As for linux command line vs. POV-Ray for Windows(TM) vs. KDE modeller vs.
that python thing that's out there, I have an opinion, based on hundreds of
hours poured into "big animation projects" done with many of the above
systems.

I really like the use of linux's KATE (KDE Advanced Text Editor) as my text
editor. It does more for instantaneous debugging of SDL (with color-coded
text, counting brackets, etc.) than anything else I've seen, including the
windows editor. Now if only I didn't have to keep going to shell to hit the
up arrow key and return.  But even then, the most efficient work flow I find
is to code-while-animating. Run a low-res animation and keep making saved
changes to your SDL every 90 seconds.


I instigated the Short Code Contests with the purpose of making an
evangelistic tract for povray.  One motivation was seeing the main
povray.org website being taken over by a splash page with an exhaustively
photorealistic rendering of a Poser swimsuit model.  My thoughts were that
if a nonbeliever were to see *that* at the highest form of what pov could
do, you'd be utterly bored.  Oh boy, yet another replacement for the
raytracing engine of Poser, et al., or a replacement renderer for models
made in those $$$$-ware apps. Ho hum.  That you COULD use models
professionally made in Maya overshadows the extremely cool stuff you can do
in povray SDL itself.   That splash page also spoke to the ongoing elbow
fight (perhaps more bitter a one than Windows vs. Mac) between "fun with
visual communication" and "pedantically exhaustive photorealism."

Again, I say show someone that swimsuit poser girl and then show them the
typical winner of a SCC, explaining what's involved in making each image,
and then see how fast each one runs to your download page.


One answer to "why can't someone put on a contest that..."  is always "Why
don't YOU put one on?"  I started my own SCC, and then eventually Paul
Bourke ran on with one of his own.

Disclaimer: I am one of those hand-coder only folks.



"swampie" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> If you read the upsurge of comments about POVCOMP 2004, a question was left
> unanswered. Can you have a contest that uses POV, just POV, and ONLY POV?
> Several comments by the artist in the contest admit using numerous software
> packages. I believe POV-RAY will only be truely rung out during a POV only
> contest. This should be an opportunity to gain significant feedback for the
> advancement of POV-RAY.
>
> Comments Please?

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