Robin Hood 10

If you want to try Robin Hood with a setup, you may download Setup.ex_ and rename it to .exe in order to start. The Password is: thor, the same for the setup that you would download after donate. Donate now and you'll have the full version without time constraints and with autoupdate. Thank you!
Fresh Demo!
> download 32 bits <
and add the fresh _hidecursorIDLE 32 from nightly builds, working perfectly 'till 29 Apr; however the site will be updated even sooner :)

> download 64 bits <
and add the fresh _hidecursorIDLE 64  slightly overcharged version, 100days into 2013! ;)

news:
Global:
> CTRL+ALT(+SHIFT)+F10
- starts (or terminates) _hidecursorIDLE

Window:
> CTRL+WIN+(ALT+)T
- gets the name of the process
- (or) the name of the class
and place it in the clipboard

(files).ini:
- secondary instruction to give different orders to secondary spawned processes in multiprocess applications (e.g. Chrome)
- CPU_Control

long version:
Why Robin... it's about redistributing resources with a smile! And not governmental, mind you :) Towards your best application that is. Why 10? Because I've just happened to change the reload/unload shortcut unto CTRL+ALT[+SHIFT]+F10 in order to make it more universal no matter what app you are running. Also I've added CTRL+ALT+1,2,3 in the same vein as CTRL+Win+1,2,3 for the priorities, this one working for the affinities:
1 - __FOREGROUND_HALF_Affinity / (SHIFT) __FOREGROUND_ONE_Affinity ; half means half of your processors
2 - __ALL_Affinity ;
3 - __BACKGROUND_HALF_Affinity / (SHIFT) __BACKGROUND_ONE_Affinity

Please note that the .ini files are there for you to play with them, and that the apps presented inside are tuned to work perfect for one HT processor (2 logical ones). That automatically scales for 1 proc and should be perfect for more, but when you want total control, you are encouraged to experiment.

I've been able to squeeze the power from an old rig and made it work with ALL the latest games and with good frames per second. Ah, the programmers these days... if you don't have the videocard resources for the most prominent games of the hour - I'd like to recommend two lovely games for the lesser videocards. Combined, they could give you even more gameplay fun than Deus Ex's latest installment for example.

Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood [Download] (hey, even win 98!) and Frozen Synapse. The former, stealth and tactics - is full with gestures, reminding that the best technology there is appears first in games. The latter is more for the hardcore gamer, but with the tip that you have to move fast and stealth not the other way around, it might take off the frustration edge. Its story is a cyberpunk gem, unlike many "refurbished new" from today. Of course my app is able to squeeze more speed at the AI computing turn, and you are encouraged to experiment with the newly introduced "secondary" instruction - for giving separate orders to secondary processes spawned by the main app.


Also for now you may find that we address a certain Cpu_Control app for setting/remembering custom process/processor affinities. While the path to it might be different, my app... RobinHood would take it on the fly and automatically write it down in .ini. All you have to do is having it launched once, and then ctrl+alt+esc. Optionally you may use another app to keep/remember the affinity of procs, all you have to do is modify in .ini where CPU_Control.exe is mentioned, with the name of the process involved.



Have fun :)

News

_hidecursorIDLE:
If you are eligible for the free version, it's ready and able to work on any Windows(XP or higher, 64 or 32 bits). Still only with direct contact via mail.

[update]
and here is a public demo, available for 32bit systems and until the 7th of November. Please don't try to use it after the day as it will certainly lose the intended functionality.
Also please read the end of this post

what it does:
it gives all the attention where it is needed, as in love and resources, to the CPU
enhancing your computational power by increasing the priority to the current and selected applications
and allocating all the processors (physical and logical) to the current application (while sending the others to the "service" processor where available)

The demo will be available next week, and you may also want to try a few tricks:
- download any CPU related test, e.g. the first that Google showed: Performance Test
and try to see what your processor is up to, with this Advanced -> Multitasking -> select Whetsone, Dhrystone, Prime Number Search, Sorting Random Strings, Compression and Encryption

See for yourself what it can do, run it once with your system "loaded" and then after you've tweeked all the processes to low and one processor only while the pt.exe to high priority and all the processors available

I'll let you decide how much you'd give to that, but a minimum of 20% increase in speed automatically maintained is uber fast!

Also the application lets you choose what application doesn't need that or does better at a selected level

Then you'll be able to enjoy the latest games and take the best of your computing power.

HKLoops:
I've had to explain a bit here and there on how it should be used therefore for now it failed the "Bullfrog test". It is available with consultancy aside and it will receive double efforts to design it automagically understandable. Or I'll write some documentation for it, but I still hope better not :)
Also new features are added.


Probably I will open another development blog dedicated to the apps as I would like to steer this one to game development and what it was before that.

Thanks to all who helped in testing and special thanks to those who helped me with the multitude of hardware to be able to test for myself in all the imaginable scenarios!!

end of post:
_alwaysSTICKY is the application that will monitor the main _hidecursorIDLE in order to automatically revive it after exception events. These events can be customized in the .ini files, and are for the processes starting with a exclamation mark and ending in a restart command. Also it can be used with control+alt+F9 to manually start the _hidecursorIDLE or control+SHIFT+alt+F9 to stop it.

