Thursday, July 28, 2011

Work completed 07/21 - 07/27

Set up a new Wigwam project based on the pCSDT application framework.  This involves the following:

1.  Set up new project called WW with proper references to the Core library that contains the code for pCSDT.
2.  Define a new class called WigwamEngine that extends PEngineOgl (from core) which detects the new classes representing objects to be drawn, Arc and Torus.
3.  Define a new class called WigwamGui that extends PGuiOgl (from core) which creates the gui environment and holds a reference to the WigwamEngine object.

Currently working on overriding the Draw() method of PEngineOgl that will contain logic for drawing the grid Wigwam application.  This was discussed in yesterday's meeting.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Work completed 07/14 - 07/20

Incorporated functionality for producing semi-circular arcs (an enhancement to the existing functionality that produces parabolic arcs in the wigwam applet).  The idea is to utilize this functionality for producing bucky balls. However, coincident with this, embarking on an effort to port the wigwam applet to the pCSDT application framework and to create bucky ball functionality within that environment, as well.

Met with Jed Williams on campus on Monday, 07/18.  Discussed his application, the break dancer applet and its design, given it is built within the pCSDT application framework.  The design is based around 3 major ideas:  first, there is a gui class that extends a framework gui class that establishes the container frame and initializes gui settings; second there is an engine that provides the functionality for objects to be managed and programmed within the pCSDT framework, and third, there are the application-specific objects themselves to be managed within the environment (e.g., the human class and the torus class are both objects of this type within the break dancer).

Next steps include the following:

1.  Port the wigwam applet into the pCSDT application framework.  This involves recreating the grid display, arc production, and arc removal within the context of the pCSDT platform.

2.  Build the functionality for creating tori in the pCSDT application framework in order to support building bucky balls.  Some questions around this issue exist:  Should this functionality be built using the same grid display backdrop that exists for the wigwams?  Or should it be totally separate?  This begs the question of what the students are supposed to be doing with the bucky balls - does the software provide a model for some real-life production of a bucky ball much like the wigwam applet provides coordinates for creating model wigwams?  What aspects of the bucky ball functionality should be programmable?

3.  Make the wigwam functionality programmable.  Questions here include what aspects should be programmable?  One idea is to provide the user the ability to set a number of arcs and an angle between them and then the software automatically creates the defined number of arcs spaced according to the input angle.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Update 07/18/2011

Incorporated functionality to produce circular arcs in the wigwam applet (as opposed to parabolic arcs).  This update leverages current code for parabolic arcs, including transformations for 3d support, but replaces points approximating a parabolic arc with equations for points for a circular arc.  Also, incorporated detailed documentation explaining both the logic for creating points for parabolic arc and for circular arcs.


Next, need to incorporate buttons in gui for segregating creation of circular arcs (eventually to support bucky balls) from the original functionality for creating parabolic arcs (supporting wigwams).

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Work completed 07/07 - 07/13

Working on leveraging existing code to create new circles within context of a separate project.  Having issues making the graphic (circle) appear on the screen.  This must be a setting within the JOGL environment that I'm missing.  Have been working on this, again, mostly trying to use existing code from Wigwam applet class (i.e., searching for any switches there that could do the trick).  Hope to have this resolved in next few days.