[Bf-committers] Meeting notes august 17 2003

[Ton Roosendaal]

irc.freenode.net #blendercoders, aug 17, 21-23 CEST

Agenda:

      * 1. ps2
      * 2. game engine
      * 3. tracker policy
      * 4. python menus
      * 5. interface.c API
      * 6. feature request policy
      * 7. conference

1. ps2

    Larstiq wanted to know if PS2-linux would be a platform to officially
    support & make releases for.
    Myrkraverk is currently working on a ps2 port, and although he's  
positive
    about it, there are no results yet to mention. Decisions on this  
moved
    to a later date, when we have feedback from ps2 users and coders.

2. game engine

    Ton wanted to have roadmap confirmed; this is what we agree on:
    (assuming we have Solid back before 2.3 release)
    - 2.29/2.30: besides reviving Solid, no substantial changes are
      done in bf-blender engine. Aim is to have a 2.25 compatible engine
      in 2.30.
    - when 2.30 is out, we make final decisions on roadmap how to  
continue.
    - old 2.04 engine ('enji') could be easily added (as 2nd engine  
option),
      there are some doubts on it, decisions on it postponed.
    - if Solid is back soon, tuhopuu can be used for immediate work on  
engine,
      like integrating ODE, spatial optimizing, etc.
    Main reasons for this, is to have at least one (compatible) release  
we
    can base documentation on. (2.3 book)
    It also opens up possibility to keep selling GameKit, and not include
    that in 2.3 book.
    (BTW: no official Solid release date confirmed yet)

3. tracker policy

    For evaluating reports in the Tracker, Ton prepared a list to help  
making
    decisions. Will be emailed to this mailing list separately.
    Everyone agreed on the list.
    Ton will include/explain this at 'submit bug' page.
    New: from now on login will be a requirement for reporting to tracker

4. Python menus

    Ianwill suggests ideas for allowing python to link in / have control
    of the events. This inspired by Maya's Mel, also to allow making  
user-
    defined hotkeys and combos.
    Ton says for after 2.3; because it needs quite some low level coding  
in
    internal event system. Agreed on. Further discussions on this via  
this
    mailing list.

5. interface.c API

    Link: http://www.madprof.net/working/interface-api.htm
    In general positive reactions on this, will be taken in account for  
the
    "big" 2.30 interface makeover.
    Discussion moved quickly to how to (re)structure the code... should  
the
    Blender UI kit be able to use for other projects? Moved to Ghost?
    Many ideas, no decisions... :) Let's wait for elaborate proposals.

6. feature request policy

    Not a clear discussion... but it was meant to find out how patches
    will be evaluated.
    Big things can always be done in tuhopuu first, little things just  
commit.
    Best always to ask lists first (funboard).

7. conference!

    Hopefully at de Waag, where it was held last time. Here there are  
limits
    on number of people though, 125-150 max. Person in charge there was
    away for the week. Ton says massive ammount of work needed, including
    personnel: "1-2 sysadms/technicians, 1-2 coordinators for
    lunch/shop/doorwatch, and 1 coordinator program". Also a sponsor for
    computer systems. Some offers of help. 50 euros entrance fee  
mentioned.
    Hopefully for the second half of October (1 year after open source
    launch).
    Much discussion about what to do for an artists program. Worries  
about
    attracting 400+ people or some such. Timothy will check with  
university
    Eindhoven for space too.
    A program could include talks on opengl2 shaders, Cg, Solid,  
bugfixing,
    masterclasses by powerusers, etc.
    Ton will report back on it asap.

(thanks to madprof's notes, which were used for these minutes)

Next meeting; sunday 25th, 16-18 CEST (GMT 14, Sao Paulo 11, EDST 10,   
PDST 7,  Sydney 24)


-Ton-

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--
Ton Roosendaal  Blender Foundation ton@blender.org  
http://www.blender.org