And remember:
control+alt+escape: sends all the processes to idle mode while minding the current application with all the resources necessary
alt+shift+escape: sends all the processes to normal mode, usually you won't need that
control+win+1: sends the current app to normal mode
control+win+2: forces the current app to high mode
also you are not usually going to need them as the app is designed to work automatically.

Enjoy :)

Prelude

[update:]
next update of blog - friday, 14 Oct
for those with alpha, the 64bit version is ready

The tests are over, although the app will be maintained as needed
WinXP, Win2008, Win7 - I haven't got anyone with Vista though :)
[/update]

Therefore private beta starts today (anyway - after I'll take a nap) and at the top of the next week we are going "public".

The HKLoops and the whole shortcuts, gestures & smarter hacks will remain in developing&testing and I hope it will see its beta somewhere in the next week also.

What? What is alpha, beta and what's that thing with private testing? Hey, what about Win 8?
Alpha means it would not break your computer (in imaginative ways) and that I want to see some out-there stats. Beta is when I decide all the basic features are round, and finally - private means I need your identity before you are going to test the product. Your identity will remain private, unless you decide to brag about or voluntary opt in to me to be published in a possible future credits presentation.

Win 8 might be coming and although there is a lot to it, there is still also before it. Furthermore I "don't steal their shiny" - I have altogether other things in mind, more bent to giving a new experience from the point of view of *really* new designing.

Also next week, apart from what's evident, I'll highlight the pluses for the roles I'm looking for: C++, Javascript, HTML5; and I want to somehow outsource a nice web page where the experience would have begun even before the first download.



Well... Ah! I've just remembered, the promised links. Cognitive science, games and fun - kept from being tweeted only by the lack of time. Roughly > here they are <, curated as simple bookmarks, but I've resynch'ed with twitter so follow me there for a better presentation and more story like.

Have fun and come join the codding, in many it can be uber-fun! :)


[update]
App: _hidecursorIDLE will be known in a few days as IdontKNOW. Your answer will be simply and witty when asked why your comp still works so well under pressure.

For researchers: if I've ever been touched by your research, this app is free with sources for your use only (if I haven't had to pay extra for the article)
For researcher (still) anonymous: if you('ve had) participate(d) in alpha or beta, the app can be free for your use only but without the sources. Tempt me anytime with a good one though (neuroscience research) ;)

For you and the rest of the world, the beta starts today (26 Sept or depending.. where you are on the globe!) and is open until I say so but my guess is no latter than the 10th of October.
And as I happen to love the first good old days of Bullfrog Productions' style, after beta: the app will be free of the need of any documentation and free of bugs (ok, a departure from their early days) and you'll have to start to pay for buying it (with the exceptions aforementioned).

[update]
So, the shortcuts relevant to tests are here:
gain [Control] of the [Alt]ernative and [ESC]ape!
- this wonderful combo will send all apps back to their designated processors and send all but the current app into low/idle mode
- ideally you won't need it, but it might be handy if one application decides to "get crazy" and lock your resources
- also needed if you want to speed up things... "RIGHT NOW!!"

[Control][Win]1 :: forces the focused app to gain normal priority
[Control][Win]2 :: forces the focused app to gain high priority
[Control][Win]3 :: forces a normal cycle, setting the focused app to the designated state
^^ the above are just temporary, for a cycle: (if you go to another app, it will retain the designated state instead of lowering back, but after you come back, things will get back on track)
[Control][Win]NumpadMinus :: forces the focused app to be expelled from the cycle, retaining the current priority and processor configuration for the whole life of... well until you restart the app again

Again, these are not needed for a normal usage, but when you want to get things done faster and have more control, you can do it. I've made a quick draft to the widget that would point to the shortcuts and explanations but right now I'm too jaded to make it fit into a sidebar. I'd rather invest the effort into the automatization of the testing process so you'll have to do next to nothing but to run the app once. Ah, na laetha gael m'óige! :)


I'm looking forward to hearing from you,
DanP.

Human (and computer) Evolution: augmentations++

Soon, your computer will work faster and more reliable (especially with lots of windows and when multitasking a lot). I will place in your palm a smoother experience by various hacks and tricks, gestures and other features that will be closer to your heart.

Circles, friends and developers wannabe, from today I'll guide the dots through alpha testing. A lot has happened since my last post, and the two little programs are mature now. Be so kind and leave a note (mail if interested in joining).
The whole magic, The Great Source will be at your fingertips. Of course, great responsibility with this power, therefore the sources derived -> yours alone, don't distribute until settled!(*1)

Gather and enjoy the gain from the beginning, testing/developing the customized experience. Albeit Windows only, Apple could have a special place too, but that's another story.

The tests will vary, the door is open, at least two weeks from now.


Testers on 4(+) procs, 64bits and/or Win7(+) also a plus.

A solid identity is required in this phase, I will choose who is going to see the sources. If you are interested only in the final phase (all of the bugs cleared, and all of the preliminary features rounded) a notice will be available for the beta tests date, after two weeks from now.

(*1) If you are going to develop for me, you will receive full credits for your merit. If you are thinking credit$, that will be settled when/if applicable; until then any idea or line of code is better kept for yourself


As for the tweets, I'll compile a geeky list with the interesting stuff that you might have missed and post it rather raw, soon.