question concerning Max SDK
Hello,
I haven't been to this forum for quite a long time now and I am not sure which is the right forum to ask questions concerning the Max SDK.
I have written several max external objects many years ago. Now I have to revise them to run them on my new Mac Book Pro with the M3 processor. Which is the right place for this?
Rainer
To be more precise:
The best thing would be to use a step-by-step tutorial from scratch. When I started to write my first externals, I started with the basic examples Apple provided with the SDK, examples like „simplemax“ or „pluss“, and I have worked on from this starting point.
Now I have downloaded the latest SDM (version 8.2) and put it into the „packages“ folder of Documnents->Max 8 ->Packages.
I found out that - contrary to previous versions of the SDK - these examples don’t include xcodeproj. files, just .c files and .txt files, so I can’t really open a project, and I can’t press the „build“ button in Xcode, because it doesn’t show up.
Could somebody send my one of these examples whith everything required to build a basic object for the M3 processor?
Hi Rainer, with version 8.2 of the SDK the examples all now ship with CMake files, which then generate the XCode files. It's actually quite easy but for some reason is only documented (I think?) in video. If you look on youtube on the C74 channel, there is a C74 video by Isabelle walking you through setting up an external toolchain with CMake for the 8.2 SDK. (I think I've watched it at least 5 times now as I don't use Cmake for anything else, ha)
iain
Hi Iain,
Thanks for your response. This seems a completely new and different approach to create a Max external and it might take me quite a while to get familiar with these things. The problem is that I am a bit under pressure, since I have a premiere of a new piece in January, and it would be good if I could use my patches on my new M3 MacBook, because a lot of processing takes place.
I think that Cycling should write a documentation and a tutorial to study this. I have had a quick glance at this video you recommended. Isabelle talks very fast and it is a bit difficult to gather all what she says. Of course I will have to watch it several times.
Does this new approach via CMake mean that you don’t work with Xcode any more?
In my case the whole thing is a bit more complicated, because my objects include windows, window items and menus I have written using the Apple Cocoa libraries. So I am not sure if it is possible to do the same with this new approach.
Hi Ranier, coding and compiling it is just the same, the only difference is setting up the project. Once the set up has been done the first time, its the exact same. (as in, you no longer interact with cmake) If you just follow along with the video, it's pretty straightforward.
Ha, yeah, the video could be paced better. I recommend the speed control on the video. I agree this should be available in written form too (maybe it is and I haven't found it?).
I still find it difficult to capture what this video tries to explain. The voice is very inarticulate. Slowing down the speed doesn't really improve it. I think I will need some time to get into this new approach. But currently I am under pressure because I have a premiere in January and can't spend much time for this at the moment. So maybe I can find a Max SDK programmer whom I could commission and pay to do this. Whom I could send my Xcode files and who could compile my externals for the M3 processor. Do you know anybody whom I could commission?
Hi Ranier, I can't promise I can get you to the finish line as I haven't ever compiled Cocoa objects on Mac (and have limited time myself), but I can see if it compiles easily and if so, show you how to do it. No compensation necessary for that – various others here provided me with help when I was getting Scheme for Max off the ground, so I'm happy to pay it forward. Let me know how to get in touch with you or email iainctduncan at the giant email provider that starts with G. :-)