[PD-dev] ideas for developing data structure further

[Hans-Christoph Steiner]

In the process of making my "Solitude" composition, I came up with a  
few ideas for improvements on Pd's data structures:

- a way to delete scalars

The biggest improvement would be the addition of a method to delete  
scalars.  This would allow a number of things. A simple example would  
be to have a cursor and minute markers that only exists when the score  
is being played.   A really great example would be the ability to show  
and hide parts of the graphical representation.    For example, each  
voice could be saved to an individual file, then with a toggle, it  
would be displayed or hidden.


- a way to raise/lower scalars so you can get to scalars that are  
blocked by others

This is minor, but it would be handy to have a "send-to-back" function,  
so that you could get to scalars that are completely obscured by  
another.


- full color support (8-bits for each R, G, B)

If the data structures support standard 24-bit color, then color could  
be a much more usable dimension.  The current scheme is a bit odd, and  
is quite limited in terms of the range of colors it can represent.

.hc

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"Computer science is no more related to the computer than astronomy is  
related to the telescope."
                                                      -Edsger Dykstra