Hello everybody,

I (any my friends) want port PovRay source code to Java platform (pure
Java withi JINI).

This is primary goal, for building our modeler for PovRay.

but I've some general question:

- Are there any restrictions for original source code ? 
  (Of course, JPovRay will be free as PovRay)

- Can JPovRay be little differend from PovRay ?
  (Basic will cover PovRay, but extension like new features no    found
in PovRay,plugins,extendend modularity,etc.)

- Is there any web URL for PovRay programmers ? (where is bugfixes,
  new ideas,etc)

Thanks,
 Pavel

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Case <p.k### [at] shcvutcz> wrote:
: I (any my friends) want port PovRay source code to Java platform (pure
: Java withi JINI).

  Why?
  For speed?

-- 
main(i,_){for(_?--i,main(i+2,"FhhQHFIJD|FQTITFN]zRFHhhTBFHhhTBFysdB"[i]
):5;i&&_>1;printf("%s",_-70?_&1?"[]":" ":(_=0,"\n")),_/=2);} /*- Warp -*/

Post a reply to this message

povray.programming and povray.binaries.programming here on the
news.povray.org server might be a good place to look at.

Bob

Case <p.k### [at] shcvutcz> wrote in message
news:3802F14C.C599417A@sh.cvut.cz...
> I (any my friends) want port PovRay source code to Java platform (pure
> Java withi JINI).
> - Is there any web URL for PovRay programmers ? (where is bugfixes,
>   new ideas,etc)

Post a reply to this message

Nieminen Juha wrote:
> 
> Case <p.k### [at] shcvutcz> wrote:
> : I (any my friends) want port PovRay source code to Java platform (pure
> : Java withi JINI).
> 
>   Why?
>   For speed?
> 

Java for easy portability, distributing aplications, etc.

With JPovRay, there will not be problem render on 100 normal machines in
Lan (via RMI and maybe in future IIOP)(not needing cluster or cluster
enabled operating system).

There's more benefits. In current state of PovRay this is almost
imposible.

I'm not promiser, i'd like try it.

With pure Java, render code may be slowed, so using JNI (core in C) may
help.

Post a reply to this message

On Tue, 12 Oct 1999 10:29:00 +0200, Case wrote:

>- Are there any restrictions for original source code ? 
>  (Of course, JPovRay will be free as PovRay)

I don't see any explicit restrictions on rewriting the whole thing in
another language, but if I were you I'd ask the Team coordinator for
explicit permission before embarking on such a huge task.  I would 
hazard a guess that while it's not explicitly prohibited, it isn't 
within the spirit of the license.  See disclaimer below.

>- Can JPovRay be little differend from PovRay ?
>  (Basic will cover PovRay, but extension like new features no    found
>in PovRay,plugins,extendend modularity,etc.)

From povlegal.doc:

  POV-Ray may not be linked into other software either at compile-
  time using an object code linker nor at run-time as a DLL,
  ActiveX, or other system. Such linkage can tend to blur the end-
  user's perception of which program provides which functions and
  thus qualifies as an attempt to obscure what is running.

  To allow POV-Ray to communicate with outside programs, the official
  versions of POV-Ray include several internal communication "hooks" 
  for it to call other tasks, often called an Application Programming 
  Interface, or API. For example: the generic part of POV-Ray provides
  operating system shell-out API commands. The Windows version has a 
  GUI-extension API and the ability to replace the text editor.
  Modification to these APIs or other officially supported
  communication mechanisms to increase functionality beyond that of 
  the official version IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.

This would seem to limit what you can do with plugins or modularity.

>- Is there any web URL for PovRay programmers ? (where is bugfixes,
>  new ideas,etc)

There are some groups on this server you'll probably find interesting -
povray.programming and povray.unofficial.patches are two such.  You 
also might enjoy reading povray.bugreports.

Disclaimer: Yes, I'm a member of the POV-Team.  No, I'm not making an
official statement for them.  This post, with the exception of the 
direct quote from povlegal.doc, consists entirely of my own opinions.

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Cool.  It would be neat if it had animation support.

I've been pining for years for something that will allow me to have
continuously-running animations based on povray-like code.   Does something
like this already exist?  If so, please point me to it!

