[Bf-committers] Thoughts on Plugins...

Campbell Barton cbarton at metavr.com
Tue Jun 21 01:27:45 CEST 2005


Austin Benesh wrote:

> Jonathan Merritt wrote:
>
>> Bart wrote:
>>
>>  
>>
>>> What about making a plugin that uses shading language (Yafray, OpenGL
>>> Shading Language) definied in a shaderfile?
>>>
>>> Example:
>>> - you got a material named "Custom Shader"
>>> - first you browse to a file (may ASCII) where the shader algorithm,
>>> name,
>>>    properties and customizable options (color, hardness etc.) are
>>> definied
>>> - after loading the file you got sliders and input fields to cutomize
>>> the shader
>>>   
>>
>>
>>
>> I agree; this is the basic approach I would take for a shader API.
>>
>> However, I would split the task into two different levels...
>>
>> In the Blender API, I would have *just* the bits required for the GUI
>> and the input and output of the shader.  Forget about shading language
>> details at this point.  Just have it set up as a C ABI that a plugin
>> must fulfil.
>>
>> You then have the option of coding shaders in C/C++, or of implementing
>> a shading virtual machine to execute compiled RenderMan or GLSL shaders,
>> or a shade-tree structure, or ... whatever.  You have complete freedom
>> from a particular standard.
>>
>> The reason for doing this is that the size of the tasks such as setting
>> up the API and integrating it into Blender's existing renderer pale in
>> comparison with the task of actually *implementing* a full shader VM
>> (just ask Paul Gregory!).  I would suggest re-using (for example) the
>> relatively modular VM from a project such as Aqsis and splitting it off
>> as a separate library.  It's a really big job though.  I expect most
>> people would opt for just coding shaders in straight C, or perhaps a
>> Java backend...
>>
>> Jonathan Merritt.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Bf-committers at projects.blender.org
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>>
>>  
>>
> I agree with Jonathan on this matter. The basic plugin API would need 
> to be written first. All it should include is an interface between the 
> plugin and the few Blender options that will be modified. As for 
> interface options, all the user really needs are a couple of slider 
> bars to edit the options. Improving the plugin API will take a little 
> while, but this is a good first step.
>

Have a look at this post, is similar- and may get implimented sometime.

Would leverage on existing skills in the python community and not be 
overly hard to add in to blenders rendering engine.
http://www.blender.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=6332&highlight=eva
- Cam


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