The shape of FF to come

Since the 3.0 beta has entered the final stage, signaling a commercial release of FF 3.0 on the horizon, I thought it might be interesting to dust off those crystal balls and divine the shape of FF to come --- i.e. possible features of FF 4.0 --- by doing some forum digging. Here you go:

[*]Filter Library infrastructure redesign (incl. the website)

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August 22, 2011 Vladimir Golovin wrote elsewhere: [...] a complete redesign of the Filter Library infrastructure, both on the server and the client side. This is one of the most requested features. We haven't yet decided on priorities for FF4.0, but I think this will get a top priority.

[*]Filter organization improvements

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August 22, 2011 Vladimir Golovin wrote elsewhere: Filter organization (tagging, folders etc.) will be a top priority in FF4.0.

[*]Component grouping

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June 8, 2011 Vladimir Golovin wrote elsewhere: Grouping is on high-priority on our list, but it won't be included into FF3.0. However, FF3.0 will contain (actually already contains) many infrastructural improvements that will pave the way for full-blown grouping in future releases (hopefully FF4.0). Under full-blown grouping I mean the ability to "build" your own components with custom inputs from Filter Forge's stock components, not just boxing and naming them.

[*]Vector support

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May 3, 2011 Vladimir Golovin wrote elsewhere: Vectors would integrate perfectly well into Filter Forge's rendering model. The SVG support is on our feature list for FF4.0, but we're already investigating it on low priority.

Looks like the FF team already has their work cut out for them!

fix the whole folder issue and i'm a happy camper

Another forum nugget pertaining to the discussion subject:

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June 9, 2010 Vladimir Golovin wrote elsewhere: [...] actually, the filter storage is one of the most badly designed systems in the entire project. We'd very much like to rewrite it, but that's at least 6 months of work (mostly because it's closely tied to the Filter Library). Since the library also badly needs rewriting, it is likely that we'll redesign both systems at once -- but most likely it won't happen in v2.0.

if FF4 was nothing more than a GUI function upgrade and cosmetic upgrade, it would still be a fairly major upgrade, at least according to Vladimir and his projected headaches over all this. i also like the insight into vlad's way of thinking in systems. this explains a few things to me that have occurred over the years and how and what things got implemented and what didnt. as far as i can tell, vlad has kept to his vision for FF and very little deters him or gets him to change his mind. this is both good and frustrating at times, but i certainly admire him for the tenacity and product integrity.

FF4, if it were entirely user requested changes and additions, would make for a very interesting major version. it might also make for one hell of a hodgepodged code and i think that's something vlad wants to stay away fr om if possible. i'm guessing he's already lamenting some of his earlier choices in features and function.

the one thing i've heard recently regarding FF4 is talk of using 'cloud' type functions. frankly, i'm still somewhat in the dark about just what that is. i know microsoft and apple are both embracing it, but just what it is and how it functions i'm mostly still in the dark about. why would i ever want to put my digital entities on someone else's sites/servers? i grew up learing about bugs and security and viruses and so on and now it seems we're all supposed to suddenly put all our data on someone else's machines. lol. ok, i've probably got a very lim ited understanding of 'cloud' and i'll be happy for someone else to straighten me out, but it's going to take a pretty big prybar for me to be putting my stuff on someone's 'cloud'. but i'm guessing, too, that that's not what vlad is talking about. but, i'm obviously missing data here. so, a little help here?

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Kraellin wrote: the one thing i've heard recently regarding FF4 is talk of using 'cloud' type functions. frankly, i'm still somewhat in the dark about just what that is.

Vlad was talking about tagging and tag clouds, as in...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_cloud


A tag cloud with terms related to "Web 2.0".

still not quite sure what that means, dilla... tag clouds. doesnt a search engine already provide this function in effect? break it down for me because the wiki stuff just confuses me by adding more and more terms i dont know. (i really dislike wiki because of this).

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Sphinx. wrote: They should gear down on the "simple" feature implementation goals (i.e. new stuff within the current framework) and get going at the general system design instead (extension of the framework).

Yes. The FF3 release very much feels like a "feature only" release -- no new systems were introduced (the exception being the Curve Editor, perhaps). It still is impactful, albeit much less so than the FF2 release.

FF2 introduced us to a deluge of system extensions AND features: Far-reaching extensions to the rendering infrastructure (HDR Pipeline, Non-Seamlessness, Advanced Lighting), a brand-new scripting "system", plus loads of features that came as byproducts of these new systems or system extensions (a whole suite of Math components, transform components, the Bomber, etc).

I'm hoping that FF4 will be an epic, groundbreaking "systems" release again...

