Feature request: revamping config files

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leilei
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by leilei »

IMO I also don't think a configurator program would be useful. That's overblowing featurecreep and going against KISS principles that make PCem already elegant as it is.

Virtualizers that have them need them because they're designed for enterprise users in mind, which is more for a 'everything must be obfuscated strictly to a GUI' kind of sense especially when considering professional corporate technical support. PCem doesn't have to follow this.
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SarahWalker
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SarahWalker »

While this conversation is very interesting... has anyone actually tried what I uploaded to that branch?
robertsig
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by robertsig »

I cannot compile it, but would love the try the binary. Thanks.
SA1988
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SA1988 »

leilei wrote:IMO I also don't think a configurator program would be useful. That's overblowing featurecreep and going against KISS principles that make PCem already elegant as it is.

Virtualizers that have them need them because they're designed for enterprise users in mind, which is more for a 'everything must be obfuscated strictly to a GUI' kind of sense especially when considering professional corporate technical support. PCem doesn't have to follow this.
Well, right now the configurator in PCem's settings is a bad mess.
Battler
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by Battler »

leilei wrote:IMO I also don't think a configurator program would be useful. That's overblowing featurecreep and going against KISS principles that make PCem already elegant as it is.

Virtualizers that have them need them because they're designed for enterprise users in mind, which is more for a 'everything must be obfuscated strictly to a GUI' kind of sense especially when considering professional corporate technical support. PCem doesn't have to follow this.
From what I understood, people have requested some sort of a configuration manager, which seems to be what Sarah is trying to implement, however rather than do it properly, ie. the way all other produces do it, it seems to be getting done in a way that will IMHO limit its usability. Sure, there's going to be a configuration selection dialog at start, but that's about it. Adding a power off ability and making it display the configuration selection dialog when you power it off would be a step forward, it still retains the drawback of making writing any kind of third party manager impossible.
I'd look at Bochs as an example - from what I remember, it has a configuration manager of its own, which I'm quite sure is separate from the emulation core executable, but it also provides a way for the core to be launched on its own.
Another example is Qemu which doesn't provide a manager of its own at all and instead leaves that aspect to third parties.

- SA1988: While I agree the current configuration dialog leaves a lot to be desired, blurting it out like that won't achieve anything.
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SarahWalker
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SarahWalker »

Yes, because Bochs and Qemu are totally known for being user friendly...

I'd view the need for any third party managers as a bug rather than a feature. In any case said managers would likely still be possible, as I could add command line options to allow that. I haven't yet, as this isn't finished. It's a work in progress. Hence why it's not on trunk. Clear enough?
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SarahWalker
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SarahWalker »

SA1988 wrote:
leilei wrote:IMO I also don't think a configurator program would be useful. That's overblowing featurecreep and going against KISS principles that make PCem already elegant as it is.

Virtualizers that have them need them because they're designed for enterprise users in mind, which is more for a 'everything must be obfuscated strictly to a GUI' kind of sense especially when considering professional corporate technical support. PCem doesn't have to follow this.
Well, right now the configurator in PCem's settings is a bad mess.
Well, what's your solution? Any suggestions? Or are you going to continue to just snipe from the sidelines?

If so, can you think of any good reason why I should continue to allow you to post here?
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leilei
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by leilei »

fwiw i find pcem's interface fine as it is as it's similar to another Neko Project II's straight-forward simplicity. The only real difference between that and PCem is that Neko uses smaller dialogs with tabs breaking it up, and less drive image parameter configuration. Neko also doesn't need a launcher.
Battler
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by Battler »

leilei wrote:fwiw i find pcem's interface fine as it is as it's similar to another Neko Project II's straight-forward simplicity. The only real difference between that and PCem is that Neko uses smaller dialogs with tabs breaking it up, and less drive image parameter configuration. Neko also doesn't need a launcher.
It's precisely that - smaller dialogs with tabs, and a more orderly design in general. I think PCem would greatly benefit from such a design.
szadycbr
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by szadycbr »

"Yes, because Bochs and Qemu are totally known for being user friendly..."

