0. Pimp My UI - Episode Ninety Five 22/06/2009 02:48:13 PDT
I’m back. PMUI is back. All is right with the world.
Mod subject of this week
Random Mods
WoWCrapCleaner - It cleans your WTF folder of all the useless files left behind by deleted addons. If .lua and .lua.bak do not match the files in the AddOns folder, they will be deleted. Also allows you to delete AddOns quickly and easily.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13794-WoWCrapCleaner.html
FaceShooter - An addon for hunters that tries to predict which shot should be used next based on a priority list and shows it as an icon.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13739-FaceShooter.html
Diction - Allows you to specify a list of words to auto-correct as you type.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13767-Diction.html
Guild2Guild - Enables communication between 2 or more guilds via a separate (private) chat channel, which translates the messages between the 2 or more guild chats. Two users are required to have this addon for it to work (1 in each guild).
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info7581-Guild2Guild.html
ThuzRaidTools - Adds some helpful features to assist raid leaders, and raiders in general.
Raid Leaders: perform a Ready Check when using "/rc", auto-invite someone when whispered "invite", send a raid message and disband the raid when using "/trt disband", send a raid message when someone answers "No" to a ready check.
Raiders: play the ReadyCheck and Raid Warning sounds, even when sound is disabled. Can be toggled.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13814-TRT-ThuzRaidTools.html
BadBoy Crap Cleaner - A plug-in for BadBoy for removing crap from your chat without reporting the spammer.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13526-BadBoy_CCleanerFilterCrapFromChat.html
UnitFrameBuffs - Enhances the default blizzard target, pet, party and party pet unit frames by showing unlimited buffs and debuffs. Also ensures no overlapping of the ToT frame if enabled.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info8881-UnitFrameBuffs.html
GreenLight - Allows shadowpriest to check at a glance if all appropriate buffs and debuffs that will increase SW:P damage are present at the moment of the cast.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info11656-ShadowGreenLight.html
PerfectHit - A small AddOn to show in real time your hit rate against your current target. Works with DataBroker display AddOns.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13631-PerfectHit.html
ExtraBars - Adds 4 extra action bar you can drag abilities, items, macros, mounts and critters to. This bar will not alter your existing actionbars or other user interface elements in anyway.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13335-ExtraBars.html
StealthCompanion - Automatically Dismisses your summoned Companion when you stealth as a Rogue, Druid, or Night Elf.
Link: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/stealthcompanion.aspx
Obituary - Notifies you instantly when someone dies, and tells you what exactly killed them. You can choose to see only a quick summary of a death, and/or a full detailed report.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13816-Obituary.html
Avoidance - This addon will display a characters avoidance and a breakdown of what makes up the avoidance percentage.
Link: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/avoidance.aspx
Phh - Changes 'f' to 'ph' when you write something. Just phor the retarded sake oph it.
Link: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/phh.aspx
RomanRoller – Because you always wanted your rolls expressed in roman numerals right?
Link: http://wow.curseforge.com/projects/romanroller/
UnderAchiever - An AddOn that allows you to quickly fake achievement links, so it looks like you completed them (even if you haven't).
Link: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/underachiever.aspx
Epeen - Allows twinks to gain virtual arena ratings and points by doing skirmish arenas. Epeen is released along with the website EpeenRatings.com. On this website, there is the ability to upload your ratings file to become part of the scoreboard.
Link: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/epeen.aspx
D.i.l.l.i.g.a.f - An addon that scans system messages and npc yells for "is under attack" and "reinforcements are" and blocks it from showing them for a default of 3 minutes. Created by Shadowfaux of Aggramar.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info12598-D.i.l.l.i.g.a.fV1.3.html
HelpFrameButton - Creates a small, movable help [?] button, for those who like to hide the micromenu, and creates a keybinding for the button aswell.
Link: http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info13466-HelpFrameButton.html
Interview with an AddOn Author
This week’s interview is with Asheyla, author of DoTimer.
