TRELBY: Trelby - free, open source screenlay software

Randall_Oelerich said:
Will save me some time then, and i will not have to give me private cell phone # to Final Draft. If Trelby is open source, don't they have to make the course code available? If so, one could easily change the name of the program if that became an OCD issue, which it might for me, lol. I could name it Whackadoodle if I wanted to, or whatever, just for private use! I wonder how I would get the source code? I used to lots of coding in my younger days (C, C++, Pascal, Java, Fortran, Cobol, BASIC, etc) so I imagine I could compile it; heck if got to know the code, i might even contribute to helping the project along with improvements.
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The code is python. I've spent a lot of time on their contributor forums testing the beta release. I would imagine you could change the name, but you'd have to do it for every instance, and if you change the wrong one, your files won't open in since the extension is .trelby
On Ubuntu, go to /opt/Trelby All the code is in the src folder and the icons and stuff like I changed are in resources
 
El Director said:
The code is python. I've spent a lot of time on their contributor forums testing the beta release. I would imagine you could change the name, but you'd have to do it for every instance, and if you change the wrong one, your files won't open in since the extension is .trelby
On Ubuntu, go to /opt/Trelby All the code is in the src folder and the icons and stuff like I changed are in resources
Click to expand...

Good info. I joined their forum google group, got a link to their project source code and such too. I might considering coding to help the project, been a long time since I coded, and I would have to learn Python but that is doable. All it takes is a group of people around the globe contributing a little effort each to make an opensource project work. Obviously a ton of effort has already been done. So glad to see a decent screenwriting program, for free, customizable, available for the major OS platforms including linux.
 
Is Python a good code to write a writing assistance program on that could be sold? I understand that Python is a really good programming language for beginners, but I wonder about the end result...
 
vcassel,
I never learned Python, I will have to if I want to contribute to Trelby, but I just checked on wikipedia and the list of software that is written in and that uses Python is pretty impressive and extensive, so you decide. :) I plan on picking up a book on learning Python, give it a go; I learned other object oriented computer languages years ago such as C, C++, Pascal, Java, so Python should be doable.

