Request for New Forum Topic: 3D Java

[L Foster]

Hello, Ranch Office.
First, I have used Java Ranch for many years (first, in 2003). Lately, I am trying to get more involved, and give something back.

In doing so, I noticed there is no forum specific to 3D in Java. There is a games forum, but 3D is not just for games. I know, one of the big kickers for it nowadays is the availability of Android gaming, but there are other uses.

The kinds of things I would like to see in such a forum would be the technologies available for 3D, based on the Java programming language, techniques within those technologies, and problems encountered when using those technologies.

You would be in a better position than I to know if there is enough traffic around Java + 3D, to warrant adding such a forum. So, just consider this a suggestion.

One final note: there is a technology called Java3D, which means the name of the forum would have to be carefully constructed to avoid confusion.

Thank You

[paul wheaton]

I was kinda hoping that somebody else on the staff would jump on this one.

We have upgraded our forum software to support more forums. So, part of that would be to create more forums.

I think this would be a good start.

There are three things we need to create a new forum:

1) Somebody on staff that is willing to nurture the forum.

2) Somebody that is keen on the topic that is willing to nurture the forum (that would be you).

3) Ten threads to start the forum. There are three ways to do this:

3.1) start a new thread

3.2) find a thread somewhere else on the ranch that:

3.2.1) should be moved to the new forum, or

3.2.2) could be set up to be in the original forum AND the new forum.



I'll go fishing to find somebody to fill #1.

It sounds like you will be #2.

If you can make a list of ten thread URLs and/or subject lines (for new threads) that will satisfy #3.

[L Foster]

@Paul,
Thanks for your time. Here's a thread I started yesterday, or day before, that is very specific to 3D Java. I placed it in some general forum, because a 3D one did not exist.

https://coderanch.com/t/659622/java/java/Development-Java#3061532

Here's another that could exist in both Android and 3D.

https://coderanch.com/t/652167/Android/Mobile/order-Game-Android#3061531

I say this, because Android uses OpenGL ES, which differs little, conceptually, from the JOGL OpenGL that is available elsewhere in the world of Java. It has some limitations, I think.

I hope that helps. It might also be nice to see a thread that helps people to discern what version of OpenGL are available on what platforms. This is one of those things that gets people scouring and scrounging to figure out. Mac OSX is especially problematic, because they recently got off their lard, so to speak, re: OpenGL. And the reason it is so vital to know, is the twofold problem of: 1) your code has to run wherever it goes, or you break WORA, and 2) JOGL runs on top of OpenGL, and one doesn't want C/C++ code getting unfair estimation of later currency, when things should be possible from JOGL as well.

Oh, another possibility for a thread, is that there are wholly new concepts in 3D coming down the pike. They are out there enough, that I have only heard about them from colleagues, and not been pressed to research them myself.

[Karthik Shiraly]

L.Foster,

Have a couple of cows for for your excellent suggestion!

I have created a new forum Graphics and 3D Programming under Engineering, where members can discuss graphics and 3D techniques and frameworks, for engineering software and for games.

Whenever you find the time, may I suggest writing up an FAQ and any other articles that you think will help, as wikis in this forum.
To make it a wiki, start a "New topic" and check "Wiki" > "This is a Wiki page" at the bottom of the textbox .

Thank you again for the suggestion. I'm looking forward to learning some graphics and 3D hacks myself!