Programming Challenge -- Skinned Browser

[screwed over]

Ok, this is going to be the first AMS programming challenge. The challenge is going to test your abilities of making a good gui.
As you have probably guessed, the challenge is going to be to make an application with a skin or skinning capability. For this challenge a skin is defined as a replacement of the standard gui with a new uniquely recognisable one. You have to send me the link to your EXE file and i will then select what i believe to be the top 5 entrants and post them in a poll for the forum users to judge. The winner will win recognition of his skills and possibly a prize (if i can get one together), here are the rules:

• The application must have a skin or be skinnable.
• You can only enter YOUR programs. Entering someone elses application will get you disqualified.
• Use of DLLs and plugins is allowed but ONLY those that are available for free on the forums. (i will post links to all the plugins i can find soon)
• You may NOT gain help from the forum for your program, it is meant to be a test of YOUR programming skills.

ok thats it, entry opens on the 12th may and closes on the 25th june (debatable). That gives you 2 months. Enjoy.

Plugin List:

• Retesets WinApi Plugin
• Clueless' Dynamic Masking Tool
• TimeSurfers ConvByte DLL
• RizlaUKs AutoComplete DLL
• Ssides entire .Net 2.0 DLL collection
• Worms ColorDialog Plugin
• Worms FontDialog Plugin

Post your comments. ^.^

[TimeSurfer]

Nice bro I think this will be a good 1st challenge for everyone here at the forums.

[jackdaniels]

i think it is a good idea to challenge but still think everybody should join with different kind of apps not just internet explorer... (media player, coder, skin maker, image tools, readers and more) and someone can decide which is most useful... just an idea


what do think of this one ???

[TimeSurfer]

nice jack [you always were good wit gfx ]

and from what i understand there will be other challenges [which will probably cover the items you listed above] but a browser is the 1st [at least thats what im assuming lol] but you know what they say assuming makes an ass outta u an me lol

[RizlaUK]

but still think everybody should join with different kind of apps not just internet explorer...

the AMS web object has to many drawbacks to make a *real* good browser, even with the avalable dll (thanks to sside) it still lacks vital functions, and as stated in previous posts my gfx skills are limited, so count me out of this one.

and the plugin list,

* Retesets WinApi Plugin
* Clueless' Dynamic Masking Tool
* TimeSurfers ConvByte DLL
* RizlaUKs AutoComplete DLL
* Ssides entire .Net 2.0 DLL collection
* Worms ColorDialog Plugin
* Worms FontDialog Plugin

why can we only use 1 of my dll but we can use ssides entire collection, also color and font dialogs plugins have bugs on vista, i made dll's to replace both plugins but i cant use them!!............if your are going to allow 1 plugin then you must allow them all, it seems you just picked the ones you already have in mind to use

just kinda think it takes the variaty out of the challenge, these forums have seen a good few browsers, do we really need to see any more ?

[Worm]

Use of DLLs and plugins is allowed but ONLY those that are available for free on the forums. (i will post links to all the plugins i can find soon)

it'll take a long time to find all the freebies on this forum... have patience my friends

[jackdaniels]

the AMS web object has to many drawbacks to make a *real* good browser, even with the avalable dll (thanks to sside) it still lacks vital functions, and as stated in previous posts my gfx skills are limited, so count me out of this one.

and the plugin list,



why can we only use 1 of my dll but we can use ssides entire collection, also color and font dialogs plugins have bugs on vista, i made dll's to replace both plugins but i cant use them!!............if your are going to allow 1 plugin then you must allow them all, it seems you just picked the ones you already have in mind to use

just kinda think it takes the variaty out of the challenge, these forums have seen a good few browsers, do we really need to see any more ?

as i wanted to say before not many people would like to code an internet explorer... well if u dont want different kind projects Challenge, then i think it should be better to start with media player... just another idea

[screwed over]

hmmm, i see what your getting at. the reason i chose a browser is beacuse it has a clear list of things to evaluate. though i could change it seeing as its only been 3 hours odd.

also:

why can we only use 1 of my dll but we can use ssides entire collection

you can use any dll or plugin on the forum. its just that ssides collection was all in one handy post.

if you would like me to change it some suggestions would be nice.

the AMS web object has to many drawbacks to make a *real* good browser, even with the avalable dll (thanks to sside) it still lacks vital functions, and as stated in previous posts my gfx skills are limited, so count me out of this one.

also there is a plugin (i cant find it atm) which greatly enhances things that can be done with the web object. (if anyone has the link it'd be appreciated)

[RizlaUK]

exactly, iv no intrest in making a web browser, not with AMS anyway, i am/was working on a firefox clone in PB but thats been on hold for ages, i think it should be up to the devloper what kind of app he/she makes, that way we will see some nice variations.

but on the other points

* The browser MUST be made from scratch, if it is discovered that it wasn't you will be disqualified.
* The browser must have a skin or be skinnable.
* The browser must have an option to change the homepage and a favourites menu.
* You can only enter YOUR programs. Entering someone elses browser will get you disqualified.
* Use of DLLs and plugins is allowed but ONLY those that are available for free on the forums. (i will post links to all the plugins i can find soon)
* You may NOT gain help from the forum for your program, it is meant to be a test of YOUR programming skills.

i agree to them all (apart from being a browser) i will settle for only free plugins/dll's but all of them and no limiatations, also that goes for freeware ActiveX aswell, as they are used with the free plugin luacom (its a test of the devlopers skills, not finances) so all freeware and public domain stuff should be allowed, and i dont see that as a unfair advantage as anything i use you could use yourself

and i'll even say, if theres anything i do need to code into a dll, i'll make the dll avalable for free download as soon as iv made it, when making apps with AMS i always use PB dll's for my dialogs/settings windows

also what about fonts, are custom/freeware fonts allowed ?

[screwed over]

ok, for some reason it wont let me edit first posts. (bloody thing) i've taken everything into acount and see what your saying. if a moderator or admin can remove the parts in my first post about it having to be a browser i'd appreciate it. oh, and about fonts. any fonts can be used. they fall under graphics to me, which has no restraints as far as i'm concerned. though i wouldnt advise any adult material.

[RizlaUK]

you can use any dll or plugin on the forum. its just that ssides collection was all in one handy post.

ah, ok, i dident see it like that, what about activex and fonts ? they all still free

i see your reason for chooseing a browser, its just something tahe dose not intrest me, i think it should be up the devloper

also there is a plugin (i cant find it atm) which greatly enhances things that can be done with the web object. (if anyone has the link it'd be appreciated)

thats one of ssides, he made one a while back, not really sure what it was for i never looked but i think it was to control IE windows from AMS, not sure tho, i'll look thruogh my sside folder and see if iv got it

[RizlaUK]

though i wouldnt advise any adult material.

lmao.....never enterd my mind

[RizlaUK]

yeah, ya can not edit post after 15 mins (i hate that rule)

lets get the challenge outline setup and make a new post, im almost happy, lol

[screwed over]

Found it!!! no, its called WebBrowserExtension. its a dll that works with the web object in ams. You should be able to find it in the link to all his dlls. if not i will ask him if i can attach it here.

[jackdaniels]

yeah, ya can not edit post after 15 mins (i hate that rule)

lets get the challenge outline setup and make a new post, im almost happy, lol

what about making a poll to show admin how many forum users want to have no time limit to be able to edit the post...