external building tutorials?
hello all,
got a question regarding, obviously building externals.
the idea has now come to build some of my own that i have as abstractions. i would like to make these into proper externals.
anyhow, i know the sdk does have the run through of building your own, but is there any other tutorial paper/pdfs on the internet with building externals?
i have had a look but cant seem to find much of any other external building tutorial past the sdk one.
many thanks if you can help
lewis edwards
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smokingbunny.co.uk
oh, i would be looking to use xcode as well, if that helps.
Here's a tutorial from professor Fujinaga at McGill in Montreal:
You can use the course outline on this page to help learn as well:
thats great, thanks a bundle for that. it is much appreciated.
one thing i would love to add and share, are these xcode templates i found on maxobjects.com
i just randomly typed in xcode and it came up with these templates. though these are said to be use with max/msp 4.6, but would not see a problem for max 5
Hi,
1) I'am learning to write externals using Xcode 3.22 on Snow Leopard.
When build an object from the example folder (SDK 5.1.1) all seems to be fine. No messages error.
2) Then I've upload the file path from Max to the SDK Exmaples Folder,
3) When I try to load the new object, typing from Max, it appears from the autocomplete,
4) When it must be instanced by Max I receive from the Max windows the message: newobj bang: No such object.
5) I get always the same problem for any new object
Unfortunalty there are not examples on how to setup Xcode 3.22 on the web for Max externals so I'm blocked on this simple level.
Thanks.
In order to compile the source code you will need to keep the folder hierarchy of the headers: on your root folder(where you are planning to compile your externals) you must keep the info.plist and maxmspsdk.xcconfig files.
create a root folder and copy the c74support contained on the sdk. Create another folder inside of the root which will contain your code. Copy the two files mentioned above inside this folder. It is better to copy a template project from the sdk and then replacing the c file for your code.
Hope this helps!
-emmanuel
hallo Iam new be and still confuse how to set up Xcode 3.2.. with max 5.1 , woul you give me a basic step from beginner. thanks
I think a tutorial is necessary to show step by step how to build an external step by step a pure beginner, then for an intermediate level that could be making off of an object of the how and why it was done yeu and why the need to use external libraries, etc. and this is more a general suggestion under dev should have two tabs in a C + + the other java ..
I think a tutorial is necessary to show step by step how to build an external step by step a pure beginner
I completely agree. I'm currently finishing a book on how to write Max/MSP (and Pd) externals, covering design and coding in detail. I don't have a release date yet, but we're at the proofreading stage, so hopefully it will be out in the not-too-distant future.
Eric
Hello Eric I am pleased to read but do you think to respond at this question using xcode 4 on mac or under visual c + + under windows? and using Flext... I 'm very impatient to read you.
Thanks for your interest, mortimer59.
An early chapter in my book shows how to compile externals under both Mac OS X using Xcode 3, and Windows 7 using Visual C++ 2010 Express. I may be able to slip a quick note onto the CD-ROM about compiling under Xcode 4. The process for building externals under Xcode 4 is nearly identical to Xcode 3, requiring only a very minor change to one of the Cycling '74 configuration files.
I would advise against using flext, and do not discuss it in my book.
Eric
I am pleased to read that someone else has had the same problems as me. Not because I enjoy seeing anyone struggling, but because I have become quite despondent whilst trying to make my own externals. I have found that by all accounts the problem is not the actual coding but instead XCode is to blame for many holdups!
I have included a file that one of my lecturers wrote for me with some basic instructions for adding inlets and outlets to externals, starting off with the simplemax object that is in the examples folder of the Max SDK. I found this extremely useful and from this have managed to make a few externals myself.
Hope this is useful to someone
Benny
Hi mortimer59,
It is not possible to determine any compiler problems you may be experiencing from looking at the source code. Can you compile this external in Xcode 3 but not Xcode 4? In that case, you would want to look at the error messages from Xcode 4. Otherwise, if you cannot build it in Xcode 3 either, you would need to debug your external. Fortunately, there is a chapter on debugging externals in my book :)
Eric
sorry been a bit quiet on this subject. but really would love some very nice tutorials on external building. and the book that eric has said about, i am looking forward to, count me in as a customer :D
just done an upgrade of xcode, and also got the ios capabilities [got an ipad and would like to build something]. but externals are something which are still on my list
lewis edwards
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smokingbunny.co.uk
hello,
@ mr lyon.
just as a matter of interest. when would your external building book be ready? obviously its ready when its ready, but just wondering whilst on the interweb.
lewis
Can wait to read that book !!!!!!!
