Latest News - BCB-Tools.com - RAD DirectX for Borland C++ Builder

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Latest News - 7th March 2010:

...

Well, here i was, getting ready to release the TDx_Library v1.90, when, lo and behold,
my computer just up and died, with a motherboard that simply refuses to work any more...

It's a shame that I have no money to replace it, and instead I am forced to attempt programming
using XP on a AMD Athlon 1.3Ghz with 256Mb RAM...

Unfortunately, that does not work, and I have to wait a few months while I try to save money
to buy a new computer... then recover all my lost work from the dead HDD's...

THIS SUX.

14,000+ users, and I cannot even afford to replace my motherboard for literally months.

I pay for BCB-Tools.com, I work overtime on BCB-Tools.com, and almost everyone abuses the fact that
I release my software without copy protection.

If people actually BOTHERED to register, it would be different :-

I would be working regularly on BCB-Tools and the TDx_Library, and things would be progressing
much more smoothly than they have been.

I would be able to afford to purchase Embarcadero C++ Builder 2010, or a new computer...
I would be able to afford to purchase Windows Vista or Windows 7...
I would be able to afford to fix my DEAD COMPUTER...

Thanks everyone for STEALING my software...

Latest News - 20th April 2009:

- v1.90 is almost finished, almost ready for release...

...

The source code generates correctly, it compiles, it works, it installs, the new installer works.

Now just need to write some more examples, update a few older examples, compile them all,
package everything and i am happy to release a long-awaited version of the TDx_Library, v1.90...

Latest News - 26th March 2009:

- working on v1.90 and the BCB_Code_Generator v2.3...

...

I am still working on the v1.90 upgrade mostly, with a few changes here and there on the BCB_Code_Generator v2.3...

The v1.90 source code includes some added robustness to the DirectX code to remove annoying DirectX bugs from the system.

I've added lots of try... and catch statements around all DirectX calls.

...

-: Minor Install BugFix :-

If you need the following files, click :-

TDx_Library_Defns.obj
TDx_Library_Functions.obj

Latest News - 12th February 2009:

- working on v1.90 including BDS 2006, 2007 if possible, and the BCB_Code_Generator v2.3, many more demos and tutorials...

...

I have been quiet because i have been attempting to get the TDx_Library v1.90 working and ready for release...

This release has been a lot of work and i have not yet completed it all...
This release is a pretty impressive upgrade to the entire TDx_Library concept... support for a new compiler or two... BCB 2006 and 2007...
This release is also designed to work correctly on Windows Vista computers...

...

-: The v1.90 version :-

should (hopefully) work with BDS 2006 and maybe CodeGear C++ Builder 2007 as well... depends if i can get it all working again...

will come with many more demos... take a look at the Demos Page for some future titles... New Demos for Registered Users Only...

Sofar, i have worked on the BCB_Code_Generator v2.1 upgrading it from v1.70... a lot of work...
In Future, i have to work on the BCB_Code_Generator v2.3, upgrading it to include BDS 2006 and BCB 2007 support...

TDDBltFX.H (v1.90)
TDDBltFX.CPP (v1.90)
TDDCaps.H (v1.90)
TDDCaps.CPP (v1.90)
TDx_Draw.H (v1.90)
TDx_Draw.CPP (v1.90)
TDx_DrawSurface.H (v1.90)
TDx_DrawSurface.CPP (v1.90)

...

-: The TDx9_Library :-

It installs, but does not work fully yet... but it's getting there...

...

-= Why oh Why do i do this? =-

This is what i do all day every day... exhaustively... when i have the money from Registrations or Pre-Registrations or Sponsorship...

