As you may know, we are using MLT framework library to work with some media files. Unfortunately where is no MLT package in MSYS2 environment which we are using to build Windows version of Synfig. So, we use our own script to build and install MLT before starting the build step. This is not the best solution, as you always need to keep in mind the location of the MLT, non-standard installation paths, and more. And this week we made an MLT package for the MSYS2 environment and sent it upstream. So now you can just type pacman -Ss mingw-w64-x86_64-mlt and install it like any other package. Woohoo!
We also have made changes to the MLT CMake script by adding logic necessary for correct compiling and installation of MLT framework in MSYS2 environment.
The next thing we need to do is to suggest our changes to the MLT framework itself. After that, we are ready to clean up the Synfig build scripts and improve them.
Thatâs all news for this week. Thanks for your support and see you next time!
This week we have added a new feature for our infrastructure to help Synfig developers and users test new features.
Synfig developers mostly use Linux, while users use Windows. And we wanted to allow users to easily test changes made by developers via PRs before they hit the main branch.
To do this, we were working to solve several problems:
Increase the build speed (otherwise we exceed the time limits set by the Appveyor CI service, which we use to build Synfig for Windows). To achieve this, we have improved the build using CMake and Ninja.
Add to CMake the ability to install dependencies necessary for Synfig to work.
Decide where to store binary files built from each particular PR, which users will download for testing. There are many services for this, but there was one problem. Storage service usually uses a secret key to allow upload data from other service (the one that generate binary builds). But if you use secret key for deploying from PR (as we planned initially), then it opens the possibility for an attacker to extract this secret key and use it for various bad things in the future. For this reason, most services (and Appveyor too) disable the deploying from PRs because this is not secure.
It looks like we would have to abandon such a good feature, but then we discovered that Appveyour service automatically stores builded artifacts on its own servers, which is available for the user and thus makes it redundant to use secret keys. Hooray!
So, finally, we are happy to present you the new feature!
From now, for each new PR you can download the compiled portable version of Synfig for Windows.
Now you can unpack the downloaded file and run Synfig, which includes all modifications introduced in this particular PR. This is a portable version, so no need to install it.
Other changes from last week:
Many improvements for CMake from Artem Konoplin (see PR #1711).
Corrected positions of thumbnails and keyframe tooltips on Wayland (PRs #1726 and #1725). Thanks to Keyikedalube Ndang.
Fixed MSYS2 installer, generated by CMake - removed unnecessary folders, required folders added (PR #1728). Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
Fresh forces of Hacktoberfest have joined this week to Synfig contributorsâ army.
And we would like to thank our friends at Digital Ocean, Keyikedalube Ndang and Ayush Chamoli for their efforts to increase project activity.
Many issues were prepared for newcomers - mostly code cleanup, compile-time warning fixes and small UX changes. These issues need to be fixed, and they are relatively easy even for the first-time contributors. And itâs a good starting point for a wonderful journey into the world of open source.
So letâs stop talking and see what we did this week?
[CMake build] Fixed target name output in warning message if msgfmt not found. Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
Some improvements for MSVC/vcpkg support (#1746). Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
Thatâs all for this week. As always we want to say thanks to all our contributors and supporters. Remember to have fun and joy while doing good things. See you next week!
Hi guys! Hereâs whatâs new in Synfig for last week:
Added window for quick keyboard shortcut reference and improved navigation hotkeys (PR #1776). See image attached to this post. Also, the âNavigationâ menu is removed. Thanks to Keyikedalube Ndang.
Improvements for Skeleton Tool: Better UX when constructing Skeleton Deformation layer (see issue #1658), fixed some warnings (PR #1695). Thanks to Aditya Abhiram.
Improved support for building Synfig with MSVC: Added export variables (PR #1797). Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
Windows build: Reduce installer size by disabling lumas module in MLT (PR #1801). Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
Fixed crash in Spline Vertex converter (PR #1731, see also issue #1731). Thanks to Dmitry Razumovsky.
[CMake] Fix failing build when MSYS is installed into a path different from âc:\msys64â (issue #1785). Thanks to Dmitry Razumovsky and Artem Konoplin.
[CMake] Added FontConfig support to Synfig Studio build (#1799). Thanks to Dhairya Bahl.