Applications
  • Anki, a spaced repetition flashcard program
  • Bazaar, a free distributed revision control system
  • BitTorrent, original client, along with several derivatives
  • Blender 3D (software), 3D art and animation program with a game engine. Allows for Python scripting in the game engine and in modelling and animation.
  • BuildBot, a continuous integration system
  • Calibre, an open source e-book management tool
  • Chandler, a personal information manager including calendar, email, tasks and notes support that is not currently under development
  • Cinema 4D, a 3D art and animation program for creating intros and 3-Dimensional text. Has a built in Python scripting console and engine.
  • Decibel Audio Player, an open source audio player
  • Deluge, a BitTorrent client for GNOME
  • Dropbox, a web-based file hosting service
  • emesene, a MSN/WLM substitute
  • Exaile, an open source audio player
  • Friture
    , a real-time audio analyzer
  • frePPLe
    an open source Production Planning system
  • Gajim, an instant messaging client for the XMPP protocol
  • GRAMPS, an open source genealogy software
  • Gwibber, a microblogging client
  • Juice, a popular podcast downloader
  • Mercurial a cross-platform, distributed source management tool
  • Miro, a cross-platform internet television application
  • Morpheus, file-sharing client/server software operated by the company StreamCast
  • MusicBrainz Picard, a cross-platform MusicBrainz tag editor
  • Nicotine, a PyGTK Soulseek client
  • OpenLP, lyrics projection software
  • OpenShot Video Editor
  • OpenStack, a cloud computing IaaS platform
  • OpenTeacher, an opensource vocabulary training application
  • p2ptube
    , Program to stream movies on the internet
  • PiTiVi, a non-linear video editor
  • Portage, the heart of Gentoo Linux, an advanced package management system based on the BSD-style ports system
  • Quake Army Knife, an environment for developing 3D maps for games based on the Quake engine
  • Quod Libet, a cross-platform free and open source music player, tag editor and library organizer
  • Resolver One, a spreadsheet
  • SABnzbd, A Usenet binaries downloader
  • Sage (sagemath) combines more than 20 main opensource math packages and provides easy to use web interface with the help of Python
  • SCons, a tool for building software
  • Tryton, a three-tier high-level general purpose computer application platform
  • Ubuntu Software Center, a graphical package manager, installed by default in Ubuntu 9.10 and higher
  • Wammu, a mobile phone management utility
  • Wicd, a network manager for Linux
  • WikidPad, a free wiki-like outliner for personal thoughts, ideas, to-do lists, contacts, etc. with wiki-like linking between pages.
  • YUM, a package management utility for RPM-compatible Linux operating systems
[edit]Web applications
  • OpenERP, an open source comprehensive suite of business applications
  • ERP5, a powerful open source ERP / CRM used in Aerospace, Apparel, Banking and for e-government
  • GNU Mailman, one of the more popular packages for running email mailing lists
  • MoinMoin, a popular wiki engine
  • MootiroForm
    , an open source form creating software
  • Planet, a feed aggregator
  • Plone, a user-friendly and powerful open source content management system
  • Roundup, a bug tracking system
  • ViewVC, a web-based interface for browsing CVS and SVN repositories
  • Trac, web-based bug/issue tracking database, wiki, and version control front-end
  • Python Shell
    , A Python shell inside the Google Chrome browser.
  • Turntable.fm, a social media site for interactively sharing music, currently in beta[SUP][citation needed][/SUP]
[edit]Video games
[edit]Web frameworks
  • CherryPy, an object-oriented web application server and framework
  • Django, an MVC (model, view, controller) web framework
  • Flask, a modern, lightweight, well-documented microframework based on Werkzeug and Jinja 2
  • Google App Engine, a platform for developing and hosting web applications in Google-managed data centers, including Python.
  • Pylons, a lightweight web framework emphasizing flexibility and rapid development
  • Pyramid, is a minimalistic web framework inspired by Zope, Pylons and Django
  • Quixote, a framework for developing Web applications in Python
  • Topsite Templating System, another Python-powered web framework
  • TurboGears, a web framework combining SQLObject/SQLAlchemy, Kid/Genshi, and CherryPy/Pylons
  • web2py, a full-stack enterprise web application framework, following the MVC design
  • Zope, an application server, commonly used to build content management systems
[edit]Graphics frameworks
[edit]GUI frameworks
  • PyGTK, a popular cross-platform GUI library based on GTK+; furthermore, other GNOME libraries also have bindings for Python
  • PyQt, another cross-platform GUI library based on Qt; as above, KDE libraries have bindings too
  • PySide, an alternative to the PyQt library
  • wxPython, a port of wxWidgets and a cross-platform GUI library for Python
[edit]Scientific packages
  • Biopython, a Python molecular biology suite
  • NetworkX, a package for the creation, manipulation, and study of complex networks.
  • SciPy, a library of scientific and numerical routines
  • SimPy, a discrete-event simulation package
  • stsci python, a library of Python routines and C extensions that has been developed to provide a general astronomical data analysis infrastructure, developed by STScI
  • Veusz, a scientific plotting package
  • VisTrails, a scientific workflow and provenance management software with visual programming interface and integrated visualization (via Matplotlib, VTK).
  • p4vasp
    , a visualization suite for the Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package (VASP)
[edit]Mathematical libraries
  • Matplotlib, an extension providing MATLAB-like plotting and mathematical functions
  • NumPy, a language extension that adds support for large and fast, multi-dimensional arrays and matrices
  • PyIMSL Studio is a Python distribution which includes the IMSL Numerical Libraries.
  • Sage is a large mathematical software application which integrates the work of nearly 100 free software projects and supports linear algebra, combinatorics, numerical mathematics, calculus, and more.
  • SymPy, a computer algebra system
[edit]Additional development packages
[edit]Embedded as a scripting language

Python is, or can be used as the scripting language in these software products.
[edit]Commercial uses
 
Thanks, Randall! I have some pretty neat ideas for a contextual verb generator and a 'to be' verb analyzer that I'd like to maybe turn into a fully loaded screenwriting software some day.
 
vcassel said:
Thanks, Randall! I have some pretty neat ideas for a contextual verb generator and a 'to be' verb analyzer that I'd like to maybe turn into a fully loaded screenwriting software some day.
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I think i am going to order this book on learning Python (maybe even today),
looks good for a snake handling noob like me, lol

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El Director said:
The code is python. I've spent a lot of time on their contributor forums testing the beta release. I would imagine you could change the name, but you'd have to do it for every instance, and if you change the wrong one, your files won't open in since the extension is .trelby
On Ubuntu, go to /opt/Trelby All the code is in the src folder and the icons and stuff like I changed are in resources
Click to expand...


