[lug] in search of 3D api

[Scott A. Herod]

khchan at cyberdude.com wrote:
> 
> hi,
> 
> wondering if anyone knows of a 3D api for
> linux and other platforms that's not too
> difficult to learn, yet has comprehensive
> functionality? (stuff like boolean operations,
> cut, scene graph, selection feedback, etc).
> 
> currently looking at an api called opencascade.
> seems like a bit of a challenge to use it at
> this moment... so i thought i'd just keep some
> alternatives in mind.
> 
> kh

Hi,

People I know would thump me for saying so, but
I still like SGI's Performer.  It's perhaps bigger
than what you want, but it's not bad to learn 
if you know OpenGL.

http://www.sgi.com/developers/devtools/apis/performer.html

I think their linux support has improved significantly
since the last time I looked at it a couple of years ago.
( I've only really used it on IRIX. )

Depending on what you are trying to achieve, ie. do you
need realtime animation, you might also want to look at
Java3D.  They've actually got a well thought out design,
in particular I liked their scene graph design.  I am
a bit annoyed with some picky little choices they made,
but perhaps that's mainly because I'm from the OpenGL
world and have barely looked at MS's offering.  ( For
instance, what are "alpha values"?  They have nothing
to do with the color space. )

Scott