Proposed Java 3D^TM 1.4 API Changes

This page highlights the proposed changes to the 1.4 version of the Java 3D^TM API. For a list of new classes methods, etc., see the List of Proposed Java 3D 1.4 API Changes. Click here for the latest javadocs for the proposed 1.4 API (built from the dev-1_4 branch). A list of other possible improvements to Java 3D version 1.4 is also available.

I. High Priority Features

This list of high priority features will almost certainly make it into the 1.4 API.

1. Programmable shaders

The addition of shaders to the Java 3D API is the primary focus for the 1.4. For more information see the Programmable Shaders in Java 3D 1.4 page.

2. Scene graph structure change listeners

We propose to add a notification mechansim for scene graph structure changes: additions, deletions, and moves of branch graphs to/from a live scene graph. We propose adding add/removeGraphChangeListener(GraphChangeListener) methods to VirtualUniverse and a new GraphChangeListener interface with graphAdded, graphRemoved, and graphMoved methods that get called when any branch graph is added (attached), removed (detached), or moved, respectively.

3. Miscellaneous features

This is a list of miscellaneous features that we propose to add to the API.

• Name string for all scene graph objects: add public get/setName(String) to SceneGraphObject class
• Allow getParent() to be called on live/compiled scene graph: add public ALLOW_PARENT_READ capability bit (default=false) to Node class
• Ability to get the Locale from a live node: add public getLocale() method and ALLOW_LOCALE_READ capability bit to Node class
  
• Additional blending functions, for example: BLEND_SRC_COLOR, BLEND_ONE_MINUS_SRC_COLOR, BLEND_DST_COLOR, BLEND_ONE_MINUS_DST_COLOR

4. List of features to deprecate

This is a list of miscellaneous features that we propose to deprecate in the API.

• CompressedGeometry (no HW support, lack of industry acceptance)
• Sensor prediction (has never been implemented)
  

Note that none of these features will actually be removed. It instead reflects a decrease of emphasis on these features. While they should continue to function normally, no additional effort is likely to be put into them (for example, compressed geometry will not be supported with programmable shaders). This action paves the way to remove them from a future major release (e.g., a 2.0 release).

II. Medium Priority Features

This list of medium priority features is under discussion for possible inclusion into the 1.4 API.

1. Render to texture

DESCRIPTION FOR POSSIBLE RENDER-TO-TEXTURE SUPPORT GOES HERE...

2. Stencil buffer support

DESCRIPTION FOR POSSIBLE STENCIL SUPPORT GOES HERE; NOTE THAT THIS WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY MULTIPASS EFFECTS for 1.4...

3. Move picking into core

We should consider moving some of the picking utilities (e.g., PickCanvas and PickResult) into the core API. Before doing this, we would need to scope out the effort involved, and assess the potential benefit.

4. Lightweight Canvas3D (e.g., JCanvas3D)

We should consider adding a lightweight JCanvas3D that is similar to JGLCanvas in JOGL. Adding this into core may be beyond the scope of 1.4. Probably can be done as a utility, although it may require some core changes. Note: this feature will not happen without an someone from the community volunteering to drive it.

5. Miscellaneous features

This is a list of miscellaneous features that are being considered for addition to the API.

• Non-power-of-two textures
• Point sprites
• Ability for nested ViewSpecificGroup nodes to replace the set of views in addition to current intersection semantics
• API support for  retained alpha buffers
• Ability to query properties from a GraphicsConfiguration
• Better support for off-screen configuration parameters (e.g., an attribute in GraphicsConfigTemplate3D indicating whether the requested GraphicsConfiguration is used for on-screen rendering, off-screen rendering, or both)
• Add a new attribute for depth test function to RenderingAttributes: public get/setDepthTestFunction(int function) methods that takes as values one of: ALWAYS, NEVER, EQUAL, NOT_EQUAL, LESS, LESS_OR_EQUAL, GREATER, GREATER_OR_EQUAL. The default value would be LESS_OR_EQUAL for backward compatibility. Note: this feature will not happen without an someone from the community volunteering to drive it.
• Method to retrieve the geometry data from the tessellation of a glyph in a 3D font: a public GeometryArray getGlyphGeometry(int glyphCode) method in the Font3D class. Note: this feature will not happen without an someone from the community volunteering to drive it.

6. List of features to deprecate

This is a list of miscellaneous features that are being considered for deprecation in the API.

• SharedGroup (many bugs, very difficult to implement efficiently)

These are in addition to the API being proposed for deprecation in section I.

III. Future Features

Here is an unprioritized list of possible features under consideration for a future (e.g., 1.5/2.0) version of the Java 3D API.

• Multipass rendering
• Shadow map support
• Additional texture formats:
  • NIO buffer support
  • Texture compression formats
• Extensibility:
  • Access to the native context (JOGL integration)
  • Geometry extensibility
  • Additional node types (e.g., haptic rendering)
  • Extensible geometry processing algorithms
• Plug-in capability
  • Rendering Device Interface (pluggable renderers)
  • Visibility structure

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