Chameleon RC4 is out!

Hi Mate,

I just released the first beta of 2.0 (b3)

 

Seems to work fine for me (tested on 10.6 32+64bits and 10.5.8)

 

Please tell me what you think

Looks great! A few tiny things i noticed:

-The help button is not linked to the HUD window (btw: why don't u use the cocoa help button for that?)

-The bigger fontsize might lead to cut-off of the file-system type; and how about replacing _ for space in the type name, might look a bit cleaner.

Otherwise, it works great. I'm working on a german localization, as requested by Ankhsunamun.

Looks great! A few tiny things i noticed:

-The help button is not linked to the HUD window (btw: why don't u use the cocoa help button for that?)

-The bigger fontsize might lead to cut-off of the file-system type; and how about replacing _ for space in the type name, might look a bit cleaner.

 

Otherwise, it works great. I'm working on a german localization, as requested by Ankhsunamun.

I'm busy with the new parsing generic engine (did you notice the source code increase in the 2.0.x version ),

so I let the cosmetics for later, but they are important, so you're welcome if you want to wire this button to about dialog.

In same order of ideas, there is also a help file to do, ideally it should be done in html but integrated in the resources and localized.

Finally there is also the displayed panel version that should not be harcoded but should rely on the info.plist version: so it should be propagated in the bin folder in the version file, and in the about dialog...

I sense that you are familiar with this, so if you wish to investigate got for it !

Documentation is not only important for me, it is vital for any good software product to pass the stage of 'oh yeah, it's fun' to 'I always use it', so this is an important contribution

Trying it now and the selected partition is clear! Nice job rek!

I have no windows partition so no problem with the detections, I see only bootable partitions.

 

Please, do you know if GUI=No/yes and PciRoot=0/1 are still supported in chameleon?

Thanks, yes GUI (default yes) and PciRoot (optional override) are both still used apparently in the trunk, I added them to the interface and it will be available soon on the next beta.

Ok here's the beta7 which:

- Adds a new panel for EFI injection (device-properties key in boot config)

- Adds PciRoot and GUI missing options

- Corrects a silly bug caused by a debug code in the windows parts detection to be messed up (was late in the night yesterday sorry)

http://forge.voodooprojects.org/p/chameleo...eonPrefPane/bin

Yes, it works for me the last beta, nothing problem;) Top job rek, like always...

Ok here's the beta7 which:

- Adds a new panel for EFI injection (device-properties key in boot config)

- Adds PciRoot and GUI missing options

- Corrects a silly bug caused by a debug code in the windows parts detection to be messed up (was late in the night yesterday sorry)

 

http://forge.voodooprojects.org/p/chameleo...eonPrefPane/bin

Thanks, but my windows 7 32 bits partition (installed without system reserved partition) still is not detected ...

Typo error in square com.apple.Boot.plist path tooltip says "orce the path ..." please fix to "Force the path ..."

Yes, Lizard is not the cleanest app made, but i published sources here:

http://code.google.com/p/lizard-app/

 

and lastest bin here:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1034555/lizard/Lizard-custom.zip

 

the app page is here, but link is not up to date:

http://darwinx86.org/software/darwinx86_software.html

 

Hope it helps

Hey sonotone, I plan to reuse the lizard scripts for smbios gfx current prop, boot cd and the gfxutil binary, of course I will add you and the lizard app in the credits as well

Is it OK to reuse this ?

Thanks

Hi Rekursor

Well done with the continued development of this project. Although I have loaded up the last couple of versions to look at, I never really tested them out. So I have just had a proper play with beta7 and if I may, I would like to post my observations.

For Reference, here is the result of DiskUtil list

For this test, I start the pref pane with only the following in my com.apple.Boot.plist

	<key>Default Partition</key>
<string>hd(0,3)</string>
<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>1680x1050x32</string>
<key>GraphicsEnabler</key>
<string>Yes</string>
<key>Kernel</key>
<string>mach_kernel</string>
<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string></string>
<key>Theme</key>
<string>Blackosx_Big_Screen_II</string>
<key>Timeout</key>
<string>3</string>

Your pref pane will open with the following view:

Note: The WINDOWS hd(0,4) and WIN7 hd(1,4) are missing from the list.