And for anybody interested in tinkering,

Python (Trelby project pages says to stick to 2.7, do NO download and use Python 3 even though that is newer)
http://python.org/download/releases/2.7.3/

Free Python IDE (programming environment, code editor) for Windows
https://code.google.com/p/pyscripter/downloads/detail?name=PyScripter-v2.5.3-Setup.exe


I just installed both of the above, ordered that book on learning Python. Not in a huge rush, but I will be having extra free time in the coming months and if I can i would like to help contribute to the Trelby project, or spin it off as a new project, or both. But first step is to get comfortable with Python editing/coding.
 
Wow. I am totally turned off by Trelby now, doing a 180, shazamm! I just noticed there is NO UNDO, no Ctrl+z, no Edit:Undo. That is completely unacceptable! Back to the drawing board, back to Final Draft. Guess I will return that Python programming book. I really wanted Trelby to work, but I am not going down the path of using an editor with no undo function; other editors always have an undo if not multiple levels of undo!
:(
 
I haven't had much time to use Trelby so far, but when I was going through it that first time one of the things I couldn't find was undo. I simply thought I just couldn't find it, but you have confirmed that in fact it isn't there! This is a shame because it's an otherwise solid screenwriter. The missing Undo feature is surely the first target for anyone wanting to participate in the coding of this open software project.
 
TrueIndigo said:
..The missing Undo feature is surely the first target for anyone wanting to participate in the coding of this open software project.
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UPDATE: Allegedly there is a beta testing version of Trelby with an undo function; but I can't wait, will stick with Final Draft for now. Plus I am discovering the index card feature of FD8 to be useful, structuring a new microindie horror using the index scene cards (that are far more functional than Movie Magic, in fact that is a huge reason i left MM for FD).

Not for me unfortunately; I would have to be using the software, as a writer, to want to be involved (which means I would have to spend a lot of time learning a whole new programming language, and get familiar with all the source code files), and no fricken way am i going to be using screenwriting software without at least one level of undo (and most software allows multiple undo levels). imho, simply inexcusable that an editor was put out for use without an undo function; i mean really, can anybody reading this tell me of a single editor other than Trelby that does not have an undo feature?
 
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I haven't tried Trelby yet, but Python is proving very easy to learn. I hope to spin the source code off into my own thing or write a program from scratch with better script development tools.
 
vcassel said:
I haven't tried Trelby yet, but Python is proving very easy to learn. I hope to spin the source code off into my own thing or write a program from scratch with better script development tools.
Click to expand...

Keep me apprised. I am kind of persona no grata on the Trelby google group, after recently point out to the developers on that forum the insanity of releasing an editor, even a free editor, that does not have an undo function (I am not aware of a single editor of any sort other than Trelby that lacks Undo). Trelby has potential in that indeed it is a nice GUI screenwriting program that exists for Linux, Windows, Apple. But their mission statement is such that Trelby will always be kept simple, no script dev tools (would violate their mission of a super simple program). Wouldn't it be nice to have an open source screenwriting program spun off from Trelby, with a name other than that of a hat (um, maybe a name having to do with screenwriting in some way?), that grows to have script dev tools like we see in FD and MM--- index cards, outlining tools / Navigator?
 