Well, now nearly one year after of this thread, it seems that we will be able to have some real news about the release of the first beta of FF 4.0 in September 2012.

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Filter organization (tagging, folders etc.) will be a top priority in FF4.0.

We're planning this for FF4.0 Beta 2. Here's the screenshot and discussion:
http://www.filterforge.com/forum/read...&TID=10457

VECTORS? VECTORS? VECTORS?

Please, Please, is there any news about this for FF 4.0?

I think that vectors should be a very high priority as is really needed and very important

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May 3, 2011 Vladimir Golovin wrote elsewhere: Vectors would integrate perfectly well into Filter Forge's rendering model. The SVG support is on our feature list for FF4.0, but we're already investigating it on low priority.

Sorry to ask again, but what about Vector support in FF 4.0?

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I think I will make a NEW list of possible features that has been requested much and are important and then ask which ones could be possibly be included.

SpaceRay, when doing so, please 1) don't produce unnecessary duplicate information and 2) make sure you cite your sources, so people would know that "requested much" indeed means often requested by multiple people, not just by the vocal minority.

There's way too much duplication and noise in recent discussion. I'd like to keep it down.

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I think I will make a NEW list of possible features that has been requested much and are important and then ask which ones could be possibly be included.

SpaceRay,

there really is no need for a second feature request list -- everything has already been compiled here! Note that each feature request has at least one link to the relevant forum discussion -- more links means more threads discussing/requesting a particular feature.

Feel free to add to the list if you find that anything is missing -- the wiki is open for all community members to contribute, after all! But please make sure to provide links, and keep it concise and tidy.

Dilla Out!

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Crapadilla there really is no need for a second feature request list -- everything has already been compiled here (wiki)

Well in the wiki there is NOTHING for FF 4.0 and is useless if it includes EVERY SINGLE request that has been done and I could be sure that Vladimir and any of FF Inc. is afraid of taking a look at this LONG list, and makes them sick

So NOW I will start to make the NEW list specifically and ONLY for what could probably be done for FF 4.0 and including the most requested things or some things that I think are important, and NOT ALL THE FULL LIST.

This was made in september 14 2014, and now in September 5 2013, still do not know what will be all the features included in FF 4.0, is only known 3 of them, groups and instancing, loops, and the new filter manager for organizing filters and be able to make custom folders.

This 3 features are the first 3 ones that Crapadilla have put in the first post.

So we will have to wait and see what others news appear in FF 4.0 Beta 3 (and if there could be any other beta) and what will include the final version.

Vector support and Randomizer locks are two of the ones things that would be really great to have in FF 4.0

Also would really love if there could be some upgrade to the bomber component, for example be able to make control more the particles and make them in some way non-overlapping when they are rotated or scattered randomly, or be able to have more than 5 particles.

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Vladimir Golovin Vectors would integrate perfectly well into Filter Forge's rendering model. The SVG support is on our feature list for FF4.0, but we're already investigating it on low priority.

I do not know if this could be considered and they are still investigating this for FF 4.0 or not

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Crapadilla Also, I'm hoping that FF4.0 will finally address the weighty issues of submission incentives and commercial filters.

Sorry what do you mean with this? what "weighty issues"?

I agree that there should be MORE submission incentives and not just and only discount for FF upgrades or a free version of FF that you already own, this is only good for persons that only use the trial version to make filters, but is mostly useless for FF owners. There should be more different incentives for the submission of filters although I do not know which ones or how to do it.

Making commercial filters could be a good idea, and be able to sell them to FF users.

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Crapadilla Ok, this is wild speculation, but... Quote Vladimir Golovin wrote on September 14, 2012: [...] if we added the library rewrite into the mix, the final release of FF4.0 would be a year off. This could indicate that the library rewrite and the custom component sharing infrastructure have made it onto the list of development goals for the release of FF4. Wouldn't that be an awesome release! Hmmm...

OH!! I did not remember about this, would it be really possible that this could be true? This is then why it has taken some more time than FF 2.0 or FF 3.0?

I agree that it would be a great an awesome release.

Yes, posted by Vlad on August 8, 2013. I totally forgot about that one.

So what else could be taking them so long? Got it: Bitmap Scripts!

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No. I'm certain they're adding physics to the node editor so you can throw the nodes and have them collide. Or build giant towers of nodes.

LOL
Good I can look forward to Node pong, Node Hockey and hopefully Noderiods where you can blast a metanode into it's smaller components and then blast those singles out of existence while avoiding collision.

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So what else could be taking them so long

Unfortunately there are mundane reasons for that: staffing problems. Groups were very difficult to implement, requiring a very high level of programming competence.

Thanks for clarifying, GMM.