JStella 0.91 released

[Mauvila]

Okay, I have redone the desktop version of JStella in order to "dumb it down" as much as possible. For that reason, it is now launched via Java Web Start...the user presses one button, and should be confronted with instructions from then on out. The user specifies where the ROMs are by selecting either a directory, ZIP files, or the ROM files themselves, and the program will...should...automatically download the metadata, including cartridge scans. (I got the metadata from Stella and this web site, mainly...many thanks). The user then points that mouse cursor thing to the prettiest looking cartridge picture and double clicks...voila!

 

A heavily compressed screenshot of the new dumbed-down menu system:

 

Since I've only tested this thing on Windows Vista/XP (and it's pretty rough at this point), this isn't an official SourceForge release...feedback is desperately needed.

 

I'm still not sure what SourceForge's policy on Web Start is...(it would bypass the whole mirror thing), so I've currently got the binary Web Start version on my site. To launch, click on the following link: http://jstella.mauvila.com/launch.jnlp.

 

The source code on the SourceForge CVS is up to date. I recommend using Netbeans 6.0 if you want to build it yourself.

 

Despite being dumbed down, the new repository system offers several advantages, including easy customization of any game. It also can sort by metadata, so by hitting "Sort by controller type", you have all the paddle games lined up in a row. These repository files (*.j26) can plug directly into the JStella applet, which is good because it carries its configuration inside the file itself...no more dealing with HTML. Also new on the Applet front is a much better JavaScript interface--e.g. if you host multiple ROMs, you can switch to another ROM without having to dynamically regenerate another webpage. I'll put an unsigned applet-specific JAR up on SourceForge in the near future.

 

 

Java does support joysticks (via 3rd party extensions), but I don't own a computer joystick yet, so I haven't implemented that. But I imagine it will be in place by version 1.0.

 

Again, please let me know of bugs (there are plenty), suggestions, etc., especially suggestions about how to "smooth" the user interface. And if anybody wants to help out with programming, graphics, website, etc., please send me a message.

 

Thanks,

--JLA