Sarah, you are more than right, on the spot. Some say that PCem is "fairly" difficult to configure, hm? i use to play with Bochs and Qemu and... uff, its easy once you learn, but PCem is by far EASY-est to configure, guys stop complaining, everything is "point and click" no difficulties whatsoever.
The only thing to add is , as someone mention , the power button, so PCem will not start while i try to set it up, after that PCem config is brilliant, or Diamond he he.
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SarahWalker
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SarahWalker »

Okay, as of rev 714 the new_config branch now starts the configuration manager first thing, allowing for reconfiguration before starting emulation. Closing the main PCem window will re-open the configuration manager, effectively acting as a power button. And using the --config command line option will bypass the configuration manager entirely and allow you to implement an external configuration manager if that's what you really want.

Everyone happy?
ecksemmess
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by ecksemmess »

This is great, thanks Sarah! :)
Battler
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by Battler »

- SarahWalker: I certainly am. :p
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leilei
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by leilei »

Quickly trying the configurator branch out of curiosity, it doesn't list the cfgs in the same folder as itself, and crashes upon quitting. It CAN make configs though
Katakis
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by Katakis »

Battler wrote:It's precisely that - smaller dialogs with tabs, and a more orderly design in general. I think PCem would greatly benefit from such a design.
So, it's similar to what you'll see when you start up WinUAE?

In any case, I am all for it. I get annoyed that I sometimes saved a custom config file without ejecting a disk first, so that would help me a lot. So great work. Sarah.
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SarahWalker
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SarahWalker »

On trunk as of rev 724.
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omarsis81
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by omarsis81 »

I just tested the latest build, it just doesn't work, it crashes when trying to load a config...
Honestly, I don't like the new dialog screen...
Just wondering... why is not like before: you open PCem, configure it the way you like, let's say a SiS 486/66 and save it to a file called "sis486.cfg" and after saving you modify PCem again and to a 430VX, then quit PCem and the last config is automatically saved to default.cfg

If you start PCem right away you'll automatically start the last config which was the 430vx, but let's say you want to run SiS 486... what you can do is: have the .cfg extension (or *.pcm extension if you like) associated to PCem, so you double click the "sis486.cfg" file or any other extension and PCem loads automatically with said configuration.

What do you all think of this?
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SarahWalker
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SarahWalker »

Well clearly people didn't like it, as I got numerous requests to change it!

And couldn't you have said this _before_ I spent time polishing it and getting it to trunk? I did make it available in a branch specifically to get feedback on it...
basic2004
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by basic2004 »

configmanager.png
configmanager.png (2.94 KiB) Viewed 14317 times
Configuration Manager was blank list. what's wrong?
I placed PCem in 'O:\EMUL\Emulator - Computer\IBM-PC\PCem'.
Is this loading cfg files to list automatically?

so I launched with --config arguments, but PCem execute --config pcem.cfg to loads default(8088) settings.
Last edited by basic2004 on Wed 17 May, 2017 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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SarahWalker
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SarahWalker »

Presumably you don't have any configs in the 'configs' directory. Have you tried to create any?
basic2004
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by basic2004 »

Oh, I moved cfg files to configs folder now, and shows lists now.
This GUI is easy to choose from many machines, so this feature is very nice.
but I want make 'configs' folder if configs folder missing when PCem execute.

and make 'nvr' folder if nvr folder missing too.
PCem needs search and make essential folders.
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SarahWalker
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by SarahWalker »

The directories exist in the repo. If you use PCem from the directory that it's checked out into then it all works...
Battler
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by Battler »

The emulator should still automatically create the directories it needs (nvr and config) in case they're not present.
Katakis
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Re: Feature request: revamping config files

Post by Katakis »

omarsis81 wrote:If you start PCem right away you'll automatically start the last config which was the 430vx, but let's say you want to run SiS 486... what you can do is: have the .cfg extension (or *.pcm extension if you like) associated to PCem, so you double click the "sis486.cfg" file or any other extension and PCem loads automatically with said configuration.

What do you all think of this?
I think I don't care.
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