PPL 1.53 is now available for download:

Here is the change log:

- Fixed structure +=, -=, *=, /= operators on strings.
- Fixed StarField2.ppl demo to show pixel sprites properly.
- Fixed speed issue by optimizing interpreter caching.
- Fixed ProgMan.ppl syntax errors by replace Inherited() function calls to DefWndProc().
- New SetSpriteSurfaceEx() function that resizes the sprite to match the surface frame sizes.
- Fixed WaitForInput() function to terminate if program exits.
- Fixed & operator to work correctly with arrays and structures.
- Fixed interpreter typed variables freeing when used with some functions.
- Fixed internal variable offset calculation to support pointers as well as strings.
- Fixed range check internals to support pointers as well as strings.
- Removed some copy protection features that triggered Trial mode errors.
- New cPtr() function to transform a pointer from another heap to a valid PPL string.
- Replaced search() by rex_search(rexhandle$, string$, offsetindex$).
- Replaced match() by rex_match(rexhandle$, string$).
- Replace subexpcount() by rex_subexpcount(rexHandle$)
- Replaced subexp() by rex_subexp(rexhandle$, index$, offsetvar$);
- New rex_compile(pattern$) function.
- New rex_free(rexhandle$) function.
- Fixed an issue with struct/array element strings, freeing from memory.
- Fixed UI.PPL syntax that was not compatible anymore with 1.52 and up.
- Fixed runtime error ERROR% assignment of error description.
- Fixed bugs in VFB found by GVLIEMVS.

http://www.arianesoft.ca/request.php?65

After much (unfortunate) delay, version 1.53 will finaly be released this Friday, November 28th. Here is the list of changes:

- Fixed structure +=, -=, *=, /= operators on strings.
- Fixed StarField2.ppl demo to show pixel sprites properly.
- Fixed speed issue by optimizing interpreter caching.
- Fixed ProgMan.ppl syntax errors by replace Inherited() function calls to DefWndProc().
- New SetSpriteSurfaceEx() function that resizes the sprite to match the surface frame sizes.
- Fixed WaitForInput() function to terminate if program exits.
- Fixed & operator to work correctly with arrays and structures.
- Fixed interpreter typed variables freeing when used with some functions.
- Fixed internal variable offset calculation to support pointers as well as strings.
- Fixed range check internals to support pointers as well as strings.
- Removed some copy protection features that triggered Trial mode errors.
- New cPtr() function to transform a pointer from another heap to a valid PPL string.
- Replaced search() by rex_search(rexhandle$, string$, offsetindex$).
- Replaced match() by rex_match(rexhandle$, string$).
- Replace subexpcount() by rex_subexpcount(rexHandle$)
- Replaced subexp() by rex_subexp(rexhandle$, index$, offsetvar$);
- New rex_compile(pattern$) function.
- New rex_free(rexhandle$) function.
- Fixed an issue with struct/array element strings, freeing from memory.
- Fixed UI.PPL syntax that was not compatible anymore with 1.52 and up.
- Fixed runtime error ERROR% assignment of error description.
- Fixed bugs in VFB found by GVLIEMVS.

Here is the latest changelog for 1.53. I was hoping to release it tomorrow but it will have to go through some testers first. If you are interested in testing it, please drop me a note at support@arianesoft.ca

There are still one issue outstanding that needs more input from mmtbb and another one from here http://forums.arianesoft.ca/showthread.php?t=1491 that needs to be answered. Hopefully I will hear from them soon.

All the issues reported in the forums about 1.52 have been fixed, so I hope you will enjoy this new release.