If i do not earn money from BCB-Tools registrations, etc. then i keep working on it, but only part-time at best...
When i earn enough money from BCB-Tools registrations, etc. then i work flat-out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...

firstly, i design this thing called the TDx_Library, and another thing called the BCB_Code_Generator...
and another thing called the TDx9_Library, and another thing called lots of Demos, Webpages, and so on...

then i create this application called the BCB_Code_Generator v2.3... using BCB5...
one file, the TCodeGenerationForm.cpp is 800Kb of C++ Builder source code...

i then use this application and create DirectX databases for the BCB_Code_Generator,
turning incredibly comprehensive DirectX databases into semi-working or working TDx#_Library BCB# component library source code...
documenting the databases as required and configuring the newly created databases, mostly automatically,
but literally every element in the database has to be data-entry-perfect... with data having different
settings and configurations...

then i create icons to be used in the components... imagine creating 303 image icons for use in the TDx9_Library...
sofar we have created only 50 of the icons for the TDx9_Graphics_Library...
then there are the rest of the icons to be created for the TDx_3DR_Library and TDx_Extras libraries...

once i have created the databases for new libraries, or i already have available from previous work, some working databases...
i generate the source code, the project files, the help files, and the html reference for all the various libraries...

i compile the help files for each library once every so often...
i compile the component libraries for first BCB v1, then 3, then 4, then 5, then 6, then 2006, then 2007...
i then write test applications to test the various aspects of each library...
and i compile each demo, one-by-one for all the libraries, in BCB v1, and BCB v5, or a BCB vRandom from time to time...

and i test each library, to see if it all works...

then, i modify the databases again, generate component code again, compile code again, test code again...

and so on... until the component libraries all eventually work...

don't forget, i'm continuously modifying the BCB_Code_Generator as well...

the entire time, pretty busy... for 1 single release of a new version of the TDx_Library or TDx9_Library or whatever...

And, the entire time, i am trying to compile and debug and patch the database and the Generator to make it compatible with
BDS 2006 and CodeGear C++ Builder 2007, and a little bit of CodeGear 2009...

After i have successfully created a new batch of libraries, I then have time to get to work...

I pack up all the libraries into .PIT files...
I upgrade the auto-installer, making it work on new platforms, and with new versions of BCB...
I test the auto-install and auto-uninstall routines... exhaustively...

Finally, i release a new version of my software...

Then i upgrade all the website... all 8,000+ pages...

Then i write new demos... new tutorials... new reference information... and update the website as much as i can...

Then i start all over again... creating new libraries, upgrading old libraries, writing demos, website, generator, etc, etc, etc...

For No Money

Please Register my software, or Pre-Register my software, instead of just stealing all my 11.5+ years of solid, 80 hour weeks of serious effort...

...

-: Why Oh Why :-

Why do so very few people actually Register, after 11.5+ years of very long hard work, i am still getting nothing in return for my work...
I spend 1000's of hours each year working on this project, for very little in return...

No money... less than US$100 a month on average from Registrations and Pre-Registrations...
Massive downloads... each month, there is 50-100+ downloads of the TDx_Library v1.80... at least...

In 11.5+ years, over 14,000 downloads of the TDx_Library...
Yet, in 11.5+ years, only 300 people have ever Registered...

Why is this? the product or toolset called (TDx_Library) is obviously gynormous in fantasticness...

And people use it to program Commercial Applications...
And the end-user-license says "For Commercial Users: Must Register"...

Either (1) all the 14,000 people who have downloaded the TDx_Library do not use it...
Or (2) no-one has ever actually created an application using the TDx_Library that they earn money from...
Or (3) all the 14,000 people cannot be bothered registering, and instead they flaunt the law with flagrant piracy...

Look, Please Register if you have not already Registered...

...

Thank You,

Darren John Dwyer,
www.bcb-tools.com
[email protected]

Latest News - 18th October 2008:

- about VCLE.LIB and demos

Someone who has been attempting to use the TDx_Library v1.80 has had some
minor problems with their compiler not having the required files and the demos
not compiling correctly.

Simplest question to ask is :-

What version of the TDx examples are you using?

- the Website Update has now been completed, working on v1.90 upgrade + rollout

When you visit the BCB-Tools website, you will notice that most pages have changed
significantly, with the most important page on the entire website being the welcome page.

