The CW-Multimedia classes started as a private project to replace some of the MM stuff coming with OS/2 because I was annoyed by the limitations and crashes. So first I wrote a new JPEG IO procedure to handle progressive JPG images. During my attempts to integrate MP3 files seamlessly into the WPS I decided to drop all the IBM classes and write a complete replacement. The MM classes are not documented at all by IBM nor does the toolkit contain any header files. So everything had to be reverse engeneered and some things were created using trial and error with dozens of reboots between. And IMHO the classes finally surpassed the IBM stuff. It was fun in those days trying to discover the secret places of OS/2 and the WPS only very few people on this planet still know. There're still problems left though, due to the nature of the classes. Most noteworthy installation problems on some systems which nobody was able to track down yet.
I decided to make the package publicly available for free so others may benefit.
Judging from the feedback I got over the years the user base of the classes is small. Well I don't care that much about this because I'm doing the programming just for fun, for trying new programming tricks and learning. And if a few people benefit from the work that's certainly a good thing. On the other hand when I surf the net or read my mail I have to read the weirdest things about the CW-MM classes.
There're people claiming again and again they're not compatible with XWP. Well, plain wrong. Every release of the classes was tested with XWP and worked at least on the test systems. Ever heard about YMMV? So don't spread something as a fact before having checked it on several systems.
There're people claiming you have to install your WPS enhancers and the MM classes in a specific order. I don't know who invented this idea but there is no specific order necessary. And this is true for every release of the classes.
I'm tired of people blaming the classes for every quirk they experience on their system. Hey, think twice before you start your bashing. Do you really think a WPS class breaks your network driver even if the WPS isn't running at all? Do you really believe a WPS class breaks your graphics driver even after uninstalling the class and removing all files? Do you really believe a WPS class prevents Java from working? Do you really believe a WPS class which doesn't put any info into any of your system files influences your Installation even after uninstallation, deleting of all files and restoring a WPS archive?
I'm tired of people shouting the classes ruined their system and telling everyone how badly coded and crappy this stuff is.
And after a couple of postings and some investigation
it turns out those people just installed a new soundcard, a new graphic card, a new network driver, [add your favorite]. There was no need to blame the package and not a single word of excuse.
I'm tired of people finding the time to rant on the net about a bug again and again but don't have the energy to write a two lines bug report so the bug will be removed in the next release.
I'm tired of people demanding commercial grade software for free and starting insulting me because of a minor problem of a package I wrote in my spare time and I gave away for free. I simply don't have to take that.
I'm tired of people telling me I'm a moron way too dumb to get the simplest things properly done. Well, I'm always
open for some enlightenment. So here's the challenge for you programming gurus out there. Please explain why a class
called 'MMAudio' with one single method (wpclsQueryTitle() returning 'MMAudio'. Yes it's a static string.) crashes the WPS hard
during installation (using SysRegisterClass() in a plain *.cmd file) while the same code when compiled as class 'CWAudio' and returning
'CWAudio' works like a charm (class name properly changed in the IDL file of course). And this is reproducable on certain
systems as often as desired. Bad design? Broken IDL file? Well if so, why doesn't crash XWorkplace during installation, because
the IDL file in question was borrowed from the XWP source tree for this test?(1) Why doesn't crash WPS-Wizzard during installation
which uses a very similar IDL file? Why doesn't crash CWMailFile during installation?
Maybe it's just not a broken implementation but merely the fact that the class name is exactly the name of one of the IBM multimedia
classes?? Do you know enough about the inner workings of the WPS and the relationship of the various files in \MMOS2\DLL and the
WPS to claim the problem is in the CW-classes and not somewhere else? And if the problem is in the CW-classes why does the
installation of the very same class magically succeeds after running checkini /C several times?
I'm tired of people telling me I should use WarpIn for installation and magically every installation problem will fade
away. I can assure you I'm the person on this planet who installed the classes more often than everyone else using
numerous different installers and skripts. Maybe with
the notable exception of Klaus who spent a huge amount of time to hunt down installation problems.
No, WarpIn is not the best invention since sliced bread and IT WILL NOT HELP if you have installation problems. Period.
Believe it or not. Never mind. I know, you will not.
Obviously there's no demand for a new set of MM classes. Very few people offered any help in the past for tracking down problems and most bugs were reported by one single person. My available distributions seem to be regarded by more people as "badly coded crap" than as a valuable addition to the system. I don't have to take all those insults for a free package. I've read enough in the past and have no need to read more. It will not end until my reputation is completely destroyed and the classes vanish from earth.
So I decided not to annoy the OS/2 community anymore with this "crude" stuff. It's not fun anymore. The classes work for me and some friends and that's enough for me. The project arrived where it started years ago. It's a private one again and will certainly prosper in silence. Those few friendly emails I got in the past are not enough to justify any further development for a wider audience. Sorry for that. Anyway, you may always use the releases floating around.
Maybe someone else will step forward some day and try again to improve the MM system of OS/2. Be sure to always wear your flame resistant underwear when giving something away for free which isn't perfect yet, because the world out there is hostile.
-CW-
[End of ranting]
| Main page | (c) Chris Wohlgemuth 2001-2003 |