PDA

View Full Version : Cool way to handle scripting

rendermania
01-21-2005, 02:03 PM
We've had a bunch of discussions about visual coding etc before (the proper term seems to be 'VPL' or Visual Programming Language). I've been googling around for good examples of software that uses such scripting, and found this among others that are slightly more quirky/obscure:

http://www.codemorphis.com/

Its called 'Synopsis 1.1' and is a tool for building Windows application graphically (there's a time limited demo on the site as well). The company that makes this was founded by someone who's worked at Discreet and Softimage before.

An even better example is the VPL in Virtools, which is practically impossible to demo though since Virtools only ships out eval CDs on request (e.g. no downloadable demo on their site) and the software is a bit on the expensive side.

Most important I think is that conventional programming structures like looping, branching etc are preserved graphically. Its also similar to Xpresso or Virtools in that you can pack up whole blocks of code and turn them into a single node with a few input/output ports.

It would be cool if Xpresso got a little bit away from the idea of 'visual expression building' and were turned more into a proper VPL with program start and end points, conventional looping and branching, variables/arrays and similar structures and more flow control if you like. Xpresso does a lot of this stuff in its own way with condition nodes, iterators and what not, but I'd love to see it get to the point where it looks and feels more like a standard VPL with a script start point, if/then sort of nodes, branching, loop control etc.
Per-Anders
01-21-2005, 02:51 PM
xpresso has if/then nodes and loop control. i think you just need to get to know it better. despite it's many shortfallings it's actually probably the best node based expression coding for 3d app system out there (even hdn users love it).
LucentDreams
01-21-2005, 03:55 PM
xpresso is sitll pretty much V1, and yet as Saide said, its one of the best (at least in 3D apps) and has a lot more control then I thnk many give it credit for. That said, being V1 there is still loads of improvement that can be done on it was well.

The only thing from that app that I even noted as being something to consider was the drop list type xpression. one nice thing I've noted particularily from messiah is how many xpressions are done in this simplistic A->B-> sentence sort of structure like "select" "type" "hypernurbs"
rendermania
01-21-2005, 04:23 PM
The most powerful VPL implementation I've seen in any 3D app is the one in Virtools. Not altogether surprising perhaps given that the heart and soul of that app is interactive content authoring - pretty much everything you do with Virtools is visual programming centric - but their system is fast, powerful and quite readable visually. Good enough to develop commercial quality games with (they also have the equivalent of a 'Coffee node' which lets you create a custom nodes using the C++ like Virtools Scripting Language or build stuff like HLSL shaders).

I'm sure that Xpresso will only grow better and more powerful with time. It is still V1 as Kai pointed out. It needs to have a good editor with quick access to system parameters, variables, arrays and one that's suitable for building complex algorithms. The sort of expressions you typically use to do stuff like complex rigging or constrain various things are just the tip of the iceberg of things a good VPL lets you accomplish. It can be brought to the level where you can literally build your own animation, modeling and rendering tools visually without ever leaving the 3D app.
LucentDreams
01-21-2005, 04:50 PM
personally I find for a tools I'd rather write a script ala mel then use nodes ala hypergraph.


The visual stuff is more for connecting and driving and such, a good marco system is more ideal for building and creating.

You should check out Houdini though, its an entirely procedural system of nodes even for modeling I think you'd like it. I found there are a few drawnig quirks pending on your graphics card and such in terms of actually visual quality but the powers in houdini is undeniable. Just that an entire node is sort of difficult for a lot of users.
CGTalk Moderation
01-21-2006, 05:00 PM
This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.