nmerge 1.0 posted

OK, I've posted the first BETA version of nmerge for UNIX/Linux/OSX only. I'll add a Windows installer as soon as I can get around to it. Of course I expect it to go wrong immediately, even though I have tested it thoroughly. But I can only really gather more information by trying it on other files. And it comes currently with no example files.

Some basic installation instructions for the non-GNU afficionados:

1. Download the nmerge-1.0.tar.gz file using the link above
2. Open a terminal window, navigate to the download file and unpack it using tar xzf dir.tar.gz or just double click on it if you have a Mac
3. In the terminal window type cd nmerge-1.0
4. ./configure
5. make
6. sudo make install

You should now have a command "nmerge". If it complains about the Java make sure you have a valid JRE installed. It must be at least version 1.5.0 (1.4.2 is no good). To find out type java -version in the terminal window. Download a more recent JRE from Sun. (You only need the JRE not the JDK unless you also want to develop Java software). If it still doesn't work you have an issue that you should post on Google code.

The first update will contain the source code and documentation. I left it out because of my inexperience with GNU automake.

Balisage Paper Accepted

My Balisage paper about how to create and edit MVD files has been accepted. I have already bought the flight tickets and registered, so I will be going to Montreal on August 11-14. That's the other side of the world for me and I think I must be mad. But this is the only way to properly air the MVD concept and get some reactions from the people most likely to field valid objections. If they clear it, then I think that will vindicate it as far as it can be at this stage. The draft paper is here, although it is rather technical. I will post my simplified slide show when I have it.

Out of the Tunnel

Well, it all works. Now I just have to build an installable package for it. To be honest I don't think many if any people will want to use nmerge. It's too user unfriendly because it has no real user interface. People want a GUI these days, and nmerge is designed to be the Swiss army knife for whatever GUI you might want to put on top of it. Nevertheless I will post it as soon as possible with a GNU type installer and maybe a Windows one if that is not too hard (perhaps using Nullsoft). The main point is that a milestone has been reached: the MVD file format is born. (Hooray!)

After that it will be time to add my own GUI, which is just an updating of the Phaidros wiki which has lain untouched for nearly a year now. It is time to update it with some killer features: e.g. Tree View, which will show the genealogy of a set of versions via a graphical tree which you can configure and regenerate according to taste. I have some other ideas too which can be blended in gradually.