I understand you are using this to identify a windows partition, however these two partitions of mine are blank FAT32 partitions. Is this by design that they are not visible?

I ask because I propose showing all partitions in the main list in the 'Boot From...' tab and then having a checkbox field beside each partition for the purpose of hiding it, as moving to the 'Boot Setup' tab means I have to remember which partition numbers I want to hide. Without the FAT32 partitions being in the list it's easy to forget to add them to the 'Hide Partitions' field with the result of Chameleon displaying them at boot.

I notice 'Restart Fix' is ticked, even though I don't have the 'Restart Fix' boot option in my com.apple.Boot.plist. I currently use Asere's modified RC4 bootloader and the fix is enabled by default and maybe Chameleon RC5 will also have the 'Restart Fix' enabled by default? in which case I don't know if this will eventually be needed? (not sure on this one and have now confused myself )...

I know functionality comes first, but when it's finished how about adding the chameleon logo in there somewhere?

Hope this makes sense and keep up the good work.

Hi Rekursor

 

...

Note: The WINDOWS hd(0,4) and WIN7 hd(1,4) are missing from the list.

I understand you are using this to identify a windows partition, however these two partitions of mine are blank FAT32 partitions. Is this by design that they are not visible?

Yes it is normal, as they are not for me bootable partitions ...

Only bootable partitions should be displayed, it is not yet perfect but this is the goal

I notice 'Restart Fix' is ticked, even though I don't have the 'Restart Fix' boot option in my com.apple.Boot.plist. I currently use Asere's modified RC4 bootloader and the fix is enabled by default and maybe Chameleon RC5 will also have the 'Restart Fix' enabled by default? in which case I don't know if this will eventually be needed? (not sure on this one and have now confused myself )...

 

I know functionality comes first, but when it's finished how about adding the chameleon logo in there somewhere?

 

Hope this makes sense and keep up the good work.

Yes Restart fix is enabled by default in new version and will be enabled by default in RC5 that should be released soon.

Also for the icon, yes it could be nice but would like to let that for more efficient people than me in my crew (I'm a terrible graphist !)

DieBuche?

Ok sonotone just gave me the permission to add his cool scripts to the prefpane,

modifying the CREDITS ...

Ok sonotone just gave me the permission to add his cool scripts to the prefpane,

modifying the CREDITS ...

Great news!

I think it would be perfect to have a Chameleon PrefPane and a Lizard App that are "interoperable"

By the way, I have started the Italian localization.

Here's an extract of the filtering code that will accept a windows partition as in b5:

fileExists("/Volumes/" + diskLabel + "/ntldr") ||

fileExists("/Volumes/" + diskLabel + "/bootmgr") ||

fileExists("/Volumes/" + diskLabel + "/Boot") ||

fileExists("/Volumes/" + diskLabel + "/pagefile.sys") ||

fileExists("/Volumes/" + diskLabel + "/hiberfil.sys")

 

so if you don't have any of these files (on the extreme right of these lines, then for me it's not a windows partition

Please Note that it implies that the partitions are mounted. Though I'm a magician, I can't guess whats inside with the partitions not mounted

Using b7 now. I have all files shown above with the exception of the "ntldr" file in root of my Windows_NTFS partition. Still no Windows_NTFS partition detection.

I'm using Paragon NTFS, BTW, if that makes any difference. I figured the driver should be "invisible" at the file system level, but it does come with it's own preference pane that shows available NTFS partitions and can be set as "startup." I don't think the "startup" feature would work for the same reason the Mac OS X Startup Disk doesn't work, but never tried it. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case there's a relationship.

MAJ

I'm using Paragon NTFS, BTW, if that makes any difference.

Thanks for the feedback, I'll try Paragon and report, for now please keep using the freeze mode,

in future versions, we should be able to get rid of diskutil list use, and use the ioregs to extract some chameleon infos, this is the best to do it but it means using a future versions of chameleon (hopefully RC6).

Great news!

I think it would be perfect to have a Chameleon PrefPane and a Lizard App that are "interoperable"

 

By the way, I have started the Italian localization.