The text of "Designing Audio Objects for Max/MSP and Pd" is complete, proofed, and waiting to go to the typesetter. I don't yet have a release date, but will share it as soon I hear from the publisher. Thanks everyone for your continued interest in my book. I really appreciate it!
Eric
Kudos Eric! Looking forward to reading it.
hello,
@Eric, some news about a possible release date for your book? i'm very impatient to read it too..!
Hi Eliott,
We are slowly making progress, with most of the effort now focused on corrections and formatting improvements. The content of the book is done. On the bright side, the long production time has allowed me to add e-chapters on the CDROM covering Xcode 4, and Max 6. I'll announce to the forum as soon as we have a release date.
Many thanks for your continued interest!
Eric
Eric the book will be available to Spain?
Hi Alersito,
Thanks for asking. A-R Editions sells their books worldwide, and also makes them available on Amazon, so it should be easy for you to purchase the book in Spain.
Eric
Until the end of this year? (^_^)
I started playing with the SDK under xcode4 a few weeks ago --- had trouble with it until I deleted some of the configuration lines and then it worked.
See my other posting https://cycling74.com/forums/trying-to-build-my-first-max-external-with-xcode
The preliminary Max 6 SDK should be Xcode4-ready out-of-the-box. Please let us know if you find otherwise.
best,
Tim
sorry to be a bit of a cock re-uping this thread, but just had a few question[s] for mr lyon, which i think you know what question it is.
how far off do think the book is?
also, will it cover xcode 3? or will it just be xcode 4?
how much will it be cost wise?
anyhow none-the-less, looking forward too it
lewis
And will it be in the Safari system run by O'Reilly?
The examples that ship with max sdk are fairly self-explanatory IMO. Sorry if someone said this already.
@ jamesson.
i know ;)
i just always like books and other such things to learn from.
plus bedtime reading ;)
Hi Eric,
is there any news about your book?
Hi Eric,
any news on the eternal programming book?
many thanks
a.
I am also very keen to purchase a copy of your book, Eric!
Best,
Ricky
Me too!
Is it possible to pack the mxe as a string inside a Windows runtime?
Would love an update on the book as well.
Also, has anyone come across a tutorial that deals with the actual 'setting it up' part? As in, after downloading xcode and the SDK, but before you get to looking at/creating code. Opening up xcode is an exercise is frustrating confusion to a noob, much less opening one of the examples in the SDK folder. I can see the main body of the code and begin wrapping my head around that (with the help of the SDK documentation, but that's only a tiny part of the equation (in the eyes of a noob).
Well, the text to this book is "complete and proofed" a year ago... And how long can it take to improve the formatting...?
I wish the author would just self-publish it, because it doesn't look like his publisher will do it...
(But he doesn't seem to be active here any more so i doubt he'll read this).
I could be wrong, but I think in academia self publishing "doesn't count", so perhaps that isn't an attractive idea, even though it would move a lot of books.
Everyone - thanks again for your continued interest. My editor is now reviewing the final proofs from the printer, so hopefully the book will go into production soon. It's been extremely frustrating for me that the process has taken so long, so I can certainly understand ldw's impatience! In any case, I will announce it here the moment that the book becomes available.
Eric
> also, will it cover xcode 3? or will it just be xcode 4?
Hi Lewis,
The book was written for Xcode 3, so the main text assumes it. The book's code compiles equally well in both Xcode 3 and Xcode 4. There's an update on the CDROM to deal with Xcode 4 compilation, and a quick e-chapter on updating code for Max 6.
Eric
Hi All,
Thanks for your patience, and your continued interest in my Max audio programming book. The book is now commercially available. Below are the publisher's link, and an Amazon link.
Eric
Oh frabjous day calloo callay
:) to the Max
Great --- just ordered it from Amazon --- I had a little grief on the way to rebuilding my externals with Xcode 4.5 so I'll be interested to see your approach.
since i was the starter of the forum. jesus... one year ago HA!
just to say thanks to mr lyon for this book. though will have to wait until uk sales come through on amazonia.
again thank you
lewis
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments on and off this forum. I have received some queries regarding international distribution. A-R Editions ships internationally, so it is possible to purchase the book from anywhere in the world. However the publisher currently only ships through amazon.com or its own website (the two links posted above).