[Code cleanup] Removed some old CVS/SVN stuff (PR #1791). Thanks to Rodolfo Ribeiro Gomes.
About dialog now has modal property enabled (PR #1788). Thanks to Scott Hardin.
Thatâs all for today! Thanks to everyone who helps to make Synfig better!
Hi guys! Hereâs whatâs new in Synfig for last week:
Now it is possible to stylize Synfigâs UI using a CSS file (PR #1789). Installed CSS files located in âINSTALL_PREFIX/share/synfig/cssâ. This also fixes issues #1061 (Inconsistent Synfig UI on GNOME desktop) and #1390 (Some labels in dialog buttons are not correctly aligned). Thanks to Keyikedalube Ndang.
Do not keep layer selection after new layer(s) created using Draw Tool (see issue #1809). Thanks to Firas Hanife.
Changed redo shortcut to âCtr+Yâ on Windows and âShift+Ctrl+Zâ on Linux; also âCtrl+Z/Shift+Ctrl+Zâ is changed to âCmd+Z/Shift+Cmd+Zâ for MacOSX (PR #1811). Thanks to Keyikedalube Ndang.
Thatâs all for today! Thanks to everyone who helps to make Synfig better!
Hi guys! Hereâs whatâs new in Synfig for last week:
Improved color dialog UI (PR #1816). See attached screenshot. Thanks to Keyikedalube Ndang.
Fixed issue with improper handling of Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V / Ctrl+A keyboard shortcuts when Color and Gradient Dialogs are active (issue #1713). Thanks to Rodolfo Ribeiro Gomes.
Migrate outdated Gtk::Table widgets to Gtk::Grid (issue #1787). Thanks to Keyikedalube Ndang.
Disable verbose mode for autotools build (PR #1815), build output is much cleaner now. Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
Code cleanup: Delete ColorAccumulator class (PR #1810). Thanks to Benjamin Summerton and Artem Konoplin.
Thatâs all for today! Thanks to everyone who helps to make Synfig better!
Hi guys! Hereâs whatâs new in Synfig development:
Improvements
Synfig now uses single-key keyboard shortcuts for toolbox items (PR #1823). See discussion here for details. Thanks to Keyikedalube Ndang and Dhairya Bahl.
Zoom keyboard shortcuts improved: now it is possible to use both inkscape-like and old-style shortcuts (PR #1848). See issue #1798 for details. Thanks to Dhairya Bahl.
Added keyboard shortcut for Cutout Tool (PR #1855). Thanks to Firas Hanife.
Disable background rendering outside of playback bounds (issue #1719). Thanks to Firas Hanife.
Ask confirmation when user clicks âRestore Defaultsâ button in Settings Dialog (PR #1445). Thanks to Firas Hanife.
Bugfixes
Fix bug with interpolation for boolean values (PR #1826). See issues #1825 and #658 for details. Thanks to Rodolfo Ribeiro Gomes.
Fixed bug with missing audio when exporting to MPEG-1 format (PR #1830). Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
Fixed issue with OSX package: SynfigStudio.app wonât start if renamed (or contain spaces in name) (PR #1834). Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
Fixed crash in Spline Tangent converter (PR #1836). Thanks to Dmitry Razumovsky.
Fixed issue #1820 - Impossible to enter â-â and space characters in Keyframes Panel and other panels (PR #1827). Thanks to Rodolfo Ribeiro Gomes.
Fix issue #1766: Impossible to select âFont Familyâ on Windows builds (PRs #1828, #1833). Thanks to Rodolfo Ribeiro Gomes.
Fix issue #1590: Duplicate layer ignoring all layers except the first one (PR #1829). Thanks to Rodolfo Ribeiro Gomes.
Code cleanup, maintenance
Cleanup OptionsProcessor calss code (PR #1831). Thanks to Artem Konoplin.
UI glade files moved to âsynfig-studio/src/gui/resources/ui/â directory (this is to standardize synfigstudio resources folder like gedit and other gtk apps). See issue #1818 for details.
Thatâs all for today! Thanks to everyone who helps to make Synfig better!
Hi guys! Hereâs whatâs new in Synfig development for last week:
Synfig Studio 1.4.0 released as a snap package (https://snapcraft.io/synfigstudio). It is currently on the candidate channel and will be promoted to stable channel after some testing. So if you are using Ubuntu - please check it out!