Nice. I just put a virtual xubuntu 12.04 on my Windows 7 desktop, then installed the beta Trelby for linux that has the undo function-- it has MULTIPLE undo levels, very nice. I just quickly played with it but it had at least a half dozen undo levels. I was expecting only a single undo, the multiple levels surprised me! Hmm. I had just swapped out my linux ssd in my laptop for my windows laptop drive, i might have to now put my linux ssd back in my laptop and use Trelby. Also gives me reason again to keep my book on Python programming I just got, so I can perhaps play with Trelby in the future (I can not stand the name, trelby = a hat, so that will be one of the first things I deal with, recompile it under a different name, even allow a different filename extension).
 
El Director said:
I started with Drama Dog years ago, then moved to Final Draft before jumping ship to Celtx because I needed the crossplatform of Mac/PC/Linux and it's scheduling features. After years with Celtx, I'm switching to Trelby I think for writing. When the script is done, I can copy and paste to Celtx and it preserves the formatting =) I'll continue to schedule in Celtx, unless someone knows of a free alternative that runs on at least PC and Linux?
Trelby is able to import a Celtx script directly, so even though I'm in the middle of writing Leap: Revelation, the switch was completely hassle free. The only option I'd really like to see is the ability to rearrange scenes in a list like you can do with the sidebar in Celtx. I find it handy when I'm trying to rework a story.
Click to expand...
Have a look at scenechronize.com - online scheduling, free to begin with (and for a long way too), and very good. Much better than Celtx, and on par with things like Movie Magic Scheduling.
 
Just tried Trelby. I like it. It lacks some pretty fundamental stuff, which I hope to see fixed, but it really does most of what I need from a screenplay editor. +1 for the Fullscreen mode. -1 for the lack of an undo function :)
 
Oh, Randall. You're hilarious.

Oh, Randall. You're hilarious.

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Wow, Randall. I mean, just...wow.

I'm just a happy-go-lucky, mild-mannered Trelby user minding my own business, and then I stumble into the Trelby group... and wow... after reading the garbage you've posted the last few days, I just had to create an account here and respond, because I really, really wanted to let you know what a self-serving, pompous jerk you appear to be.

So let's get this straight. First you get all giddy and bubbly about a free, open-source screenwriting program. Make all kinds of self-indulgent declarations about your intention to learn to "compile" Python so you can even make contributions back. What a stud. But then oh, noes-- you find out it is missing a feature that you find absolutely necessary (notwithstanding that thousands of people use Trelby every day without it). A normal, non-self-absorbed person might say "Oh, well. This isn't for me I guess." or even "hey, I'm still going to learn Python so I can add that feature myself as a way of giving back for this free product". But not you. Not Randall Oelerich, entitled King of Doucheland. Instead, you go back to the Trelby forum, ***** at the developers WHO TELL YOU THAT THE FEATURE IS AVAILABLE IN BETA, then proceed to come back to this forum and whine some more. "Name one text editor without an undo button." It's a car without brakes!!! Boo-frickin' hoo. :crybaby::violin::violin::violin:

And THEN, after making a total ass of yourself, THEN you decide oh, maybe I'll ACTUALLY TRY the testing version of the feature you were told about, and lo-and-behold, it's better than you expected. Your response? No, it wasn't a prolonged and thorough apology to all involved. It wasn't an appeal to everyone to PLEASE forgive you for being such a massive tool by sh1tting all over part-time volunteers. It wasn't an attempt to scrub all traces of your humiliating posts.

No, your revelation is that you're going to fork/"recompile" it so that it has a different name. Eyeroll. We'll all be waiting for that. Here's a title you might like more than Trelby: "Captain Randall Oelerich Presents Randall Oelerich's Super Screenplay Editor! Multiple Undo Deluxe Edition, With Scene Cards! Compiled by Randall Oelerich in the Language of Python, Which He Just Learned Today!"

While I'm waiting for your fork to hit the Internets, I'll just stay exceedingly grateful to the actual developers of a real, usable product for having put in countless hours into making Trelby, and even better for making it free and modifiable by anyone. It takes some real chutzpah to look a gift horse in the mouth, Randall. Moreso to try and beat the free horse and its team of trainers to death because the horse is the wrong color.

I'll end with this quote from a big whiner: "Okay now I am sure there will be many defensive and heated replies to this post of mine; so be it, I probably will not be back here to read any replies, so you all can have the last word."


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