Yes, Lizard is a great tool, and I would be happy to get sonotone to the party and invite him to join the team because if think what he made and his code are far from being anything to be ashamed of, good job Sonotone!

Hi,

this is my first attempt for a very simple icon merging what i've found on my Hack and in chameleon source...

Archivio.zip

Hi,

this is my first attempt for a very simple icon merging what i've found on my Hack and in chameleon source...

Archivio.zip

Looks Great.

2 remarks though:

- the icon resource is too large IMHO, is it possible to reduce it to < 100 KB ?

(See my original icon in the sources)

- for the system preferences the 32x32 icon looks good but I can hardly see the green cham. on the top,

maybe we should keep the original icon and keep the one that you made for the file icon (the one that will be display for the pref. pane file) ?

Thanks

Looks Great.

2 remarks though:

- the icon resource is too large IMHO, is it possible to reduce it to < 100 KB ?

(See my original icon in the sources)

- for the system preferences the 32x32 icon looks good but I can hardly see the green cham. on the top,

maybe we should keep the original icon and keep the one that you made for the file icon (the one that will be display for the pref. pane file) ?

Thanks

For now i think it's the best option.

I'll try to reduce it cause now the small one is really not good.

EDIT: Here the new two smaller.

Sorry to break in on the excellent work. Is this the best spot to post a possible bug in RC4?

It looks to me like a bug in the code that enables sleep without kexts.

Please try putting your machines to sleep and waking them and then plugging in a peripheral. USB or firewire or eSATA in my case.

Hard crash follows for me.

I have contacted Rekursor with details.

In short though:

Hardware

p55-UD4P

i7 860

9800gt/4870/gtx285

Software

10.6.2

RC4 voodoo team build/RC4 AsereBLN 1.1.7 build/RC4-PCEFI10.5 combo Rekursor build

My custom DSDT/tomymacx86's P55-UD4P DSDT

PciRoot=1 to get graphics enabler to work.

This is my first bug report so don't hold back. Feel free to give me feedback on how and where to bug post.

On the whole though I have to say Chameleon has been rock solid for me! Thanks a lot for that!!!

Regards,

Shadowflay

Sorry to break in on the excellent work. Is this the best spot to post a possible bug in RC4?

It looks to me like a bug in the code that enables sleep without kexts.

...

For P55 Mobos, please post your question here:

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php...p;#entry1297150

There's a lot of people there that will be able to help you,

They share dsdt, best practises, blogs, everything you need for your P55 system, thanks.

Yeah I have 2 bugs to report, its a shame that it dosen't make popcorn an also coffee after wake..last one really {censored} me off!

j/k

@ rekursor keep up the good work, I really like your new tool

Yeah I have 2 bugs to report, its a shame that it dosen't make popcorn an also coffee after wake..last one really {censored} me off!

j/k

 

@ rekursor keep up the good work, I really like your new tool

Well, I just did again quite some addons since you read this post,

It still doesn't make coffee (what a shame), but it adds the following:

Extract from CHANGES:

- Added a new generic option type (OptionFileString) that features an open dialog box to open files on file text checkboxes with associated fields

- Added few Combo boxes to simplify text inputs

- Added Missing ForceHPET option and added a Theme options combobox

- Added a new SMBIOS panel only opening a file (in construction)

- Added new EFI Injection panel

It's here for the 2.0.b8:

http://forge.voodooprojects.org/p/chameleo...eonPrefPane/bin

Next step would be the smbios.plist panel, but I'd like to think a bit more before I do it

 

Well, I just did again quite some addons since you read this post,

It still doesn't make coffee (what a shame), but it adds the following:

 

Extract from CHANGES:

- Added a new generic option type (OptionFileString) that features an open dialog box to open files on file text checkboxes with associated fields

- Added few Combo boxes to simplify text inputs

- Added Missing ForceHPET option and added a Theme options combobox

- Added a new SMBIOS panel only opening a file (in construction)

- Added new EFI Injection panel

 

It's here for the 2.0.b8:

http://forge.voodooprojects.org/p/chameleo...eonPrefPane/bin

 

Next step would be the smbios.plist panel, but I'd like to think a bit more before I do it

Right...Testing beta8 revision..

