Translated Alice (unicode version)

meirs · 08:37 AM

Hello

I'm working on a Unicode version of Alice, translated to several languages, among them Spanish, Russian, Ethiopian, Hebrew, French, Italian, Arabic, and Yiddish (no joking). I just wanted to describe what I did in one thread, to where I can forward questions regarding Alice's i18n issues from other threads.

Main changes made:
* support for Unicode - both in code and in world format (that is, changed worlds format, thus not back compatible to Alice worlds, but included an import tool)
* added a rich scripting support using Mama programming language - this is a full object oriented language I've created few years ago, designed for teaching programming in mid-schools, where students can write code in their own mother tongue. With this scripting language you can really write free code within the editing area, and manipulate scene objects.
* added support for scenery and characters (improved StoryTellingAlice functionality)
* added tutorial editor tool for instructors
* added a movie export with audio (improved 2.2 functionality)
* added support for creating user standalone executables (under MS-Windows)
* many bug fixes (and probably introducing new ones

* and more

This version is not going to be open source, neither free, I'm planning to charge about 10 $USD for it, the minimal cost I thought would be tolerable by most students.

I had discussions with Alice team regarding the name given to this version - I really wanted to include the name "Alice" in it, since majority of it is Alice, created by the Alice team. But Alice's license forbids that (see this thread http://alice.org/community/showthrea...hlight=license). So currently, it is planned to be called "Mama" after the programming language integrated into Alice.

I don't know if Alice 2.0/2.2 development continues, if it does I would love to contribute many of the fixes I've made to future releases.

Meir

x2495iiii · 12-01-2009, 01:01 PM

Sounds great! Will it be in English as well?

Also, Alice 2.2 is no longer being developed. All their effort is being put into Alice 3.0, so if your version works, it'll be the most advanced, stable release yet.

meirs · 12-01-2009, 01:44 PM

Sure, after all it's the default language

meirs · 12:43 PM

Finally, the unicode version of Alice - named Mama - is ready! It is available in both English and Hebrew (soon will have it in many other languages).

Main improvements:
* added Mama programming language as a (rich) scripting laungauge - 3D scene objects can be manipulated using this scripting mechanism
* full support for Unicode
* support for 3D object creation using ArtOfIllusion as a plugged-in external application
* support for uploading a movie to YouTube and publishing in Facebook
* support for scenery and characters
* tutorial editor tool for instructors
* movie export with audio
* support creating of user standalone executables
* better menu logic
* many bug fixes
* better popup menus logic
* and more

This version (with language selection) can be downloaded from http://www.eytam.com/mama. This is a full version 30-day free trial, and afterwords it may be purchased for $10 USD.

Waiting for you comments,
Meir

x2495iiii · 01-21-2010, 12:15 PM

Fantastic! I'm ready to give the trial a run now!

Will it be able to convert already existing Alice worlds into standalone applications?

meirs · 01-21-2010, 12:41 PM

Sure, just go to "Tools" menu and select "Import Alice2 worlds". Let me know if you encounter any problem.

x2495iiii · 01-21-2010, 01:30 PM

Hmm...the installer didn't work the first time. Trying again...

I see it says you need Windows Vista or earlier. Does that mean that I can't use it if I have Windows 7?

meirs · 01-21-2010, 02:43 PM

It wasn't tested on Windows 7

so yes, it should run on Vista or earlier.

x2495iiii · 09:15 PM

Hmm...Well my windows 7 laptop isn't working so well with it so far. The import worlds feature loaded the world halfway, then said it was unable to load the world (tried this for two different worlds, same result.)

I absolutely love the 3d editing idea, though, that works great. The youTube uploading button is an awesome idea as well. Honestly this is a wonderful piece of software, great job!

meirs · 01-22-2010, 01:44 AM

Thanks x2495iiii, I will try checking the Windows 7 issues, though I'm afraid there are some basic directX incompatibilities.

