3d – the megastructure development blog http://blog.megastructure.org tracking construction of megaprojects Sun, 23 Dec 2018 15:54:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.2 NoiseViewer Version 1.8: leaping to the third dimension http://blog.megastructure.org/2009/08/noiseviewer-version-1-8-leaping-to-the-third-dimension/ Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:47:50 +0000 http://blog.megastructure.org/?p=75 The NoiseViewer has been improved once again. Today’s version brings 3D pattern generation capability. Albeit a simple implementation, but nonetheless a start.

Building in 3D is available by choosing the “Boxes” layer type, and clicking “Change base”. (Boxes are not available as a sub-layer.) Here is a screenshot of the boxes in action. Here, their widths are controlled by an underlying Noise layer:
Improved noise-driven boxes

And here, we see noise driving two variables: width and height. This demonstrates how future layers will have a multitude of variables, each allowing a plug-in style approach to building complex patterns.

Improved noise-driven boxes with height

This version has also been built in Release mode for the first time (Windows). Among other things, performance gains a significant boost.

A great deal of code has been refactored, including the XML writer/reader. Please note that older XML files will not load in this version.

In order to download this latest version, see the information and download page.

]]> NoiseViewer, version 1.75 http://blog.megastructure.org/2009/08/noiseviewer-version-1-75/ Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:37:19 +0000 http://blog.megastructure.org/?p=45 Overview of version 1.75

Certain breakthroughs have led us to a plethora of new and amazing noise! We have made the leap from continuous noise to discrete noise patterns, which will help us later.

Here is a nice island, which is trivial to make in the latest version:

nice islands

(XML)

And here are some shots of discrete noise:

Squareland

Squareland2

(XML)

Discrete layers (like the squares and circles) are exciting because they represent actual structural entities in the future Megastructure simulation.

And if that wasn’t enough for this version, Wolfgang fixed XML input and output on OS X, as well as a number of annoying visual bugs! Due to a “CTRL” button issue on mac, we also added right-click as an alternative way to zoom in and out of the image.

Features on the way

The upcoming immediate goals are:

  • Easy image output
  • More layer types
  • Beginning 3D layers built on top of discrete layer types

Standard boilerplate

From what I understand of the licenses, I am allowed to use these libraries. Please understand that the code and programs linked to below are provided “as-is”. Also note that running any program found on the internet carries risk, and the responsible user always scans for viruses, etc.

Click and drag to pan the current layer. Right-click-drag or CTRL+click-and-drag adjusts the zoom level. Shift+click-and-drag adjusts the current layer’s selected parameter.

Compiled executable (Windows, ~379KB): NoiseViewer_v1.75.zip

Source code, libraries and projects (Visual Studio 2008/OS X, ~4,277KB): NoiseViewerSource1.75.zip

Feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

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