OUTDATEDThe contents/links of this page may be outdated. We have instead starting hosting our installation links and directions on the wiki:
http://enigma-dev.org/docs/Wiki/Install
It's been a long road. So much has come and gone, and even just changed slightly, since the release of R3 near the end of 2008. R3, as most of you know, was basically a proof-of-concept. It demonstrated that with a little effort, it is possible to take something like Game Maker and compile it for a number of advantages. Since then, ENIGMA's philosophy has changed by leaps and bounds. What started only as a spite-fueled attempt to compile GML has evolved into a nonstop effort to develop the better scripting language.
R3 brought most of GM's language functionality to the compiled world, and with some limitations, most of C++'s as well. R4, however, has shattered the boundary between the two.
With R4's new setup, the system is astoundingly extensible, and even faster and more efficient than ever before. The newly designed instance system functions like a dream, handling the more thought-consuming concepts such as heredity automatically, by nature of its design.
C++ functions and containers are available to anyone who wants to #include them in the new resource, so far called "Definitions." By that mechanism, anyone can create C++ structures and functions for use in ENIGMA games. Even with a (constantly shrinking) list of missing features from R3, ENIGMA has never been in a better condition.
That said, as has been hinted, there is much left to do. The main system is in place and has undergone basic testing. But this release marks the public beta of the final product. Please report any and all errors you encounter immediately.
The first challenge on our list of things to work out in the beta is actually getting ENIGMA to install on all operating systems. The most anticipated release package--a simple zip file for windows--I present now, without further adieu:
ENIGMA R4 install-ready zip, for WindowsENIGMA R4 install-ready zip, for Mac (mac sdk has to be preinstalled)
For this phase of the testing period, please unpack the zip and run ENIGMA.exe. It should take care of the rest for you, provided you have Java installed.
When the MinGW installer gives installation choices,
just make sure G++ is checked in addition to the default.When LGM prompts you to fetch libraries, leave the default selection of Stable as your choice, and choose Yes. This will start the installation process. Depending on your
internet connection (which will need to remain up for install), this may take upwards of two minutes. It is a one-time install. Your first compile will complete the installation, and depending on your processor, can take the same amount of time. Use only "Run" for now, if you would.
Let me know how the installer treats you. Post any problems with installation here, and any other bugs
on the tracker.
The reason for the delay is the amount of effort that went into setting up an update system and the user-defined functions system. Everyone who likes those features owes IsmAvatar a huge "thank you." I personally believe she did an outstanding job on the matter.
For now, C++ Definitions are persistent throughout all games, but can be saved or loaded. We'll get around to fixing them to be game-local eventually.
Happy coding, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the release.
