Well, so I decided to create a blog so I can provide you with more informal news about the development and state of Screamer Radio. I’ve never been much of a writer really so I have not really communicated properly what’s been going on lately. I’ll try to give it a go now though..
History
Screamer Radio started as a hobby project in 2002 or 2003, can’t really remember. I wanted to learn how to code applications for Windows and I had always been annoyed with how hard it was to listen to internet radio back then. Seemed like a perfect match. Some friends liked the program so after a while I created a website and published it on Betanews and Download.com. Fast forward a few years and now there are thousands and thousands of users all over the world.
But for the past two years I’ve had a rather long commute to work, so I’ve had very little spare time to work on Screamer Radio and, quite frankly, the little spare time I had I didn’t want to spend coding. However, recently I moved much closer to work so now I have tons of spare time again. =)
Unfortunately, two years is a lot of time leaving a project hanging so the quality of the product has begun to deteriorate. There is a lot of work to do..
What has been done recently
I have set up a bugtracker so I can more easily keep track of bugs, I have started this blog so I can blog about what is going on, I have set up a subversion repository for proper code versioning and a backup system so I won’t lose my code and I’ve started cleaning up the code base. Working professionally as a developer for two years has made me a better programmer, so I should be able to improve the code more than I previously could. Unfortunately large bits of code needs to be completely rewritten from scratch, specifically the GUI.
What needs to be done
Today the GUI is coded in Win32 API which is not very nice to work with, that is partly why development has been slow and why I haven’t even completed the GUI with all the features it should have. I have started development on an MFC-version though but it’s far from complete.
Additionally the preset menu has to go, it has grown too large. When I started developing Screamer Radio I had no idea menus were a limited resource, and even then it wasn’t really a problem, but since the menu has grown soo large it has become one. So there is need to code some kind of replacement. It might take a while before it is ready though, because coding a GUI is a big task and my time is still somewhat limited.
The database of radio stations has been hard to keep up to date, the only reason it has even been updated at all lately is thanks to my polish friend Ludwik Stawowy who has done a great job adding and updating stations. The way the database is managed is in need of some updates. I’m trying to think of ways of letting the community help, at the very least I need to create some kind of web forms users can fill in to suggest new stations or report broken ones.
What I’m going to do next
It is kind of hard to focus on any one thing when there is so much to do all over. The client needs a new GUI, the website needs an overhaul, the radio database is in need of serious updating. You have to start somewhere though, so I think I will begin with releasing a bug fixed version.. it will still have the menu flaw but it is way less buggy than version 0.3.8. After that, we’ll see, but I think the radio directory will be my next focus. There needs to be an easier way to report broken radio stations and even suggest new ones.
I just want you to know, Screamer Radio is not dead, it has just been sleeping for a while. =)
Thanks for listening!
Gee whiz! Welcome back, man!
>… thanks to my Polish friend Ludwik Stawowy…
My pleasure, David. Unfortunately I have had not much time recently.
Thanks for the time and effort. People like you and Ludwik are what we need more of in all areas of life.
I don’t think that you need to do much else with this it is a fantastic tool. I too was frustrated by the burden of searching for radio stations but now it is very easy thanks to your efforts…well done.
Just so you know I sent a mail to click on line and recomended they do a feature on screamer radio
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/default.stm
Great news! I am a daily user of Screamer Radio and it is one of the nicest pieces of software I have seen. As for the GUI, please stay with Windows native libraries, if possible, to keep the application small and quick.
I’d just like to say thanks for Screamer Radio. Its one of our “must have” applications (EditPlus, Python and Pretty Good Solitaire are others).
I guess you know your system better than us, but I quite like it the way it is. If you are thinking about GUI changes, don’t make it much bigger. I think its fine as is.
I think keeping a list of Internet radio stations up to date is “mission impossible”. Can I suggest you just point users at Google and perhaps Wikipedia. That way you can spend your time on something more productive such as Screamer Radio (from my perspective) or just having a life
Thanks again for a great piece of software.
Regards,
Peter
David,
It is our pleasure to let you know that we are recommending your blog on the occasion of BlogDay 2008: http://pszetfurnia.blogspot.com/2008/08/dzi-dzie-blogw.html
Best regards from Warsaw,
http://pszetfurnia.blogspot.com/
This radio is the best. The day it is available for Vista Media Centre, I will be a happy chap.
Jet
Ok this is a surprise. Good choice coming back though since you have an audience and as such influence.
So still not making your life easier by transferring it to c# .NET ah? You could still maintain a single exe footprint and have the possibility to have the app run on Windows or Linux systems, even Mac if Jobs would get his communist… never mind. The framework and visual studio would make the GUI a breeze especially with the use of XAML. You could have some real fun and create something spectacularly nice to use yet compact in munities.
