[Bf-committers] spaceball patch 3688

[Jean-Luc Peurière]

Le 2 mars 06 à 05:19, Stealth Apprentice a écrit :

> Hi Blender developers,
>
> A few weeks ago, Luke said my patch 3688 would be
> discussed on a Sunday meeting, but I haven't heard
> anything about it.
>
> A few people are using the patch successfully, and I
> have improved the functionality quite a bit based on
> user feedback; it works with USB and serial
> spaceballs.
>
> The 3dxware SDK works properly on Linux, although I am
> not able to test Blender on Linux myself, and can't
> provide the GPL-safe plugin. One Mac user has
> contacted me because apparently there is a Mac
> specific 3d spacemouse as well.
>
> I am getting a steady stream of email inquiries about
> it, and I'm hoping it might make it into CVS in time
> for the next Blender release.
>
> Please let me know the current status!
>

Sorrry, i was sure i had answered on the tracker.

After short discussion, it was concluded that patch wont be
included, because even with the non GPL code
in a separate plugin, we still cannot distribute the plugin with
blender.

outside of the sunday meeting my views on that patch :

Even if the plugin must be downloaded separately from a
separate site from blender, there is still some problems :

- this patch is tied to a specific vendor/hardware/platform
- this is very specific and not common as say a tablet or joystick.
  those should come first or at the same time.
- the settings are hardwired which means extending to other
   peripherals may be a problem.

On the coding side, i have nothing to say, it is rather nice.

As i said on tracker, the right solution is to take advantage of the
HID and discoveries capabilities of USB to add to GHOST generic
application side drivers. That means you need to be configurable.
this would phase out serial devices, but that is a start.

I'm willing to work on GHOST and even started some stuff, but
without a coder to take care of the X11 side, (and windows,
but this is less a problem), i cannot go anywhere.

Part of your work can be used as a base.