3Dsmax on linux

[Aearon]

this is so speculative.. it can't even be considered speculation ;)

well the rumours that max will get a rewrite and major overhaul still persist, despite R6.. with a rewrite and a new api it's likely to become a multi-platform app... the old api is the main reason for all the old bugs and non-portability you know

[halo]

there is also a rumour that discreet had max running v4 or 5 on linux but wouldnt release it...

[Marsel Khadiyev]

Max's interface is written from scratch in win32 api, meaning that it exploits the very core of windows. Porting something like that to Linux would require a nearly complete re-write of the GUI.

At that point Discreet would need to keep supporting two different GUI's for every release (unless they would want to create a common re-write and create a completely new Max full of new bugs, and yes Win32 and GTK are totally different).

Most of production studios use NT stations (or Windows-based), and porting to Linux/SunOS/BSD would be a waste of resources from every standpoint. The only time Linux is usually used is for renderfarms (where stability and easy pipeline maitenance is required).

Perhaps releasing just a network renderer for Unix-based machines would be a better idea.

My $0.02

[Aearon]

thanks for some more clearing up marsel :)

i think you're right in that discreet customers probable have pipeline that's mostly based on NT machines.. but outside of the 3dsmax realm there are a lot of big studios that are using linux for major parts of their pipeline already.

this matching discreets policies exactly... they rely on their existing consumer base to sell upgrades, they don't make a lot of money selling new licences.. but if they want to get new customers in the future a multi-platform release will be inevitable, don't you think?

judging from past rumours and recent siggraph rumours i think a completely new release is most likely...with all it's advantages and disadvantages. but let's not stare at the crystal ball for too long ;)

[Marsel Khadiyev]

fist: you're correct. You never know which ways industry is going to expand, but like you said yourself speculation is subjective.

I guess Discreet have learned to 'stay real' and deal with current issues, not future ones.

[Aearon]

current issues.. well one way to see it that the current issue is all the bugs that are still in the app.. but it's really just a house of cards that will collapse if they just incorporate new plug-ins and keep trying to fix bugs. they will have to start working at the base to find a real solution for the future.

it's like that old saying 'don't change a winning team'...it only works as long as the situation around you doesn't change (ie new operating systems gaining popularity, other packages porting over). viewed this way i'd say the 'current issue' is the old bloated core which is rumoured to cause a lot of the stability problems and prevents them from porting to other operating systems...discreet must decide which route to go down now :shrug:

they really stabbed them selves in the back when they decided to go with with the unportable win32 api, but who could have known better back then :wip:

[Marsel Khadiyev]

>> they really stabbed them selves in the back when they decided to go with with the unportable win32 api

Just to respond to this point, Win32 api is what makes Max as fast as it is. From what I hear, Maya's interface is slower than Max's. I'm guessing that is because Maya uses a cross-platform converter for their GUI while compiling.

On a second though, re-making Max's core with all the new STL technologies would speed it up even more.

As for the rest of you points, AMEN ! :)

Marsel

[Aearon]

;)

ust to respond to this point, Win32 api is what makes Max as fast as it is. From what I hear, Maya's interface is slower than Max's. I'm guessing that is because Maya uses a cross-platform converter for their GUI while compiling.

hm i haven't viewed it from this side yet.. i don't have a lot of insight into this topic, but it sure makes sense that you'd have to make some sacrifices with a cross-plattform api because you can't use all the specific advantages of each o/s (as in directx is slower than glide ;) )

again: we'll have to wait and see what they do... afterall we're talking about the release that comes after the one that is to be released over the coming weeks/months ;)

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