer to convert those widgets I would be very thankful to have them in Avedesk format.

Also, I think we would have to consider copyright issues. Each .widget file comes with the terms that all multimedia files contained within the widget may not be redistributed. For private use, this would be ok, but the better thing to do would be to put together a guide that shows how to rebuild widgets for Avedesk.

[neal]

See thats what I expected. Mostly widgets that are really usefull already exist for AveDesk. But let me get this straight before: widescape widgets are basically very small, 2d, rectangular widgets? Well if thats correct, since I only find 3 widescape widgets, 3 desklets would need a new look to make you convert to AveDesk?

In my oppinion they don't invite a new wheel over at y!fabulator so mostly we don't need to worry about the copyright too much. Also this is why I don't think its going to be too much of a problem to find desklets for people coming over (because they got scared) from y!fabulator.

[zondajag]

um you guys....you have to port them theres no way to convert them as they use different programming languages to one another (correct me if im wrong anyone....im not a man that gets bogged down about my pride )

[neal]

I am just saying that the basic functionallity is already there. It "just" (lol, beat me!) needs to be "skinned" differently.

[voltaic]

Correct, as far as functionality is concerned Avedesk already has useful desklets to keep users happy.

However, if you look at what was formerly www.widgetgallery.com you'll notice that they have churned out 1500+ widgets up to date.

I am not referring to the quality/functionality of the widgets that get submitted there, because I admit most of them are not worth much, but it should be clear that Konfabulator has a relatively large user base.

I don't see this with Avedesk.

Looking at AndreasV's website I see there are less than 100 desklets available and if we take the rest of the releases scattered around in discussion boards we'll likely end up with 200 desklets at most.

I can accept that this is more of a quality vs. quantity issue, but I feel like the popular widgets/apps/desklets/whatever that get released for Macs will get ported to Y!fabulator first.

Anyway, that was my original thinking process when I proposed we work on porting thing. I'm not sure whether that'll happen or not, but I'll leave it out there.

Coming back to your question neal, yes the widescape widgets are precisely that: rectangles. And I agree, the functionality is more than there with Avedesk; the issue simply boils down to the size of the user base each application has.

[neal]

Coming back to your question neal, yes the widescape widgets are precisely that: rectangles. And I agree, the functionality is more than there with Avedesk; the issue simply boils down to the size of the user base each application has.

I think I will look into it then. Don't expect much from me though :-/

[SirSmiley]

Ah yes, porting is the correct term. As far as comparing widgets to desklets.

Seriously you need to look at how many are just simple duplicates such as different RSS feeds, etc.

I don't consider the desklets that I've submitted as that...really they are just a skinned version. Even some of the ones in my development bag such as a File/Folder Drop are really essentially just varying degrees of existing desklets.

What I really would like to see but, highly unlikely was work's towards porting between all programs like dashboard, konfabulator, kapsules, etc. etc.

Some people (God knows why?) prefer other platforms to AveDesk but, having a general user style arrangement only serves to benefit all platforms.

Just me rambling on.

[pcm]

Problem is only till recent 1 month, the only way to do desklets for avedesk is if you new how to compile c++ / Delphi applications. There was no "scripting" and the closest to scripting was Sysstat, which did alot, but just not enough.

AveScripter as been around only 1 or so month now so the amount of Desklets will grow with time. Just need to be more patient. Plus, the AveDesk community is alot smaller than Yahoo Widgets aka Konfabulator.

[sbern]

Just thought I'd chip in here with a question for pcm...

If avescripter and konfab both use (basically) xml and js, how hard would it be to provide the konfab api to konfab widgets with avescripter? I'll be honest and say I haven't looked at avescripter, my machine isn't terribly high end and the cpu cycles spent on an interpreter are dearly needed elsewhere, so I stick to the compiled stuff.

I can't imagine anything that would bring more users to avedesk than the ability to run konfab widgets through some kind of wrapper... and where the users go, the devs go.

Chris.

[herd]

Konfab uses a different JS engine than AveScripter. Different things are solved differently there, especially the ActiveX stuff. I'd estimate it would take 6 to 10 months to complete a desklet that runs konfab widgets without any conversion, the same applies to running dashboard widgets (those that don't use applescript). However, I'm talking about 6-10 months of 40-60 hours the week. Sorry I can't pay my bills for that long out of thin air and I don't think anyone else here can.

[RIMMER]

Herd, I once told I was going to work on the K-loader desklet. the only problem is that i don't have much time now, but I didn't abandone this idea!

[Aquaowl]

well, with the latest release of kongabulator (now yahoo widget engine) being just as much a memory hog as ever, mayb e some of the K crowd will migrate to avedesk ... seems a lot of them aren't very happy with the new name, etc ...

[pcm]

I don't think it would be totally impossible to do a "Konfabulator" desklet load. I could use the existing "Code" I use in avedesk and do an entire wrapper for the api of konfabulator. But like herd said, there would be limitation and lots of work involved.

I'm only one person and I'm still in heavy dev. But if I had abit more help, like documentation. I could be able to do more

[kaloyster]

As i read this thread I cannot tag along since I'm no programmer.

But keep it up guys! I know we can kick Y!fab's ass! Hehe

[RIMMER]

I don't think it would be totally impossible to do a "Konfabulator" desklet load. I could use the existing "Code" I use in avedesk and do an entire wrapper for the api of konfabulator. But like herd said, there would be limitation and lots of work involved.

I'm only one person and I'm still in heavy dev. But if I had abit more help, like documentation. I could be able to do more

Agree fully. But, pcm, everithing's on the Net: spidermonkey (very well documented and available in sourcecodes) + JSBridge (if only you prefer Delphi, again nicely documented thingy) + Konfab's PDF for widget developers (to have all functions and objects listed and described) = all you need to start out.

[pcm]

ya.. when I meant, existing code, I didn't mean the exact same code.. but alot of the code can be reused.. all the stuff that renders to the avedesk, reading xml etc.. etc..