2026-10-09 APP 2.0.0-beta48 has been released !
This is mainly a bug fix release for the reported bugs in beta47. In addition it has a significant User Interface performance improvement noticable when you need to process 1000s of images in APP.
2026-10-03 APP 2.0.0-beta47 has been released !
This is a very big release... many code optimizations/rewrites, many parts of APP are much faster and more precise, especially star analysis and registration are much faster ! Big mosaics will go much faster 🙂
And we introduce a new preview filter, which includes the new Adaptive Deep Sky Stretch and a General Levels Stretch, this has been long over due. The old preview filter (the panel on the right side to stretch and preview your data) has not been updated for a couple of years and it is a critical part of any APP session.
Adaptive Deep Sky Stretch or ADSS is a much more intuitive stretch algorithm. It is also color preserving (which is a great new addition in itself ! ) which means that the highlights are no longer bleached, color is maintained from the linear data while stretching. You can simply stretch your data using the sky background level and signal width sliders which work much easier and more intuitive. You no longer need to fiddle with the old complicated sliders with zoom buttons. All the zoom buttons for the sliders are made redundant. And you can enter slider values in the slider value fields yourself. I will make a youtube video in the coming days to explain and fully introduce ADSS. Once the video is ready, it will be highlighted on the forum.
RGB Combine upgrade !. The RGB Combine Tool has been rewritten mostly. The tool is faster and easier to use and most importantly, the Luminance slider to inject a luminance channel or channels into the RGB composite is now working correctly. It no longer bleaches the RGB colors. Combined with the new ADSS preview, you will get much better and easier great composites with great color! I will also explain this in a new youtube video.
I'm just wondering whats up with APP. The last post of Mabula was two months ago. In the past he answered questions or gave input very quick. Hope all is well!
I was thinking the same thing, I'm a little bit concerned. Vincent's last post was six months ago, is he still there?
I am sure there are many of us who have invested in this product are questioning its future. 😐
I'm just wondering whats up with APP. The last post of Mabula was two months ago. In the past he answered questions or gave input very quick. Hope all is well!
I'm concerned, too. But to be fair, I would NOT expect the same level of support response from a small team, when they have their heads down, and focused on development. It's entirely possible that they're absorbed with the work before them. For my part, I just want to be done with these neverending Betas and get to a Stable release.
Of course you are right that the team (hopefully) works on the stable 2.0.0 release and therefore the time for responses is limited. But to be not visible for 2 month or 6 month is a little bit strange. A small sign like "hey guys we are working on the release and will be back in 3 month" would be nice. And there maybe other reasons for not posting anymore, like health, family or the like.
I just can say that APP for me is the favourite program for stacking and processing my pictures, even in this "beta"-state (for me thats no beta because it runs very stable!). It would be a pity if APP would not be maintained anymore. I tried PI but even stacking was a nightmare for me, APP is much easier. I only use PI for the RC tools (BXT, NXT SXT), for all the other things I use APP and some Gimp.
Of course you are right that the team (hopefully) works on the stable 2.0.0 release and therefore the time for responses is limited. But to be not visible for 2 month or 6 month is a little bit strange. A small sign like "hey guys we are working on the release and will be back in 3 month" would be nice. And there maybe other reasons for not posting anymore, like health, family or the like.
Unfortunately for me, that last sentence is bingo. Tomorrow I'm starting medical treatments for myself and depending on how that goes I may or may not be on the forum for quite a while. This is also the reason I haven't been active for the past months, I could have said so sooner so apologies for that. Mabula is still actively working on everything, but has to divide his time a bit more now, I hope he can chime in a bit as well. It'll not slow down development much fortunately, I did contribute (like with the native file chooser) but not in a big way yet.
Hi Vincent,
sorry to hear that. I whish you all the best for the next weeks and full recovery! Get well soon!
Also thank you for clarification!
Oh, I'm very sorry Vincent!
Sending you all the positive energy during this time. Stay strong, and keep fighting!!
Warmest wishes, Robert
No problem, that's life. 🙂 Thanks for the well wishes!
@vincent-mod My very best wishes for a speedy recovery. Take care.
I hope all goes well with your procedures Vincent.
I remain eager for 2.0 where all the files of a project will be saved. I get to image so seldom that months go by.
@vincent-mod I gave your message a thumbs down, not because I am concerned for APP, but that I am saddened to hear about your health. Get well, do what needs to be done for you and your loved ones and that's all that matters!
Thanks Paul! Had my first of six treatments and it went better than expected. Let's keep that going. 😉 I hope I can take up the forum next week, but will have to see. Thanks all for the patience.
@vincent-mod Well hopefully things go well for you.
Also sounds like, Mabula could use a somewhat larger team!
Sorry to hear that, Vincent. I wish you all the best, don't give up, keep fighting!
Hi everyone!
Just to let you all know that I'd like to apologize for the lack of communication. My treatments are unfortunately going to take an extended period of time. I have no status updates as I'm quite removed from daily operations, so the reason why it's this quiet I don't know.
Yes it is. But why ist there no support any more other than license-related stuff?
We all know about Vincent's health issues but what is going on?
Mabula seems to simply not care about support, development, community any more.
Emails to the support are not answered, promised features still not in sight, the last update was in 2023 as I remember.
And even Vincent can not explain the silence.
🙁
Vincent, I wish you good health and a quick recovery.
License issues completely block a paying customer. You prioritize those.
Having been in the software business for a few decades, it's simply impossible for 2-3 to support and expand a product with this much complexity.
Ideally, this would become a open source project. NINA has done very well with this model.
Hello Vincent, I also wish you quick recovery and my best wishes ! Martin
Hi all - revitalizing this thread.
Last Post of Mabula was mid June, announcing the soon to come beta 39.
I really hope that everything is okay.
