XSlides

XSlides is an XML based system for presentation slides.

History

I've created my first version of XSlides in 1998, when I changed from ↗HSC - HTML Sucks Completely for the Web and LaTeX2e for documentation to ↗XML and ↗XSLT using ↗XT and Internet Explorer 4. Back then I was working as a freelancing trainer for computer science topics, mainly XML and Java, but also Linux, Networking and Security. I've created a huge amount of training material myself and needed a way to have a high degree of automation and reuse within the creation of my training material.

In 2005 I've decided to move from the training side to the practical side of the computer science business and changed into software engineering and architecture. In 2011, part of my job as an architect is to train teams about our software architecture and development infrastructure. I've quickly seen that the classic approach using programs like Microsoft PowerPoint does not match my very specific requirements regarding automation and reuse. Therefore I'm reactivating my original idea.

Plan

Currently, XSlides is pretty alpha. I want the final version of XSlides to integrate with JackSemmelServer, an XML- and database-centric Web server, and JackSemmel, an XML editor.

Features

Already Implemented

• High degree of automation, i.e. to include numbers from databases in a presentation.
• Terse mixed Slides / XHTML / SVG / MathML / SMIL markup language.
• Makefile and XSLT to perform syntax highlighting on source code using ↗vim.
• vi-like control interface: Slides can be navigated with vi keystrokes like hjkl, G, gg and vi commands like :first, :last, :<number>.
• PowerPoint-like control interface: Slides can be navigated with the cursor keys. Blank screen is also supported, and F5 is "caught" to avoid unintended reloading.
• XSLTs to create a single-file XHTML + MathML + SVG + SMIL from a presentation, including Base64-encoded embedded images.
• The slides are presented with a normal standards-compliant user agent (aka web browser), i.e. Chrome, Firefox, Opera, preferably in fullscreen mode. Internet Explorer also works, but has some limitations.
• Support for Logitech Cordless Presenter. Other presenters will probably work, too.

Planned Features

• Support various kinds of animations
• Integration with JackSemmelServer
• Editor-Support in JackSemmel
• Conversion to PowerPoint, Impress and other formats

More Information

The source code can be obtained at ↗Github.

More information, such as license, download, source code etc. will be available soon.