[Bf-committers] spaceball patch 3688

[Stealth Apprentice]

A little research turns up libusb as a cross-platform
method of accessing USB. I've done some testing
libusb-win32, and it can see the device (and my
joysticks, mice, etc)

libusb is licensed under LGPL. 

Does it sound okay to everyone to pursue a libusb
based solution?

(To Ed's comment, using it in Blender is really fun.
You can navigate the scene almost unconsciously while
you work. When positioning objects you find yourself
tweaking the position & the view simultaneously.)


--- Ed Halley <ed at halley.cc> wrote:

> 
> And lastly, the Space Ball is not as uncommon as one
> might think.  I 
> believe the company where I work has about 200~300
> units, as most of the 
> engineers swear by them for CAD.
> 
> Stealth Apprentice wrote:
> > Thanks for the response.
> > 
> > This gives me some ideas for further development.
> > 
> > I would be happy to work on eliminating all
> > non-GPL'ness and the need for the plugin.
> > 
> > 1. On Linux it is easy to use the device in a
> cross
> > platform way by simply opening the device; the SDK
> is
> > not required. Windows would require a bit more
> > research.
> > 
> > 2. The settings are not hard wired; they are
> > controlled from Blender's preferences. The
> original
> > version of the patch had hard wired settings, but
> not
> > the current version.
> > 
> > 3. Making it work with a Joystick would be very
> easy.
> > I can have a look at that in order to sweeten the
> > appeal of my patch for all users.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- Jean-Luc Peuri�re <jlp at nerim.net> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >>Le 2 mars 06 � 05:19, Stealth Apprentice a
> �crit
> > 
> > :
> > 
> >>>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.
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>Bf-committers mailing list
> >>Bf-committers at projects.blender.org
> >>
> > 
> >
>
http://projects.blender.org/mailman/listinfo/bf-committers
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> > 
> > 
> 
> -- 
> [ e d @ h a l l e y . c c ]
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