I just felt like it. I had 10 minutes to lose and I felt like I had to summarize the things I wanted but did not find in Java 3D 1.3. In fact I believe I like this API a lot but I also think it is usable like Java 1.02: you have the basics but you can't really make a product out of it.
So here is the list of my complaints. Let me know if you have some more entries as I wish to implements some new stuff and I feel like losing some time on your ideas for nothing (well, maybe not that much nothing).
Sun Website and documentation: No opensource licensing No future plans for 1.4 No command line properties listing Poor matrix documentation Website is not up to date (bad links...)
Missing features: Integration in JDK 1.5 No shadows (OpenGL vertex shaders and the like, or even full shadows...) No asynchronous renderer Poor sound implementation Poor boundings (no polygons...) No volume intersection (constructive geometry, extrusion...) No benchmarks specifics for 3D No nurbs No geometry or terrrain collision No built in support for networking (or at least in the samples) Vecmath (not Java syntax compliant) No overlays (at least a sample but a whole library should perhaps be implemented) No avatar system (this entry should perhaps be in the extension section below)
Missing support: Loader repository Input devices repository Behaviors repository Avatar repository (perhaps third parties with animations and gestures) Models and animation repository (perhaps third parties)
Would be extensions (not API but full software) (supported third parties entrusted by sun): Terrain builder (much like the Java3D Fly but for terrain) Character builder (design custom avatars) Object builder (definitely third parties task) Real physics system
Well, the list is so impressive I really feel like Java3D is really like only a peeble on the mountain. I wish people at Sun a lot of fun if they want to continue satisfying us. Next months will probably be capital. Good luck to me too, spending hours on the peeble, blind not to see the mountain anymore.
Regards.
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Silvere Martin-Michiellot builds the Internet future on www.digitalbiosphere.com __________________________________________________________________________________________
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