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- Path: rz.tu-ilmenau.de!ekki
- From: ekki@rz.tu-ilmenau.de (Ekkehard Beier)
- Newsgroups: comp.graphics.api.opengl,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.tcl,comp.graphics.algorithms,comp.graphics.raytracing
- Subject: [ANNOUNCE] A Generic 3D Graphics Kernel V1.4
- Date: 12 Jan 1996 14:49:29 GMT
- Organization: Technische Universitaet Ilmenau
- Distribution: world
- Message-ID: <4d5sdp$bn6@link.rz.tu-ilmenau.de>
- NNTP-Posting-Host: metallica.prakinf.tu-ilmenau.de
-
- [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 *
- ****************************************************************
-