Thanks again for your interest,
Eric
Addendum: The Amazon link is here: http://tinyurl.com/9g9z63o
again thanks a lot. i will get these as soon as i have some cash spare, or ask for it in a christmas stocking ;)
This is great news, thanks for the book!
great news! many thanks for the book!
a.
Read a couple of chapters so far....VERY useful for getting up to speed quickly with the MaxMSP API
Hallo alll I am try to compile example max 6 sdk on Xcode 4.5 but igot error message on max window console " 2013-02-14 14:51:06.472 Max[520:507] Cannot find executable for CFBundle 0x10e7fd0 (not loaded)" I am using os x 10.7.5 . any body know to solve the problem? thanks
Hello everybody,
I do not know if there are still people interested in such tutorials. I wrote two of them (one for the Windows platform, one for the Mac platform), explaining how to create an external from scratch.
The Mac document needs some cleanup (it was written for XCode 3.2.... I am updating it for XCode 4.6 and XCode 5). The Windows version is OK to be published immediately.
I do not have my own website, and I do not know if PDF can be published on the forum (or made available by Cycling). If anybody wants to host these files and make them available to Max users, just ask for them °-)
Benoit
Great to know Benoit!
can't you just upload the pdfs and the zips to the wiki?
thanks!
a.
And here is the version for Mac. It's outdated (it was made for XCode 3, I am refreshing it for XCode 4 and XCode 5). I also included here the Carbon template used in the tutorial (the link in the document is not working anymore)
Benoit
Thanks very much! I do hope to do some work on externals in the future.
Yes, I saw that too. I think that the USD 50.00 price is not correct.... but USD 848.00 is quite crazy. Something is probably wrong somewhere.
Trying to the get the book in France from Amazon would cost me more than 150 euros (around USD 200...) without postage fees and import taxes.
Have you tried ordering directly from A-R Editions (www.areditions.com)?
The list price is US$ 50.00.
Ok, so the real price is $50, which is pretty low for this book.
(And I can not understand why some people are trying to sell the book at more than US$800...)
I'm very glad to hear that people are finding my book useful. Here's what is going on with availability issues. Amazon takes a weighty chunk out of the price of any book that they distribute. My publisher, A-R Editions doesn't want to pay that tariff, so instead Amazon only lists the book through a link to A-R Editions, or to whoever else feels like selling it used at a comically inflated price. Sometimes Amazon randomly lists the book as out of print, even though it most certainly remains available from A-R (really the only way to go in purchasing the book).
This arrangement can cause real inconveniences from a reader's perspective, especially international readers, who sometimes have to wait as long as five weeks for the book to arrive. I don't have any control over this situation, but I do apologize for it. If you do order the book from A-R, you will receive it, sooner or later.
I am grateful to A-R for publishing my book, since that's the only way I could have gotten it out to interested readers at the time when I signed the contract. However, if I write another Max book, I would be inclined to release it as an e-book over iBooks (and maybe other portals such as Kindle) at a significantly lower price. I'd be quite interested to hear what folks think about that alternative distribution model.
-Eric
I think digital distribution makes a lot of sense, especially for tech books, easier to search things in an ebook...
i for one, find the comfort of reading a book of paper cosmically superior to that of reading one on a computer, or even on kindle... but i don't have a kindle, so.
well, since i was the original poster, ill chime in my 2 cents. though on this post, its a big 2 cents
i bought the book a few months back through amazon, it cost $50. would have been cheaper if there was ones in the uk, but for shipping, that kicked the price up to $50. i dont mind, it goes too a good cause for mr. lyon and future books. and really, i wanted the book
i currently have not had the time to get down and dirty with it yet [though have been reading it], more so because my computer is kicking up a storm and feel its not up to it now, and im busy. but am planning some nice objects to make. but looking forward too it though, very much so.
i think a digital distribution is good. the costs for purchases would go to the writer, rather than multiple people who work in a office and just publish it. they dont write it or figure out the code parts, so that is annoying. i was thinking about paypal last night and working around to not use them, why should i give them the money that people are giving me? thats my money, essentially.
the good thing about digital distribution is that it can reach everyone at the same time. its only peoples internet connection that can let them down. but primarily, everyone can get hold of it. and thats good, too a certain extent.
