🚀 go-pugleaf

Some time ago I have uploaded a program (source code plus an
application) that generates clouds (Venusian-like landscapes I hoped)
and "flies" over them. This is to inform of a new version of Venus,
which is actually an almost complete rewrite. It's called
flight-around-in-clouds, because, it, well, really _circles around_ in
clouds (or in whatever elevation map you provide). The thing now has
two windows: a view from above, on the clouds and your plane, and a
view from the cockpit. The view changes as you circle around or alter
view parameters: elevation, focus, etc. Yes, there are gauges now that
let you do such adjustments.

A web page
       http://mozart.compsci.com/~oleg/ftp/
has a few screen snapshots during the old and new flights. It also has
links to a CompactPro archive with the complete source code plus a
PowerMac application.  The code can also be grabbed from
info-mac:/game/circle-in-clouds-ppc.hqx via your favorite Info-Mac
mirror.

The thing can can actually take any height map and fly/pan around it:
the main function just creates an object VenusDialog
        VenusDialog venus_dialog(image);
and passes an elevation map to it. And that's it. Well, you also ought
to provide a CLUT and a default palette (which tell how to color map's
elevation values). The elevation map doesn't have to be periodic, btw.

The code does NOT use QuickDraw3D. That is, all rendering/graphics is
done by the program itself. Some parts of the code are Mac-specific,
of course (offering a few tricks and more general (and hopefully
useful) things like a small class library to handle full-color Mac
windows, user items, dialogs, offscreen GrafWorlds, ValueControls,
etc). Still, the renderer code is independent of any of Mac
peculiarities, and can be used on other platforms with minor
modifications.

A readme file tells in more detail what's in the archive and how to
use the thing. The source is way commented (appropriately, I
hope). Any comments, questions, suggestions are very welcome!
(mailto:oleg@ponder.csci.unt.edu)