Name and Realm, (US or EU?) Xanido (undead warlock), Shattered Hand-US
How long have you been playing WoW / creating Addons? I've been playing since open beta and writing addons since early 2005. DoTimer was first released in June of 2006.
How and why did you get involved in creating addons? It started with me wanting to modify an addon I had that cast spells conditionally. I had fun doing it, so I next decided to write an addon to manage handing out healthstones, since before soul wells it was a pain. Then I decided to write my own DoT timer, since CountDoom was (imo) lacking.
What addons have you created so far? The first addon I released was Healthstone Trader, now dead (who needs it, with soul wells?). Next was DoTimer, which I've maintained for about four years now. I've written a ton of other addons that I simply haven't released, though none on the scope of DoTimer. Stuff like bag managers, tooltip modifiers, minimap faders, etc., but their only audience has been myself or my friends.
Are you a professional programmer or did you learn the Lua language informally by yourself? When I first began writing addons, I was in high school, so the latter. I'm now in college, majoring in computer science.
What are your thoughts on frameworks like Ace? I think they're a good idea, but I've never bothered to use them myself. Writing addons is as much a learning experience for me as it is the creation of a "product", so I always wanted to code the entire addon myself, not use others' code. It certainly adds to my development time and work load, but I think it pays off. And I have the satisfaction of knowing that when my code works beautifully, it's all because of me! And when it fails, it's entirely my fault.
What are your thoughts on the addon community in general? I don't interact with it much beyond reading the UI & Macros forums every now and then. They've always been helpful when I've asked for help though, so I certainly appreciate it (and all the work they do encouraging code changes on Blizzard's side to make addons more functional!).
You seem to only have created one addon which is DoTimer, why have you not created/released more? I've certainly created more. I haven't released more because support is quite a large commitment - adding new features, bug fixes, responding to questions, explaining features, all that jazz. Most of my other creations are highly specialized just for a character or two of mine, and the options are changed by editing the source code. Maintaining DoTimer is enough work on its own, and if I were to release more addons I wouldn't feel right about it unless I provided the same level of commitment in terms of support and customizability. Since I'm not made of time, I don't do it.
You have been working on DoTimer for as long as I have been playing WoW and longer than that as far as I know. Have you ever thought of giving up the coding due to all the changes Blizzard have implemented in the code over the years? Blizzard's changes have barely affected me. I had to remove some code when casting and targeting became protected, but it was minimal. Just about all other changes Blizzard implemented have had little impact on my code, and in most cases they've actually helped a ton in terms of making DoTimer more accurate. But for most patches, DoTimer is unaffected.
Have you enjoyed the changes and features implemented with WotLK in the game and code? I've always been a raider, and I love the raiding changes in 3.0. I like being able to see all the content before going back and doing hard modes (which is where my guild is now). As far as code, the largest change to DoTimer was the change to UnitAura(), making it provide duration data for all auras, not just your own. It made PlayerAuras a ton more usable, and it allowed me to add new functionality into DoTimer. It was great.
What addon could you simply not play the game without? Quite honestly, DoTimer has to be it. I could manage casting spells with the default UI (currently use Dominos), and I hardly look at unit frames. DoTimer, however, is central to my play style.
http://wow.curse.com
http://www.wowinterface.com
http://wowui.worldofwar.net/
It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.
1. Re: Pimp My UI - Episode Ninety Five 22/06/2009 02:51:12 PDT
What are you planning for the future as your next project? No new projects! But I have some changes in mind for DoTimer. I want to have some sort of dragging-based settings customization (where you drag timers to where you want them onscreen, instead of using the Anchor Customization section of the GUI). It's in its early stages though; who knows how long it'll take to implement. I also want to change Notifications a lot; it has a lot of unrealized potential.
What changes would you like to see Blizzard make in relation to addons and the interface? Or what could they have done better? My only complaints with Blizzard's addon support are monitoring weapon enchants and being forced to parse tooltips for some information. Other than those two issues, the API is excellent.