maybe its just me and my own upbringing, or my own personal dealings in life.
but i hate digital things, sure they have made things easier in some retrospect, but digital films, music, books/pdfs etc are just rubbish to me. i do have a few myself, i also sell digital releases of my music, but thats because i dont have the money to make the CD, i would otherwise.
but i have never bought digital copies of things. they come from friends, or a simple search on the internet with the word 'free' at the end.
main reason as to why is because, it isnt real. im not holding it, i cant flick through the book or the cd cover, can feel it, can patiently look through it without the back light going down or off.
and really, when you put it all together, all that digital distribution is just 1s and 0s. its nothing, its not real.
i love however, real [that i can hold in my hand] copies of things, books, cds, films. i will go out and buy those. nobody will accidentally delete them if they walk in the room wearing a magnet suit. i can put them on my shelf where i can get too them, and more importantly, i dont have to HAVE a computer on to look/listen at what it is. need something for a cd, well thats what cd players are for ;)
sure i cant walk around with 500 books, but who wants that many books in digital format? surely one book for the time being is enough.
i get completely disinterested if books or music are just digitally distributed. software and games are something i dont mind though. that makes more sense to me, since it was made for a computer.
i will however go out of my way to order something or troll the streets for the shop that has what i want to buy. as long as its real.
i was speaking to my step-dad the other day, he himself likes technology, has an android touch device and some other things. but does not see the appeal with books, at all. said for one that the back light for these things makes it hard to read anything, keeps him awake and that you cant just 'flick' through the pages. all valid reasons for me.
i told him about a pdf, which was the LObjects manual. told him i spent the day at work printing the entire thing off, just so i didnt have to use a computer to read it. and this is a manual that was 350+ pages at the time. i did use both sides of the paper, mind ;)
the book binder i used was big, but i was so happy i could just go through it peacefully and without a computer/tablet
maybe it a generational thing, but for most who were born in the 80s [possibly early 90s] and before, they dont like digital distribution - because of these reasons.
i do have a padi, have some pdfs on it, but its mainly used for music software and some games, thats about it. i use it for what i feel its truly better at, rather than what it was being sold as originally. i feel they are absolutely rubbish for reading and searching the internet.
easier, maybe? but not better.
phew... anywho, thats my waffling done.
but what i can lastly say is that mr. lyon should possibly try for a 'kickstarter'. daniel shiffman successfully made his processing book using it, and its been a great success. he also offers digital copies, plus a html online version. but can still buy 'real' copies.
though i think that digital copies will reach the masses further, that is a given. but you will be sacrificing the possibility that 'book readers' wont buy it due too it being just digital. and also that the book can come under fire of searches with the word 'free' at the end. just a thought.
but thanks for the book mr. lyon, cant wait to sink in too it
lewis nine
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smokingbunny.net
Hello! I am very happy to see how everyone contributes with their knowlege to solve other people's problems. Well done!!
I wrote a MSP external programmed in C++ in Visual Studio 2010. It works correctly on Windows.
Now I have to run this same external on Mac. The problem is that I don´t know how to program in Xcode.
@BenKissBox. Some months ago you posted a manual explaining how to build a external in Xcode3. (thanks a lot for that, by the way) Please, would you have the updated version for Xcode5?
Thank u very much :-)
Hello Ribbon62,
I am still using XCode4, not XCode5. And the manual has not yet even been updated for XCode4 (*blushes*)
An easy way is too simply take an example from the Max SDK, open it in XCode4, and derive your project from it. As far as I remember, it took me just a few hour to switch all my Max projects from XCode3 to XCode4 (mainly because I was using the GCC 4.0 compiler in XCode3, and I was forced to switch to LLVM in XCode4, so some options were making the compiler complain about various things). But nothing really hard
However, I will try to take some time to update the doc, I think there may be some Max users interested in it.
Thanks a lot Benkissbox for your quick reply! I appreciate it a lot :-)
I have never programmed on Xcode.
Anyway, as you said, I will take an example from the Max SDK and open it in XCode5. WHat do you mean exactly when you say "derive"?
Definitely, I think an updated document for Xcode 5 would be awesome for MAX beginners programmers like me.
Thank u very much. :-)
Hello and sorry to reactivate an old thread but is there any new or actualized documentation regarding the creations of external object for Max7 ?
Thanks in advance