Teenage Mutant Hero Halebopp

Just as I was about to write this article, I began to feel awfully weak, which certainly can be attributed to the late hour. Nevertheless, a rescue plan suggests the consumption of an invigorating beverage: Earl Grey, hot. I shall return shortly to finish this blog post which I so cunningly began.

Alas, as the divine beverage takes its well deserved time to draw, I shall lay out here, once and for all, my Halebopp master plan.

That shitty way of talking tires me, so I'm going to regress to my usual lobotomized way of talking english, or what I mistake for it.

Halebopp is coming along nicely. In a steady rhythm, I add new features as a proof of concept, code myself into a corner, and then rewrite them nicely to go on with my work. You wouldn't believe how much pondering and office chair squeaking such a serious endeavor requires. Coding a new approach to audio processing is like tiptoeing through a trap-ridden inca temple, without actually triggering any traps. Still, one wrong step, and you find yourself punctured by poison darts.

Okay, I like to pretend that it is that way, but the only thing my voyage has in common with described Indiana Jones experience is the pained moaning as I calculate the pros and cons of different approaches, their inflicted meanings and future connotations, the impending destruction of all mankind, blah blah, the usual. I am still learning to fly this thing, and I hope that I don't end up in a commerce tower - of shitty spaghetti code.

So, finally, here is the plan. Halebopp's first release is going to be for both Windows and Linux. It will be a minimal functional version, allowing to import and record waves, arrange them neatly and mixdown a final result. This should give you something useful enough to consider supporting its development in the future.

The Windows version is pretty much a release for musicians who just want to get going. Install it and you are set. This comfy Halebopp release will be available for a low budget price, which also includes 30 days of support.

The Linux version is going to be a libre, GPL licenced source code release which may or may not run on your favorite distribution - mine is Ubuntu 8.10 *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*. A 6 month support package for the Linux version will be made available, but it's going to be a bit more expensive than the Windows 30 days option. You also have the option to contribute in naturals, which includes patches, extension proposals, implementations or selling your virgin nerd bodies.

It hereby be proclaimed that both versions shall be comparable not only in features but also in performance. User and development documentation will be made available online.

It will certainly be a few weeks until Halebopp launches, along with its own tiny website and demonstration videos, so don't get too excited yet. It's quite a path ahead, especially because I have to do everything on my own. If any of you fabulous people sees himself fit to help out with anything in particular, please do not hesitate to force your labor upon me.

Alakazamm!