It’s been a while since we did a proper release of Self – too long in fact.

The last duck themed release was “Mallard” a couple of years (!) back – we’re overdue for more ducks so here is a new release of Self brought to you by this beauty:

320px-Aix_galericulata_(Male),_Richmond_Park,_UK_-_May_2013

Self 2017.1 is downloadable for Linux x86 (.zip) and MacOS (.dmg), or you can build it yourself from the GitHub source tree.

There is also a handbook included and available to read online.

A brief change log is:

New features:

  • Changed to new versioning system for key subsystems (vm, core, morphic, outliners)   and for release as a whole.
  • New `about` object accessible from main menu with system info.
  • New `preferences` object allows easy access to system preferences.
  • ew themeing system for outliners and a new look.
  • Extensive reorganisation of object categories in `globals` to make global objects more easily discoverable and understandable.
  • New option on `worldbuilder.self` script to allow for fully automated building of Self worlds by setting subsystem options on command line.
  • New string helper methods: `splitOn:`, `joinUsing:` and `slice:`.
  • The `transporter` is now aware of code being in multiple independent trees, not  only one single Self tree, allowing for separate projects to be kept in separate   version control repositories.
  • A system-wide logger has been included to standardise logging practices within    Self.

Updates:

  • Self Control.app on macOS updated to work with El Capitan.

Fixes:

  • Fix on macOS to reduce CPU usage when idle.
  • VM build will now explicitly show which macOS SDK it is using.
  • ^D (EOF) handled correctly at prompt
  • Fix to bug preventing compilation on recent GCC
  • Many other misc fixes.

Documentation:

  • General improvements to Self handbook.
  • Self website moved out of main repository.

Other:

  • Webserver moved to separate repository: github.com/russellallen/self-webserver
  • travis-ci.org integration for VM building