Anything you would like to get off your chest or say before we end this interview? I'm terribly appreciative of the people who've made comments about DoTimer and have sent me emails over the years. They've been integral in taking DoTimer far beyond my original intent three years ago, and the result has been fantastic.
Use: Summons a Shadowfiend if one isn't out. Otherwise causes your pet to attack your target and Shadowcrawl it.
UI News
3.2 PTR Patch Notes are out! Some very very nice changes in there too :D
User Interface
Character name auto-completion for the chat frame, pop-ups, and mail interface can be enabled through an interface option in the Development settings.
Character names can now be colorized according to class in the chat frame through an interface option in the Development settings.
Casting bars under a target's portrait will now indicate whether or not the cast can be interrupted.
Druids will now be able to see their mana bars when shape-shifted.
The framerate for those with Shadow Effects enabled under the Ultra Video settings has been improved.
Item Comparisons: Holding the shift key while hovering over an item will now display the stat differences with the item currently equipped in the relevant slot.
Macros and scripts will no longer be able to target totems by name.
Quest creatures and objects will now show on the player's world map.
The quest log is now double-paned for more easily viewing quest information.
Vendor prices will now be listed on items whether or not players are at a vendor.
For additional notes on Lua and XML changes please visit the UI & Macros forum.
Worth checking out
Post Your UI v.9 is now out. Let the people see your magnificent UI.
http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=9521376191&sid=1
Your first UI... ahh those were the days. Not knowing how to configure anything, getting hundreds of addons and placing them all over the place like a three year old given a toy box while on a sugar high. Now you must show that glorious mess.
http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=9520944767&sid=1
Intriguing to say the least...
Q u o t e: The short story of it is that I am looking for a very well populated guild to test a new project. I can say right away that this is going to be big. Presumably, you will understand that I will not give too many details right away. The last time I did that Blizzard stole my technology (basically they stole an invention of mine - the addon channel - which is in use in WoW today), so I will be a bit more careful this time. But the blizz-forum is where you go to find wow-gamers :)
Read on if you are interested in testing this project here:
http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=9520947182&sid=1
UI of this week
This week’s UI was submitted by Eluned of Outland EU.
Image: Solo UI: http://i39.tinypic.com/11ty6uq.jpg
Raid UI: http://i42.tinypic.com/i69xuh.jpg
Mods used: ag_UnitFrames
Align
AtlasLoot
Bartender4
Buffalo
ButtonFacade
ButtonFacade_Sleek
ClassTimer
Clique
CooldownCount
CowTip
Deadly Boss Mods
eePanels2
Gladius
Grid
GridAutoFrameSize
GridManaBars
MinimapButtonFrame
Omen
oRA2
Prat-3.0
Quartz
RaidTotems
Recount
sct
SexyMap
TotemTimers
WebDKP
Notes: This UI was inspired by many different interfaces, and its goal is to provide enough for both a resto, and an elemental shaman to raid, but still have a lot of open space on the screen.
Mod websites
To find mods for your own, you can use the following websites:
Neither the authors nor Blizzard are responsible for the content of any Addon or any site which is linked in this post. We do our best to only provide links to “allowed” AddOns and websites whose content is free of material which might not fall under Blizzard’s EULA and/or ToS. Always use a software which scans for viruses and/or keyloggers/Trojans; AddOns and the sites they come from are used at your own risk.
If you see a link or AddOn which is not behaving the way it should, please let us know, so we can review.
http://wow.curse.com
http://www.wowinterface.com
http://wowui.worldofwar.net/
It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.
4. Re: Pimp My UI - Episode Ninety Five 04/07/2009 01:26:13 PDT
Q u o t e:
UnderAchiever - An AddOn that allows you to quickly fake achievement links, so it looks like you completed them (even if you haven't).
Link: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/underachiever.aspx