- Fixed structure +=, -=, *=, /= operators on strings.
- Fixed StarField2.ppl demo to show pixel sprites properly.
- Fixed speed issue by optimizing interpreter caching.
- Fixed ProgMan.ppl syntax errors by replace Inherited() function calls to DefWndProc().
- New SetSpriteSurfaceEx() function that resizes the sprite to match the surface frame sizes.
- Fixed WaitForInput() function to terminate if program exits.
- Fixed & operator to work correctly with arrays and structures.
- Fixed interpreter typed variables freeing when used with some functions.
- Fixed internal variable offset calculation to support pointers as well as strings.
- Fixed range check internals to support pointers as well as strings.
- Removed some copy protection features that triggered Trial mode errors.
- New cPtr() function to transform a pointer from another heap to a valid PPL string.
- Replaced search() by rex_search(rexhandle$, string$, offsetindex$).
- Replaced match() by rex_match(rexhandle$, string$).
- Replace subexpcount() by rex_subexpcount(rexHandle$)
- Replaced subexp() by rex_subexp(rexhandle$, index$, offsetvar$);
- New rex_compile(pattern$) function.
- New rex_free(rexhandle$) function.
- Fixed an issue with struct/array element strings, freeing from memory.
- Fixed UI.PPL syntax that was not compatible anymore with 1.52 and up.

Here are what as been fixed so far for 1.53:

- Fixed structure +=, -=, *=, /= operators on strings.
- Fixed StarField2.ppl demo to show pixel sprites properly.
- Fixed speed issue by optimizing interpreter caching.
- Fixed ProgMan.ppl syntax errors by replace Inherited() function calls to DefWndProc().
- New SetSpriteSurfaceEx() function that resizes the sprite to match the surface frame sizes.
- Fixed WaitForInput() function to terminate if program exits.
- Fixed & operator to work correctly with arrays and structures.

There are more to come… Stay tuned!

Here we go, the future is here, well almost anyway…

This post will detail some of the new paths that the PPL product will take very soon.

Starting with 1.53, the protection in the PIDE will be much simpler than before. There used to be some very complicated copy protection but unfortunately it caused more problems than expected.

Starting with 1.60 (which is the next release after 1.53 and the last 1.x release) will be very different. The compiler/interpreter (PPL.EXE) will be entirely free. You won’t be able to generate executable files or change file’s icons directly from the pocket pc anymore. The generation of executable files will only be possible from the PIDE program on the desktop. The editor and visual form builder PPL programs will be maintained by the community and not be officially supported by ArianeSoft anymore.

The same will still be true with version 2.0. The compiler/interpreter will remain free. The PIDE will be able to compress your executables on the fly.

I will be starting work on 1.53 this next Monday and will the reserve the week to fix issues that we have collected so far. If I don’t run into hard-to-fix problems I might be able to release 1.53 by the end of the week.

One thing for sure that will be corrected in 1.53 is the protection. It will be reduced to a simple serial # without any anti-cracking checks. By trying to fight the pirates really hard, we are wasting our energies and making PPL vulnerable to installation issues and, most importantly, frustrating our paying customers.

Version 2.0 will use a simple protection mechanism as well, the trial version won’t include some important features to prevent the use of the most popular cracking tools.

All the bug reports I get from 1.52 are logged into my to do list, don’t worry, I will be working on it very soon.

Yes, god damn docking libraries. I have asked for a refund from AutomatedQA which I probably won’t get, hopefully I will because I really need this money.

I have decided to go with DevExpress ExpressBars components for adding docking capabilities to PPL 2.0. However this component does the exact same thing as the one from AutomatedQA but it offers a lot more control from the components, which might help me figure out a way to fix the issue.

On another note, I am adding to my to-do list for PPL 1.53 things you guys send me by email and on the forums. I might not get to them for some time, since my priority is PPL 2.0.

This week I will try to really finish the docking feature for good. The help system is almost complete. I will post more this week on this subject.

There are a few issues with 1.52, nothing big but we’d like to fix them soon.

So we should have this one released in the next few weeks.

Here are the issues to be resolved:

• Multiple assignment eg: a$,b$,c$=”xxx”; is now caught as an error.
• PostMessage(NULL, WM_TERMINATE, 0, AppHandle$); doesn’t work properly.

Here are the issues that have been resolved so far:

• Fixed structure +=, -=, *=, /= operators on strings.
• Fixed WaitForInput() function to exit properly when used with -1 and PPL exits.