I have quite a few minor changes to make to the website over the coming months as I
continue developing the v1.90 upgrade to the TDx_Library, as well as doing the descriptions,
icons, etc. for new and as yet unreleased libraries... as well as finishing off a little
code improvement to existing libraries... :)

Once I have completed the TDx_Library v1.90 upgrade, I will be doing the following :-

i will begin working on many demos, tutorials and application templates for the TDx_Library v1.90++,
with the goal being to show how to use almost every aspect of every library...

i will continue developing the TDx9_Library v1.00 and the TDx_Library v2.00...

i will continue finding out more about DirectX 10 and a possible future TDx10_Library v1.00

Thanks for your time and interest in BCB-Tools and the TDx_Library...
...and please, enjoy the website sound effects... :)

Latest News - 22nd August 2008:

- new and improved v1.90 Online Reference!

When you visit the Online Reference, you will notice that the format has changed
significantly, making it a lot easier to navigate.

I have quite a few minor changes to make to the Reference, but for now it's much
more useful and improved than it was last month.

Please enjoy the new Online Reference...

Latest News - 1st August 2008:

- the TDx_Library v1.80 is now FREE for non-commercial use!

You can now download the TDx_Library v1.80 in it's entirety (18.2 Mb) and it comes
with all (5) libraries, (107) components, Draw, Sound, Input, Play and 3DI.

It also comes with a single-pass auto-installer.

Click here to download the entire TDx_Library v1.80

For commercial-use, or if you plan on making money using the TDx_Library, you MUST Register.

Latest News - 24th April 2008:

- New Format v1.90 Help Files - Download Now!

Okay, I have been working on improving the BCB_Code_Generator, making sure things are working a lot better,
smoother, nicer even...

As an example of what is up and coming, please download and use the all new v1.90 help files.
These help files work with v1.62, v1.70 and v1.80 libraries as well as version 1.90.

Click here to download the v1.90 help files

Latest News - 5th April 2008:

- v1.90, v1.00 Update

Well, from my recent catastrophic pc failure, I recovered, did not lose anything,
and i have now got my computers all back up and running as a multi-platform development environment.

I have continued to develop the TDx_Library v1.90 (for Registered Users) and am continuing to
enhance it where necessary before final release.

The v1.90 libraries could be released within a week, but I am continuing to improve them, so i have
decided to take as long as i require to be happy with the final product.

I will soon be removing previous versions from public download.
If you know anyone who wants to PIRATE my software, like usual, then tell them about the website now.

...

The TDx9_Library v1.00 has also been recreated (regenerated) in the last couple of weeks.

The bits that work, work fine.
The bits that still do not work, do not work.

Hence I can still release nothing, but it is progressing slowly.
The slowest bit? Doing all the icons and descriptions.

Imagine drawing 303 Unique icons, plus doing the descriptions for 25 Megabytes of source code.
A lot of work.

...

Considering I have earnt US$100 from this website in the past 6 months, while over 5000 copies of
my software have been downloaded, I can only afford to work on this part-time at best.

If only people would actually appreciate the effort and STOP STEALING MY SOFTWARE, i would be in a position
where I could develop a lot more.

But, alas...

It appears that professional computer programmers and computer software companies expect people to work
full-time for 10 years for $50,000 in payment over the entire ten years.

Not much reason for me todo anything really.

Latest News - 28th February 2008:

- Latest Status Update

My main pc has died until i can afford to get it fixed,
and i am now relying on a older test and backup computer for daily work...

Where was I up to before my main pc died?

Well, i was in the middle of generating the TDx_Library v1.90,
upgrading the BCB_Code_Generator, the website, and writing lots of new demos...

I have fairly recent backups available, while i get my power supply or motherboard replaced.

Depends, it would be nice to have some money to get it fixed.

Meantime, i'll start working on some new stuff on this older shittier computer.

It's Windows ME, and it works fine, even if it's an AMD 1800.

oh, and by-the-way :-

Here is an example of the TDx9_Graphics_Library :-

Latest News - 5th January 2008:

- About Your Demos and Applications

Many people, including myself, darren, wish to see what people have been able to create
using the TDx_Library... preferrably, v1.80...

