Synfig's Future
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 by darcoPosted in Synfig, Projects
I got a comment from Lucian on my post about the werewolf video on YouTube. I felt my response would affect enough people that it was worth blogging about. Here is what he wrote:
Is this project still Up and Running. I'm interested in Synfig. I want to create some animations (and tutorials) but there are no movements in this project for couple months. I need some documentation for this app. There are a lot of things that can't intuivly learn only just by looking at the program. (I tried to document some features on Wiki). I think the major problem to this project is the missing documentation (not the people). I think there are a lot of people just like me who tried to figure out how this app. work ... and give up. So .. is there anyone in this project ...
The project is not dead per-se, but I am not able to contribute to it in any significant capacity any more other than to be a resource for anyone with questions. Paul Wise(aka: Pabs), who has all but taken over managing the project, is currently on a three-month long sailing trip. Things have grown a bit stagnant without him.
Honestly, I think the biggest issue with Synfig is usability and stability. Resolve those issues, and people will spontaneously submit documentation and tutorials. At the moment, it is so obtuse that it turns people off before they understand it enough to contribute. They just see pretty pictures and videos and scratch their heads wondering how my company did so.
It is a bad situation which makes my heart sink. I'd love to contribute more to the project, but I don't have the time or the energy to do so unless it:
- Is directly related to something related to my job, or
- It becomes a significant source of income.
I realize that the sorry state of the website is stunting the growth of the Synfig community, and I'd like to do something about that (ie: having a website with a forum). Unfortunately that goal is months away, at least.
Ultimately what is needed is for some people to help set up and maintain a real community-oriented website. I cannot be the driving force behind Synfig right now or in the foreseeable future, so some other qualified individual (or group of individuals) needs to take over daily management and maintenance.
Anyway, I'd just like to remind people about the IRC channel, #synfig on Freenode. If you are a Jabber user like myself, you can join the channel thru my freenode gateway as well.
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Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Hi Robert,
Firstly, thanks for a wonderful program. I've only started to scratch the surface of what it can do, but I've got passed the initial "so obtuse that it turns people off" stage. However, as you point out, the stability (I'm running under windows XP) leaves a lot to be desired. Thank heavens for the autosave feature. I've seen you mention that part of this may, in part, be due to newer versions of GTK causing incompatibilities. Can I ask what configuration you were running at Voria? What combination of versions of Linux, Kernel, GTK, synfig versions were most stable in your experience?
Thanks, Chris
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Synfig is great. There are usability issues, as there are with so many programs. The whole framework in terms of the layers of images and way they can be controlled and parameters joined is so flexible.
The stability issues are the one that really stop me producing anything with it. I will get so far, and a crash will put me off, and this if from someone who likes to use Cinelerra.
Synfig was the first program I used that had scoped effects, Krita the second, and GIMP will hopefully have the same via GEGL. Then there's Bauxite and Oxide too, offering animation. Of these, synfig offer the most complete and intuitive way of interacting, with the most extensive base to it.
I really hope this project takes off in some major way, as the excellent work so far show how worthy it is.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Robert, have you thought about just opening up a project page on SourceForge? It'd be simple -- you could take advantage of the prepackaged forums/collaboration stuff, and skip the rest (ie, you don't have to transfer the Web site over). That wouldn't take terribly long to do, and it's free.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
i really want use synfig ,i'm on ubuntu .i never success to install it without prob, i think when all will be stable synfig really can growup find more user and developper i expect synfig can be for vector animation like blender is for 3D i work in korean company i reallise animation using 2D and 3D (blender ,gimp,audacity) i wish the day synfig i can use in my company , my dream make my animation studio using free software and each year invest porcentage of benefit inside project like blender or synfig just my dream, and if on eprogram like toonz open source can be good if all people freelancer or have company using open source program give some money (1% of benefit) can realy help open source system but its not this case for example where i work they dont care about linux philosophy only think its free of charge i hate this
Friday, December 8, 2006
Thanks for the replay. I understand the current situation. I also want to mention the fact that I monitorized the Synfig activity for some time and I also tried to understand some features in Synfig for couple months (and manage to put toghether some small docs and video tuts - ill put them sonn on web). Honestly I don't know who will have the same patience. And is true that there are some stabilitity issues with Synfig, but this is to be expected from an developer preview (alpha stage). However this does not change the fact that Synfig is where it was one year ago (or in its first release), with no developer docs, no user docs, no improvments (only small bug fixes). I don't think Synfig will "takes off in some major way" unless these "missing parts " are resolved.
P.S. So there are people interested in Synfig, look at these replyes (zygom - "i really want use synfig", Ben Green - "Synfig was the first program I used that had scoped effects"). People are stuck on stupid installing issues ... what can I say more ...
Friday, December 8, 2006
Lucian, you make very good points, but my hands are tied. The truth is that I cannot work on Synfig in any significant way unless I'm getting paid for it. I would love to take a month or two off from work and really 'fix' the stability and usability issues, but that isn't going to happen. I have to be realistic.
