[Bf-funboard] Particles system rewrite?
Ton Roosendaal
bf-funboard@blender.org
Thu, 14 Aug 2003 12:35:23 +0200
Hi,
> =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 1. Vortexes
> =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 2. Jitter value for almost every value
> =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 3. Key framing for all values
> =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 4. The amount of particles be based on a "flow" =
value,
> =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 5. Uniform distribution of particles
> =A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 6. Gravitons, Fans, etc.
A nice listing!
Most of these features *could* be implemented within the context of the =20=
current code, with some major and some minor changes. But such =20
decisions are not really relevant, more important is who'll do it. If =20=
we can get a motivated person or team maintaining this part of Blender, =20=
a complete rewrite might give them a much better control over the code =20=
and features anyway... the best code still is the code you write =20
yourself, right!? :)
The current system was initiatally written in just a couple of days, =20
and later on extended with new features (like 'static' particles for =20
hair). I am not too happy with it either, especially its relationship & =20=
integration with the rest of Blender lacks some depth.
There's also the important topic of memory consumption, and having a =20
system that can be evaluation at any timeframe (as opposed to needing =20=
to do it in forward timesteps). The choice for keypositions in Blender =20=
particles is based on that.
And - not to forget - finding a way to have it all more realtime & =20
interactive, both to serve it as a tool, as for playback in realtime 3d.
For me the most relevant part of the discussion is getting a decent =20
design doc, describing the way it integrates in Blender (database, =20
objects, python, constraints) and the functionality & interface at user =20=
level. I am more than willing to assist & advise on this, and help =20
doing some icky parts of the coding related to lowlevel Blender stuff =20=
(extending DNA data, file read/write) if needed.
Looks like at least 2 people (Martin & Timothy) are interested to work =20=
on this; what were your ideas for how to attack this topic? I can open =20=
a new discussion forum at the funboard project site? It can also be =20
done like many blender features have been developed in the past, with a =20=
few major concepts in mind just start coding, and forward itterating it =20=
towards a useful system. But that's more something to use Tuhopuu for...
-Ton-
------------------------------------------------------------------------=20=
--
Ton Roosendaal Blender Foundation ton@blender.org =20
http://www.blender.org