🚀 go-pugleaf

[ANNOUNCE] A Generic 3D Graphics Kernel V1.4

Current graphic systems (traditional or object-oriented) offer a
certain amount of functionality but also prescribe a lot of impli-
cations, constraints and may not fit a given task. The result is
that in many cases people start from scratch, implement the basic
graphics stuff again and again.

The objective of the announced project is to develop a generic 3D
graphics kernel that may be used to implement an own system by 
derivating the generic one. By aggregation and inheritance the 
interfaces and implementation of the generic kernel may be used. 
The generic kernel shall offer a huge functionality consisting of 
unrelated classes that may adaptively be integrated into a specialized
system without run-time and memory overhead.

The principal functionality of the system will be [is]:
- basic parametric aggregates and related operators
  [parametric fix-sized vector, dl list, dynamic list, for-each iterators]
- elementary graphical data types: vector (2D, 3D, generic), matrices,
  colors, vertex, etc. and related operators
  [2D, 3D, nD Vector, 4x4, nxn Matrix, "Phong" Surface, RGB color, 
  different vertex types]
- essential scene collections (DAG, tree, binary tree, linear list)
- basic graphical design patterns such as PHIGS' CSS, or a CGRM 
  environment with its components
- basic topological classes with covariant extensibility 
  [1D, 2D, Polyhedron, parametric curve and surface] 
- abstract and concrete rendering classes (rendering interfaces,
  camera models, specific rendering primitives, i.e., Quadric for
  ray-tracing)
  [ray-tracing and shading interface, perspectivic and orthographic
  camera model, shader, ray-tracer, quadric, polygon, shading and 
  ray-tracing iterators to be used for cameras and composites, to
  be platform-independent, the specific shading stuff is encapsulated
  in a "device driver" with following realizations until now:
	* OpenGL and X11
	* OpenGL and Tk 3.6/4.0
	* OpenGL and Windows/NT 
	* OpenGL and Windows/NT and Tk3.6
	* OpenGL and Windows/NT and MFC 2.0
  NOTE: OpenGL compatible public domain library Mesa has been
  tested successfully as replacement for OpenGL]
- pixel-based output devices [Pixmap, ImageFile]
- rendering-independent mathematical stuff, e.g., Splines and free
  form surfaces [solid textures, bump mappings, interpolated spline curves and surfaces]
- basic interaction classes (abstract and concrete, e.g., low-level
  event types) [2D mouse and spaceball events, socket encapsulation, 
  pixmap update event, callbacks, abstract input device featuring 
  feedback access and hierarchical organization, input server,
  timer and file input devices] 	
- utility classes (identification, file formats, user interface 
  integration, generic format converters) [string, SGI-, Targa-, 
  RGBA-file format, Tcl language binding (optional), interpretative
  class system, generic DeltaBlue constraint solver]

For papers discussing the need of a generic graphics kernel see
ftp://metallica.prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de/pub/PROJECTS/GENERIC/dublin.ps.gz
ftp://metallica.prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de/pub/PROJECTS/GENERIC/springer95.ps.gz
ftp://metallica.prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de/pub/PROJECTS/GENERIC/pilzen96.ps.gz

The generic kernel itself is available from
ftp://metallica.prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de/pub/PROJECTS/GENERIC/generic1.4.tar.gz

Ray-traced images and information about GX are available via
http://www.rz.tu-ilmenau.de/~juhu/gx_demos.html

The generic kernel is provided with all sources and may be used for
both commercial and non-commercial projects without restrictions.
Comments, discussion and extensions are greatly welcome.

Derived kernels until now:
  GX - an extended ray-tracing kernel by Nguyen Duc Cuong
  GT - an NFF compatible ray-tracing kernel for test purposes 
       basing on GX (GX and GT are parts of the distribution) 
  EGR GF - an object-oriented commercial semantic kernel for European 
       furniture industry (headers included for demonstration purposes)
  EGR MAF - a distributed Multimedia application framework 
  EGR TIGER - an interpretative OpenGL environment including Motif-like GUI
       functionality and hi-level OpenGL-based kernel for education

Kernels in work:
  GY - a reimplementation of former 3D graphics kernel YART
  PRIMA - a sample implementation of ISO PREMO by DIN

There is a mailing List: generic@prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de 
[send mail with subject "subscribe GENERIC mailing list"
 to ekki@prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de ]

	Ekki.

Special thx goes to Frank Wicht (TU Ilmenau, Germany), Nguyen Duc
Cuong (TU Dresden, Germany), Heiko Fischer (EasternGraphics, Ger-
many), Pavol Michalik (TU Ilmenau, Germany) 
and EasternGraphics GmbH, Arnstadt, Germany.

****************************************************************
* Ekkehard 'Ekki' Beier                                        *
*  email: ekki@prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de                           *
*  phone: ++49-3677-692775          fax:   ++49-3677-694540    *
*  talk : ekki@metallica.prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de [141.24.11.247] *
*  www  : http://metallica.prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de/ekki.html     *
*  yart/vr: institute@speedy.prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de             *
* Technical University of Ilmenau                              *
* Department of Computer Graphics                              *
* Am Ehrenberg, PSF 327, D-98684 Ilmenau, GERMANY              *
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