Endless Online is really the only example I've seen that displays a semi-commercial application
utilized on a massive scale... using the TDx_Library to drive it's graphics and sounds and input...

I've a couple of times received some examples people have written, but i've never been able
to get them to compile on my pc, so i have not been able to improve them and distribute them,
with serious credit to the authors...

Sofar, the best i've been shown is a fractal generator... many thanks to it's author.

Please, if you have ever written anything that other people would like to see,
possibly even a demo or an intro to your stuff, then email me with your demos...

Please include source code iff possible, if you want me to clean it up and release it that is...
I will post the various examples onto the website as soon as I have vetted what they do, although,
the risk as to using these applications lies in the hands of the end-user, and BCB-Tools.com and the authors
of the demos are liable for zero damages as a result of installing or executing their application.

Anyways, please send me something I can display on the website, as proof that TDx works,
and works wonderfully well...

Latest News - 2nd January 2008:

- About the TDx9_Library v1.00

I am currently also working towards creating the TDx9_Library v1.00, an all-new version of the existing TDx_Library,
as such, for Registered Users only who use Windows XP or Windows Vista.

This TDx9_Library v1.00 library is an all-new technology, based on existing TDx_Library technology,
and everyone is wondering what is happening with it...

Well, this library is MASSIVE compared to the TDx_Library... as such...
It's about 2.5 times the size... at least... plus much more...

It's a total of 303 Borland C++ Builder # components, much bigger than the TDx_Library's 107 components...

That is, the first library, the TDx9_Graphics_Library v1.00, is 2.5 Megabytes of Component Source Code alone.
Add to that all the rest of the Component Source Code... 25 Megabytes sofar, and counting...
Add to that all the rest... the help files, the examples, the documentation...

Take a look at this :-

TDx9_Library Information

TDx9_Graphics_Library Online Reference

See just how BIG it is?

No wonder it's taking some time.
Remember there's only me working on it.
Just darren, working on BCB-Tools.com, The TDx_Library, The TDx9_Library, The BCB_Code_Generator.

All of it, all by myself.

Thats a MASSIVE job, all by myself.

-=== AND I DO NOT GET PAID FOR IT ===-

Think about it, and REALIZE that if i ACTUALLY GOT PAID, then I could afford to hire someone to help me.

Latest News - 1st January 2008:

- Investment Opportunity

If anyone is interested, you can view a pretty amazing investment opportunity at our Investors Wanted page...
... we are offering you the chance to buy into BCB-Tools.com, at a massive discount to asset backing...
... you can buy up to 10% of BCB-Tools.com ...

- About v1.90

I am currently working towards creating the TDx_Library v1.90, an all-new version of the existing TDx_Library,
for Registered Users only.

This v1.90 library does not contain all that many improvements to the actual components, it's more that the
Library desperately needs more examples, a few minor bugfixes, maybe, and some little improvements.

I'm also quickly looking into adding MP3 and/or GIF and JPEG support, just so the components do a bit more.

19th December 2007:

- About mini BCB-Tools.com

-= Goto: Mini BCB-Tools.com =-

It's called "Mini BCB-Tools.com", run by a guy called Kieron Cain.

These is now a serious, heavy-duty BCB-Tools.com Online Discussion Boards,
places to download and discuss stuffs - online now for our mutual convenience.

11th December 2007:

- The TDx_Library v1.80 Installer Problem

Before this date, the 11th December 2007, the TDx_Library v1.80 Installer had some minor issues.

I have recently recompiled the Installer, and it appears to now be working 100%

Please re-download the TDx_Library v1.80 Installer after you read this notice,
and then re-run the auto-install (no need to uninstall first).

TDx_Library_Install_v180.zip

Or, PREFERRABLY :-

Download the Entire TDx_Library v1.80

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This page is Copyright © 2000-2008 Darren John Dwyer, Australia. All Rights Reserved.
Borland C++ Builder, CBuilder, etc are Trademarks of Borland Corporation.
DirectX, DirectDraw, Windows, etc are Trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.