When I first open sourced Synfig, I was quite confident that I would be working on it a lot over the next few months/years as it worked toward a first release. What I failed to take into account was how motivated I would be to work on a project outside of my job that I don't directly use. Remember that when I was working on Synfig at Voria, it was my job. So now I'm not really sure what to do.
The copy of Synfig that is on Subversion is a bit better off in terms of stability and usability, so you may be interested in giving that version a try if you are able to and you have the patience. However, installing from the sources is really painful unless you are using Linux.
Friday, December 8, 2006
Looks like Synfig build for Windows is not a problem any more.
I think, in a week, I can put it to free access.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
http://www.videosift.com/story.php?id=24682#leavecomment
Made by Emmanuel Ho, website is sadly down currently, but it looks very Synfig like, any chance it was done with it?
At least the fur/feathers effect could really be included as a automated script in Synfig if it isn't alread
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Would donating to the project help? I couldn't find a donation link on the website :/
Maybe setup a paypal account so people can help encourage the developers
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
While I am flattered that people would donate, I don't feel it would be responsible to accept donations when there is no explanation as to how those donations would be used. If I were working on the project to any significant degree anymore, then perhaps I would be able to take the donations myself as compensation, but I really doubt that donations would be able to fund me to any significant degree. So if I'm not working on the project anymore, then where would the money go? Money makes things complicated, and people get upset when it is misused.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Hah. Small world. I just worked out the Paul Wise you refer to is actually one of my best mates in RL (Ie pabs the debian guy). I might have to get involved on this one, because I'd like to get back into animation but darned if I can afford flash.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
So, new windows build (based on 228 svn):
It's required Gtk+ 2.10.6 runtime and Gtkmm 2.8.8-2 runtime.
Monday, January 1, 2007
darco,
I know this post is a bit late, but have you ever considered approaching a larger production company that might have need for this type of software and see if they would sponsor you? That's how many projects get funding. And you seem like you would really enjoy working on this for a job. Try getting advice from other people who have gotton funding for their projects. Ton from the Blender project has been to hell and back and could give all kinds of tips on what works and what doesn't. Or Paul from the Ardour project that recently got sponsorship from SSL. He's been fighting tooth and nail for several years to keep working on his project and it's now really starting to take off.
I'm using Synfig on Linux from source and have found it to be quite stable. The only real issues I face are the ones related to newer versions of GCC.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Or, to follow up on Reuben's post above, what about Google's Summer of Code (if they're doing that again). Open source really needs a 2D animation program, so it would seem to be a good pitch.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Atrus: If haven't already, please join the synfig-devl list and send an intro. I Win32 build maintainer would be awesome!
PS: I'm back on the net and am going to get back into the swing of things.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Having a child (and wife of course), full time job, college and a freelance career I can understand the time issues. I haven't even been able to update/finish my own website.
I don't really know your available time. But a little time here and there to write some docs, surely can not be that difficult. 10-15 minutes here and there can get a lot accomplished. Not to mention I know of quite a few grants and such that you could easily get in the US that would allow you to likely work full time on Synfig.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Brian wrote:
This got my attention really quick. Could you elaborate on these grants?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
To think all those hours put into this program and no tutorial was made is just sad...
Take some pride in your work and spend a few measly hours of your personal time and write a basic intro.
Its things like this that prevent anything open-source from ever coming off the ground.
Hell, I could write a simple tutorial on Blender 3d during my lunchbreak, and I didn't even make the program.
Pathetic.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Hermit, You seem to have gotten the wrong impression. I did write a simple tutorial when I released Synfig.
I resent you labeling me "pathetic". Perhaps I should have just kept Synfig in my closet, and then you wouldn't be so upset.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
I'm not upset per se, just stating a fact...
Another possible great program (i wouldn't know) Another lack of definitive tutorial
Welcome to the world of Open Source. Good luck in your endeavours.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Well, when Hermit writes "Hell, I could write a simple tutorial on Blender 3d during my lunchbreak, and I didn't even make the program." -that shows Hermit has absolutely no clue about writing tutorials and manuals.
Either that or he does and makes a $100,000 a month writing five books for O'Reilly.
There is a real dearth of 2D animation software in the Open Source world and it was good of you to Open Source Synfig. I really hope that the community embraces it.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
I think Synfig has a lot of potential. It's elusive, yes.. GTK apps always get a messy feeling to me because you have to click on so many task bar buttons to get your panels back...but I digress.
I'm going to give my best shot to make an animation. I didn't know about the tutorial until I searched Google today. Would you link it more visibly on the Synfig site?
Friday, June 8, 2007
Darco, I saw your tutorial (as it appears to be the only one in existence). However, I understand Hermit's frustration because you've written an excellent vector animation program but your tutorial doesn't cover animation at all. All you covered were features that any Inkscape user would find trivial. Animation is Synfig's killer feature, but the lack of any documentation is killing the project.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
These comments have been invaluable to me as is this whole site. I thank you for your comment.