The scenegraph-"capabilities" of Java3D are more debilating than of any use.
I couldn't disagree more, it's java3ds scene graph stuff that makes it worth using in spite of any other short comings. Not having to worry about the low level stuff (transparency sorting etc) means you can worry about what really makes your system worth implementing
I´m sorry that I have to insist on my opinion and I can't agree with you. I don't see the point, why using scene graphs makes your life easier!?! First, I thought that scene graphs are fine. But now, where I can compare the Java3D code with the (ported) OpenGL code, I see that OpenGL code is shorter and very clear. To solve a certain issue in Java3D I need twice as much code in Java3D than in OpenGL. Concerning transparency: As far as I know, Java3D can't do depth-sorted drawing. But even if it can, there should be no problem adapting known algorithms to Java with OpenGL bindings. Apart from that one can influece the depth buffer in OpenGL (but not from within Java3D because the access of OpenGL functions is not allowed). Thus I have to rely on a depth-sorting (transparency) implementation I cant adapt ........
-introduce a real high-level api, which supports VRML, 3D file loaders, advanced intersection, NURBS and what else
see com.sun.loaders package and j3d.orgs list of loaders, generic loaders only work if you have some common format to load the objects into, in this case, the scene graph, yet another reason to have one. VRML loaders for j3d exist, *most* 3d applications don't use it, not saying thats good or bad, just that most don't.
Okay, I think you are right. There are loaders for different formats for Java3D! .... on the other hand, source is available for many Loaders for OpenGL (okay, most are in C or whatever)
-low-level access to OpenGL or DirectX
As I understand it this is in/planed for j3d 1.4 .... eventually
Eventually ..... thats the point. I don´t know what Sun will do in the future and thus I don't know, when the feature I need is available! ... I´m dependent on Sun :(((
But as long as I´m not sure what sun has planned for the future, I will use OpenGL-bindings. Even if Sun stops Java3D I can continue my work and I believe there will always be a OpenGL binding available!
What I would like to see is a java3d like scene graph that means I can port my existing code over the top of jogl easily, for now I'm sticking to java3d as it does what I want (and from what I've read lots of others agree with me), it *seems* that 1.3.x bug fixes may appear still even before we know when/what is going on with j3d 1.4 (other than 'it's in a holding pattern')
Yaa, you are right. A scenegraph on top of a binding would be nice. But that scenegraph has to be complete and extendable. (not that indication of a scene graph Java3D uses!)
Maybe, maybe not ..... but why should I risk to sink :)))
I think too many people are eager to jump ship even though this one isn't sinking (yet?), it's just going to be a while before the shiny new ships ready.
Greetings
MisterXen
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