A couple of big things to think about are the majority of users who are behind the works firewall. Finding a station site that specializes in port 80 streams that basically pass right through the firewall is hard work.
Another is … why are people still accepting the use of mp3. All it serves is Tompson http://mp3licensing.com/royalty/software.html
Mp3 is to ogg-vorbis, what VHS is to Blue-Ray. Vorbis exceed the capabilitys of AAC, mp3, all others out there! What are we doing people?
please put in list http://radio.top91.ro:8000/
You mentioned win32 isnt a nice API to work with.
How about using QT 4.4?
It seems like a really nice API, and included Phonon, which makes it possible to pretty easily stream audio from a server.
AND it would then compile on all QT supported platforms(Windows, Linux, Mac OS, etc.)
found screamer yesterday (i know…. shame on me)
fantastic software! i really appreciate it. just wanna say thx a lot!
Just wanted to say thanks.
First got to listening to internet radio with Amarok on Linux only a few weeks ago. Thought: how do I do this on my PC at work (Windows). Tried Songbird – It kind of works but is over complicated, bloated and difficult to use.
Screamer Radio is just perfect! Records as well – couldn’t ask for more!
Don’t change it. If you really want to do some more coding – make a Linux version! Thank you for all your hard work.
John
That was a very good article! Very interesting to read, keep up the good work – im bookmarking you blog will keep reading your new articles !
Thanks for such a good piece of software! It is very easy to use it, it’s simply the best!
Regards,
Dragan
Thank you for Screamer Radio, is the best, is perfect. When make a Linux version?
Good luck
Oh BTW, Country Power also displays ID3 Tags!
comme faire pour aparaitre dans” screamer043″?? svpp merci d avance
Hi
I use Screamer radio each day to have music in my house. Most of the time I listen Radio Swiss Jazz. Up to last month the name of the artist and the name of the tune was shown on Screamer radio window and I could save each tune separately. Suddenly Screamer radio shows “unknown, 65kbps Streaming Advance Audio Coding (AAC)” and record all tune in a single file. How do I get to the old way of doing things.
Thank you
Claude-Fyen Gagnon
cgagnonfyen@videotron.ca
Yes, interesting, but what happened to the intension of keeping us posted of what’s happening with Screamer radio. Something must have happened during the last 6 months?
For GUI, try wxWindows. Easy, portable, can be compiled by anything, really solid. MFC chains you to win systems and ms compilers – break loose, man.
BTW – love screamer. Have it everywhere I work, which is a lot of systems, and use it 16×7 (sorry, but I gotta sleep).
Hi,
Fantastic program and I would agree with the general theme of the above comments that keeping Screamer Radio simple is probably one of the core requirements.
However, I personally would like to see a simple command line interface incorporated which could then be used for expanding the program’s functionality using 3rd party “front ends”!
For example, a command line utility could be used by a program scheduler “front end” in order to be able to schedule future transmitted programs from a pre-determined station to be recorded and saved.
Suggested Command Line switches could be:-
\u: Station URL
\m: Mute
\l: Un-mute or (l)isten
\r: recording Start
\s: Stop recording
\t: Start minimised in task bar
I’m sure there could be others or alternatives but perhaps it is worth considering.
Regards and thanks again for a fab program.
It’s needed options of recording 1 – 5 min before clicking record button (of course not before opening the radio). Nice song, interested message I’d like to keep whiz out beginning is useless. Solution rolling up the 1-5 min record, just some KB memory !!!
I hope in the next BETA version.
Perfect little app.
Just what i needed. Thanx a lot !!
I have a suggestion: http://www.lounge-radio.com.
I like it. And if you like it, u can add it to your list.
Congratulations for the Screamer Radio!
I agree there should be some way to report broken links and radio stations. As it is now you have to google just to find out if there is a way at all. The whole Ethiopian block of Addis Live stations has been broken for years. It would be nice if radio stations didn’t change their URL’s as often as they change their underwear. It would be great if the users themselves could add new URL’s, in the way that Wikipedia articles can be edited by anyone. I think if you go changing the GUI too much you may leave the blind community behind like Winamp did a couple years ago. Windows standard controls are the way to go for maximum screen reader accessibility.
I’d just like to say thanks for Screamer Radio too
It’s a great project !
and plz continue developing this tool
Hi David
Just wanted to say thanks for the time & work you’ve spent to make this program working. All I can say to you is: BRAVO!
I was wondering if you could adapt the Screamer Radio for Symbian OS v9 (3rd edition) & Symbian OS v9 (5th edition) used by Nokia, to make it usable from the smart phones as well since they have Wi-Fi & GPRS capabilities?
Thank you once again and hope to hear soon from you.
E.
Screamer Radio v.0.4.3 is very, very old. Any new version? Or free source code for developping?
realy nice sometimes i wish every blogger would pay such attention to their post as you do, keep posting