Thanks.

If you want a Portuguese localization i can do it..

Regards.

As much as I'm grateful to all folks who are engaged in creation of Chameleon, I think theres one bad and irritating thing about it - logo. In fact, it's NOT even a logo. It's just an image, not really aesthetically pleasing one. Look at Adidas, Apple, Mercedes, etc. They have logos, clear ideograms communicating identity of owner in clear and simplistic manner.

Chameleon is great and serious project. It deserves better than this

I talk about it, because I've seen mockups of preference panel icon. Ugh...mercy. While I can get rid of this ugly illustration from GUI of booter, I will have no choice, but to have it in preferences. Maybe there can be a contest for Chameleons logo, and configuration panel icon? I'm graphic designer myself, and I'm really interested in "doing my little part" for this wonderful project. Soon, I'll put some projects on the forum, just after finishing exams (few days more).

I hope I didn't hurt anyones feelings and don't sound like jerk Cheers.

thank you rekursor for all your work, all it looks more and more impressive !

did little bit of testing and:

1. crash after selecting 0<->2 option

2. Boot theme section shows only standard themes while I have couple of more in Theme folder, not sure why is not showing them..?

3:

I ask because I propose showing all partitions in the main list in the 'Boot From...' tab and then having a checkbox field beside each partition for the purpose of hiding it, as moving to the 'Boot Setup' tab means I have to remember which partition numbers I want to hide. Without the FAT32 partitions being in the list it's easy to forget to add them to the 'Hide Partitions' field with the result of Chameleon displaying them at boot.

dont ignore good advices

+1!

I dont know how you managing to find time for all this work rekursor, I can only say thank you very much for creating and "looking after this project"

Best Regards !

s

EDIT: Here the new two smaller.

great logo+great idea scrax!

thanks

... Soon, I'll put some projects on the forum, just after finishing exams (few days more).

Bor I cant wait to see them! and I hope you will remember :]

problem is always the same.. find time to do it, thats why myself I cant afford to complain.. or be "picky" about the details(irrelevant to actual user things if you like)..

best

s

thank you rekursor for all your work, all it looks more and more impressive !

did little bit of testing and:

1. crash after selecting 0<->2 option

2. Boot theme section shows only standard themes while I have couple of more in Theme folder, not sure why is not showing them..?

3:

 

dont ignore good advices

+1!

I dont know how you managing to find time for all this work rekursor, I can only say thank you very much for creating and "looking after this project"

Best Regards !

For theme, I just list standard themes, and let the custom themes for the textfield (you can type any custom themes in this box, doesn't take long).

Seeking for the disk activity could slow down the panel startup, so if I implement this feature, I would probably use a late binding technique (i.e: when user popup the combobox for the first time I seek for the themes)

For new features suggestion, please add an issue on the public site, prefixed with 'OT:wishlist' and I'll get a look to them.

Blackosx suggestion is great but it means touching sensitive code right now and I would prefer to release this kind of features for a post 2.0 release (maybe 2.1 ?)

Thanks for the swap hd 0-2 pb, it will be fixed in next beta.

What I already start to love is that the generic bootOptions parser engine brings its fruits, because when a special type of option works, all the same type of options works too without special considerations, this is why it was so easy to add missing options

I'm still working on the parsing engine to generalize its principle to smbios and later also for the few chameleon dedicated preferences ...

Just a litlle technical note for my fellow developers reading these lines :censored2:

As much as I'm grateful ....

I don't disagree with your opinion. Mine was a 2min. attempt to make an icon just to have something other than the default icon. I don't like it a lot either, so if you have more ideas for a logo instead of an image (that i find nice but not appropriate as logo) i think that's a good start.

Also the logo contest could be a good things, who will manage it?

...

Also the logo contest could be a good things, who will manage it?

I discussed with my team and :

DieBuche

has been promoted for the responsibilty of:

Overall graphical design in the prefpane

Any localization question should go to him.

He his the most skilled member for that matter and will manage this

Thanks DieBuche !