I'm pleased to announce that GraphicsBuilder 0.6.1 has been released [Download]. This release includes minor updates to the code but one important, compatibility-breaking issue: Groovy 1.6+ is the minimum supported version of Groovy starting from 0.6.1, this is due to recent enhancements made to FactoryBuilderSupport and the short binding syntax.

GraphicsBuilder will also be changing locations (as JideBuilder 2.0 recently did), it will no longer be a module under the groovy-contrib repository, but an officially supported project under the Griffon umbrella. I'm using this opportunity to refactor the internals and streamline how the builder works (breaking as little of your code as possible). Here is what I have in mind:

• The base package will be griffon.builder.gfx
• Split the responsibilities of an operation (node from now onwards) as it holds the data and draws to the screen too, it should only be a data container/provider (0.6.x is halfway there since the inclusion of runtime()).
• Move all renderers (GfxRenderer, SvgRenderer, SwfRenderer, *) to the same package.
• Use jSilhouette's shapes (0.6.1 does it already).

And here is a short list of features that will be available in the next release:

• Enable an easier way to define attributes for a node, this is going to be a piece of cake thanks to ASTTransformations, think @Bindable + something more.
• Enable custom nodes.

Let's face it, GraphicsBuilder provides a decent and friendly abstraction level over Java2D constructs but it is not friendly enough for custom nodes. Creating a custom shape by yourself as it currently stands requires more knowledge of internal workings that you should know, it is also hard to mix&match basic nodes into a more complex one; that is what I intend to change with custom nodes, stay tuned!

Keep on Groovying!