Hi,

 

Just listen to this interview with the head of Flight Simulator at MS.

 

https://www.flightsim.com/images/features/msfdev/FlightSim.com-Microsoft_Flight_Simulator_Interview_AUDIO.m4a

 

Around 25 minutes into the interview they say SDK will be out with Alpha tech build

55 minutes ago, nas123 said:

Hi,

 

Just listen to this interview with the head of Flight Simulator at MS.

 

https://www.flightsim.com/images/features/msfdev/FlightSim.com-Microsoft_Flight_Simulator_Interview_AUDIO.m4a

 

Around 25 minutes into the interview they say SDK will be out with Alpha tech build. 

I respectfully disagree this is what is stated.  A version will be released to third parties so they can do their jobs.  And this is what Microsoft told the representative of EAA, Hal Bryan (a former ACES Team Member developing FSX): " In addition, Microsoft is committed to providing a software development kit (SDK) with the product at launch that will give developers the tools they need to build add-ons, though they caution that it is something that will be polished and expanded through post-launch updates."  Nothing about being out with Alpha tech build.

But it definitely states it will be provided with the product at launch.  The rest of the sentence indicates it will be a SDK that gets updates and enhancements as time goes by.  It does not state it won't be released at launch.

31 minutes ago, Jim Young said:

I respectfully disagree this is what is stated.  A version will be released to third parties so they can do their jobs.  And this is what Microsoft told the representative of EAA, Hal Bryan (a former ACES Team Member developing FSX): " In addition, Microsoft is committed to providing a software development kit (SDK) with the product at launch that will give developers the tools they need to build add-ons, though they caution that it is something that will be polished and expanded through post-launch updates."  Nothing about being out with Alpha tech build.

If that's the case then the thread title might need some revisiting.

Sometimes, I don't know if I'm coming or going with all the information about this sim.

I seem to recall that developers got a preliminary SDK as part of Beta testing. The SDK has to be Beta tested as well...

Perhaps that will happen again!

At 25:45 they say the SDK will be available with Tech Alpha or shortly after. That's some good news for the testers accepted. 

 

The FSX beta definitely had a functioning SDK. That's how I nagged the team to give us better excludes so we could get right down to the mesh. The Aces were great at developing scenery, but they had no experience with improving or changing the default scenery. They weren't addon developers. The final SDK differed a bit from the Beta.

As I understand it, there will be an SDK released about the time of the tech alpha, but not necessarily with it. And it will not be universally released. Only the invited developers will get the SDK and it's early iterations. The public SDK will be released with the sim's release, and it too will undergo updates as the sim undergoes revisions.

Also, this sim will be an ongoing work in progress. They are going to release this most probably without seasons, ATC, Possibly without Ai or much dynamic elements (shipping, leisure boats, trains?). No VR out of the gate? But hopefully with frequent updates as elements are worked on. Nothing mentioned about missions, job boards, aerocache hunts, flying lessons. But I assumre the plan is to add them as the community demands.

Edited October 1, 20196 yr by rhumbaflappy

6 hours ago, 188AHC said:

At 25:45 they say the SDK will be available with Tech Alpha or shortly after. That's some good news for the testers accepted. 

 

Rick,

Thanks for this, at least there is hope for any developer accepted in the tech alpha. I really hope good freeware developers gets accepted at this stage then, alongside with new people and fresh minds that can express to MS all the difficulties we face with SDK tools and Libraries, the better a SDK is, the faster we can produce content.

Previously released information suggested it wont be any SDK until Microsoft Simulator was launched, and it got me really worried. So if we could get clarification on this subject would be very helpful.

Please MS take in consideration the Alpha India Group, @Kaiii3 for your tech alpha, Kai is a good example of many freeware developers from this group that has worked endless amount of hours for free to support FSX and other simulators and I believe he is a good candidate to test your SDK, specially in relation to the AI World.

Kind Regards,
Simbol

 

P3D, FSX and XP were/are  plagued with notoriously bugged, awkward, non-existent SDK's which made it difficult for developers to implement efficient, practical solutions to the products they ultimately and eventually were able to produce.  This often lead to highly complex workarounds and long development periods to achieve the final product.

I understood that the SDK  for MSFS2020 was to be released at the launch of the sim.  It's now been reported that it will be released during the Alpha stage.  Does this mean that MS have simply reacted to the community and are now trying to get something out the door sooner?  If that is the case, I hope it does not mean the SDK will be buggy, flawed and therefore be a completely unoptimised solution for developers.

I hope MS are able to bring all relevant developers into the fold and use their feedback on historical SDK implementation to avoid the pitfalls and inefficient, buggy solutions that developers have had to put up with before.

 

Publishing the SDK early allows for them to collect feedback and smash bugs...good move to do that. It will also allow for 3rd party developers to have products around release date too. 

Edited October 1, 20196 yr by kowen

I am no developer just a simmer who does his own sceneries from time to time for the fun of it. I wouldn't be so harsh on the existing P3D SDK. Not perfect by far but you can do a lot with it when you read it carefully.  Also, the guys at FSDeveloper have done a magnificent job over the years to help us  but we need all these tools integrated in a toolset.  

 

 

I'm pretty sure they also have indicated the SDK will not be finished but will be "polished" over some time. At least it will give us something to evaluate either in Tech Alpha for those accepted or when the sim is released. 

 

I hope that it is not to late. I can´t imagine why the developpers (=Key Stakeholder after market) are that late involved.

Never deiliver a product without involving your stakeholders. 

In this case they exactly know what can happen if they would not. 

I would feel lot more comfortable (I am a User and not a developper) if I knew that the after market is jumping on this train. It is crucial for the sim (for MS). 

Ca. 80% of the project timeline is passed now.....ca 20% to go (roughly estimate). I have a feeling that is late. But that depends on the quality and power of the SDK. 

I would not investigate in a sim if I become the feeling that the after market isn´t willing/capable/possible to create products which fit our needs. 

Do be fully independend from one Supplier like MS is not my case. This does only work with a solid base of developpers (big and small ones) who recognize "business" and/or "pleasure" to jump on this train . 

After market should be a big part to "Save" Time to market.....

 

Edited October 1, 20196 yr by mpo910

If something like a sdk is "the key to succes" than it is elimentary to whoop this subproject WITH your Users (=developpers from the after market).

Of course it should be stable. But thinking they can do it alone or much later can really quick become a negative touch. 

To become succesfull you have to involve you key stakeholders (which developpers are). Rather sooner than later

25 minutes ago, mpo910 said:

If something like a sdk is "the key to succes" than it is elimentary to whoop this subproject WITH your Users (=developpers from the after market).

Of course it should be stable. But thinking they can do it alone or much later can really quick become a negative touch. 

To become succesfull you have to involve you key stakeholders (which developpers are). Rather sooner than later

The context of my original post, was exactly that.  Providing an efficient tool set and working with current/active developers to achieve the best overall outcome for everyone.  That doesn't just mean PMDG, Aerosoft.  It means all current, active developers.

Edited October 1, 20196 yr by ErichB