CODE WARS!:Would you guys like to have CG CODING challenges?(CALL FOR PARTICIPATION!)

#61

Coding challenges are hard to validate and coming up with a comon goal is also hard unless it is some of Shader programming. If it was a teamed up between an artist and programmers then it is worth the effort. For me it is the time, I work more than 8 hours a day so it has to be something that could be done after the work. A simple Mod, Demo, shader effect etc… would be nice topic.

#62

This one might be a little reaching… but I like it none the less.
Subdivision surfaces in character animation

Easier to implement:
Real-Time Halftoning: A Primitive for Non-Photorealistic Shading

One thing about going from academic papers. There’s no quantifiable criteria to judge the papers, so it becomes difficult to judge whether or not the paper is even worthy, let alone attempt to set up a challenge for it.

IMO, set up a challenge that might ‘just happen’ to include subject matter from a paper, but not depend on it as the sole source of information.

#63

For now, I am thinking of stating with something simple and them AMP UP the complexity level as the challenges progress.

I was thinking we could start with a procedural shading challenge.

ALL mayor 3d apps support procedural shaders (and some game engines)
And since we are talking about shaders, the developer could even release them to the forum after he or she is done (this of course would be voluntary).

Some of the criteria I had in mind is…

  • Features
  • Implementation

One thing I could request is for the developer to RECORD himself (demo style) showing his implementation of the code. he leading software for doing these video tutorials, Camtasia offers a one month demo version. And there are freeware alternatives.

-R

#64

Okay I think Ill go live soon with this as an experiment.

BTW any objections with the video tutorial proposal?

-R

#65

Not sure, I had thought about the idea in the past, but it never made it high enough on my priorities list. :slight_smile:

#66

I think the video proposal is not particularly useful. What could anyone benefit from watching someone type in numbers and move sliders around? Especially if it’s going to be a shader and most of the implementations won’t allow realtime feedback? It’d be better if they wrote an expalnation/tutorial, or do something like Fast Foward at Siggraph, where you give the author a limited ammount of space to explain their implementation and application; like 50 or 100 words.

#67

ohh never tried making a shader, never used the vex ops in houdini - first time for everything.

eek

#68

I think it’s more of a way to prove that you’re in fact the person who wrote the code, and didn’t just grab it from some site.

-b

#69

And it would help us evaluate that:

A. it works
b. How elegant is your implementation
c. Seeing the features of your plug at work.

I have used programs like Camtasia, and doing videos is a snap.

-R

#70

My english is not the best so i am not really shure what you mean Roberto .
a) make a video of writting the code
b) make a video of how to use the plugin/shader whatever

Sven

#71

A UI group here at the university uses it for testing. Seems decent.

#72

The videos could be done WITH or WITHOUT narration.

If you do it without narration, just add a one or two paragraph description of what we are seeing.

-R

#73

I’m just getting into the conversation here. It seems like a video would not totally prove who actually wrote the program, but if that is the rule then I guess that will be the rule. I think it should be mandatory that all entrants submit there code for public viewing.

BTW, I’m in! :thumbsup: I also like the idea someone posted about a artist/programmer team.

#74

“WHAT!?! You mean other people, as in, human beings other than myself, would be subjected to my coding style?!?” :twisted:

#75

How about GIVING AN OPTION…

The CODE (and maybe the compiled plug in) or the VIDEO

And if you submit the code you HAVE TO submit screenshots of the code working.

-R

#76

Heh, this is making itself more and more complicated. How about we start with something simple exercises. We see how those go then improve from there. Right now we’re speculating WAY too much.

The simple exercises would come in handy too. We can set them up so they’re cumulative.

Would enyone be interested in this before we start going about doing challenges?

#77

Good point.

What kind of exercises do you have in mind?

-R

#78

Here’s an example.

Given an OBJ file (The exercise starter supplies one). Write a program that will display it in 3D. This has the option of being real-time, but doesn’t have to be.

Restrictions:

You have to write your own file-loader. Load it into a data structure you define. Render it to image file or screen using whatever rendering method you wish. The idea here is to focus on working with 3D data, what are good ways to read it in, what are good ways of storing it, and what are good ways of sending it to a render method.

OBJ is an easy format, every 3d coder has used it at some point since its so simple.

This can be make “Daily Sketch”-like, but will most likely need more time. Participants can post their code for comments and critique, or just screenshots of their results.

This sound like any good?
-b

#79

Any new word?

#80

well thats not the kind of challenge/exercise i would like to see :sad:
I do only scripting (Hscript) and shader writting(vex) so sdk / c++ stuff wouldnt be the kind of challenge i would join.

Sven