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	#1 (permalink)
meirs Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 64 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Universe	Translated Alice (unicode version) - 12-01-2009, 07:33 AM Hello I'm working on a Unicode version of Alice, translated to several languages, among them Spanish, Russian, Ethiopian, Hebrew, French, Italian, Arabic, and Yiddish (no joking). I just wanted to describe what I did in one thread, to where I can forward questions regarding Alice's i18n issues from other threads. Main changes made: * support for Unicode - both in code and in world format (that is, changed worlds format, thus not back compatible to Alice worlds, but included an import tool) * added a rich scripting support using Mama programming language - this is a full object oriented language I've created few years ago, designed for teaching programming in mid-schools, where students can write code in their own mother tongue. With this scripting language you can really write free code within the editing area, and manipulate scene objects. * added support for scenery and characters (improved StoryTellingAlice functionality) * added tutorial editor tool for instructors * added a movie export with audio (improved 2.2 functionality) * added support for creating user standalone executables (under MS-Windows) * many bug fixes (and probably introducing new ones * and more This version is not going to be open source, neither free, I'm planning to charge about 10 $USD for it, the minimal cost I thought would be tolerable by most students. I had discussions with Alice team regarding the name given to this version - I really wanted to include the name "Alice" in it, since majority of it is Alice, created by the Alice team. But Alice's license forbids that (see this thread http://alice.org/community/showthrea...hlight=license). So currently, it is planned to be called "Mama" after the programming language integrated into Alice. I don't know if Alice 2.0/2.2 development continues, if it does I would love to contribute many of the fixes I've made to future releases. Meir Last edited by meirs; 12-01-2009 at 08:37 AM.

	#2 (permalink)
x2495iiii Super Moderator Status: Offline Posts: 3,508 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Somewhere in the Continental U.S.	12-01-2009, 01:01 PM Sounds great! Will it be in English as well? Also, Alice 2.2 is no longer being developed. All their effort is being put into Alice 3.0, so if your version works, it'll be the most advanced, stable release yet. (')>

	#3 (permalink)
meirs Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 64 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Universe	12-01-2009, 01:44 PM Sure, after all it's the default language

	#4 (permalink)
meirs Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 64 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Universe	The new version of unicode Alice/Mama is ready - 01-21-2010, 09:08 AM Finally, the unicode version of Alice - named Mama - is ready! It is available in both English and Hebrew (soon will have it in many other languages). Main improvements: * added Mama programming language as a (rich) scripting laungauge - 3D scene objects can be manipulated using this scripting mechanism * full support for Unicode * support for 3D object creation using ArtOfIllusion as a plugged-in external application * support for uploading a movie to YouTube and publishing in Facebook * support for scenery and characters * tutorial editor tool for instructors * movie export with audio * support creating of user standalone executables * better menu logic * many bug fixes * better popup menus logic * and more This version (with language selection) can be downloaded from http://www.eytam.com/mama. This is a full version 30-day free trial, and afterwords it may be purchased for $10 USD. Waiting for you comments, Meir Last edited by meirs; 01-21-2010 at 12:43 PM.

	#5 (permalink)
x2495iiii Super Moderator Status: Offline Posts: 3,508 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Somewhere in the Continental U.S.	01-21-2010, 12:15 PM Fantastic! I'm ready to give the trial a run now! Will it be able to convert already existing Alice worlds into standalone applications? (')>

	#6 (permalink)
meirs Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 64 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Universe	01-21-2010, 12:41 PM Sure, just go to "Tools" menu and select "Import Alice2 worlds". Let me know if you encounter any problem.

	#7 (permalink)
x2495iiii Super Moderator Status: Offline Posts: 3,508 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Somewhere in the Continental U.S.	01-21-2010, 01:30 PM Hmm...the installer didn't work the first time. Trying again... I see it says you need Windows Vista or earlier. Does that mean that I can't use it if I have Windows 7? (')>

	#8 (permalink)
meirs Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 64 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Universe	01-21-2010, 02:43 PM It wasn't tested on Windows 7 so yes, it should run on Vista or earlier.

	#9 (permalink)
x2495iiii Super Moderator Status: Offline Posts: 3,508 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Somewhere in the Continental U.S.	01-21-2010, 02:56 PM Hmm...Well my windows 7 laptop isn't working so well with it so far. The import worlds feature loaded the world halfway, then said it was unable to load the world (tried this for two different worlds, same result.) I absolutely love the 3d editing idea, though, that works great. The youTube uploading button is an awesome idea as well. Honestly this is a wonderful piece of software, great job! (')> Last edited by x2495iiii; 02-02-2010 at 09:15 PM.

	#10 (permalink)
meirs Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 64 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Universe	01-22-2010, 01:44 AM Thanks x2495iiii, I will try checking the Windows 7 issues, though I'm afraid there are some basic directX incompatibilities.