Case wrote:

> Hello everybody,
>
> I (any my friends) want port PovRay source code to Java platform (pure
> Java withi JINI).
>
> This is primary goal, for building our modeler for PovRay.
>
> but I've some general question:
>
> - Are there any restrictions for original source code ?
>   (Of course, JPovRay will be free as PovRay)
>
> - Can JPovRay be little differend from PovRay ?
>   (Basic will cover PovRay, but extension like new features no    found
> in PovRay,plugins,extendend modularity,etc.)
>
> - Is there any web URL for PovRay programmers ? (where is bugfixes,
>   new ideas,etc)
>
> Thanks,
>  Pavel

Post a reply to this message

> From povlegal.doc:
> 
<cutted>
>   Modification to these APIs or other officially supported
>   communication mechanisms to increase functionality beyond that of
>   the official version IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.
> 
> This would seem to limit what you can do with plugins or modularity.
> 

However, this is right. This make JPovRay useless. Port to Java with
same features (same API) can only make JPovRay platform independend (but
current JVMs is usable only for win32,solaris,linux...).

As I mentioned, our main goal is use distributed computing (one of main
benefits), translate source to components, open to everybody, so that
programmers can focused only for adding specific features without
looking at whole source code. Well, lot's work but much easier in Java.

So we start our own code, freely available, and use PovRay as good
reference.

> 
> Disclaimer: Yes, I'm a member of the POV-Team.  No, I'm not making an
> official statement for them.  This post, with the exception of the
> direct quote from povlegal.doc, consists entirely of my own opinions.

Very thanks for constructive hints,

have a GOOD day

Pavel

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Case <p.k### [at] shcvutcz> wrote in message
news:38030A1E.95F3B9CD@sh.cvut.cz...
>
>
> Nieminen Juha wrote:
> >
> > Case <p.k### [at] shcvutcz> wrote:
> > : I (any my friends) want port PovRay source code to Java platform (pure
> > : Java withi JINI).
> >
> >   Why?
> >   For speed?
> >
>
> Java for easy portability, distributing aplications, etc.
>
[snip]
>
> With pure Java, render code may be slowed, so using JNI (core in C) may
> help.

And out the door goes "easy portability, distributing aplications, etc." ...
:-)

Johannes.

Post a reply to this message

Case <p.k### [at] shcvutcz> wrote:
: Java for easy portability, distributing aplications, etc.

  So tell me what are the current problems in portability etc.

: With JPovRay, there will not be problem render on 100 normal machines in
: Lan (via RMI and maybe in future IIOP)(not needing cluster or cluster
: enabled operating system).

  Well, if you can render the same image with the current version in one
computer in the same time as with the java version in all those computers,
what's the point?
  Ok, ok, Java is not 100 times as slow as C, but at least 10 times, and you
seldom have 10 computers to render your scene.

: With pure Java, render code may be slowed, so using JNI (core in C) may
: help.

  Someone responded to this already.

  The current core is already in C, so what's the point?
  If you wish to make a user interface or even a modeller for povray in java,
then go ahead. I will be glad to try it.
  But don't touch povray itself, thanks.

-- 
main(i,_){for(_?--i,main(i+2,"FhhQHFIJD|FQTITFN]zRFHhhTBFHhhTBFysdB"[i]
):5;i&&_>1;printf("%s",_-70?_&1?"[]":" ":(_=0,"\n")),_/=2);} /*- Warp -*/

Post a reply to this message

Case <p.k### [at] shcvutcz> wrote:
: Port to Java with
: same features (same API) can only make JPovRay platform independend

  But povray is already platform independent! (And surely it can be ported
to more platforms than java programs can)

: As I mentioned, our main goal is use distributed computing (one of main
: benefits)

  There are versions of povray that do distributed rendering, and I'm sure
that they are a lot faster than a java version would be.

: translate source to components, open to everybody, so that
: programmers can focused only for adding specific features without
: looking at whole source code.

  I think this is better done with C++.

  Besides, in C++ you have some handy things not available in Java, like
templates (and STL!), multiple inheritance, operator overloading, etc.
(Yes, I know that java coders can tell a hundred and one reasons why those
features are "not needed" or even "dangerous", but don't bother, I have heard
all of them but still find them really handy (specially templates).)

  Btw, a little problem (just for curiosity, not for flaming): Make a
generic swap-function in Java :)
  The C++ version would be something like:

template<typename T>
void Swap(T& p1, T& p2)
{ T tmp=p1; p1=p2; p2=tmp; }

-- 
main(i,_){for(_?--i,main(i+2,"FhhQHFIJD|FQTITFN]zRFHhhTBFHhhTBFysdB"[i]
):5;i&&_>1;printf("%s",_-70?_&1?"[]":" ":(_=0,"\n")),_/=2);} /*- Warp -*/

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