From: Robert Feldt <feldt@...>
Date: 2001-10-09T17:05:55+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:22284] Project proposal page at Wiki? (VTK)

Hi,

If I don't remember incorrectly there is supposed to be a page at the Ruby
Wiki for proposing Ruby projects/extensions. I can't seem to find it right
now. Anyone got a pointer?

I'd like to propose a Ruby interface to VTK, The Visualization Toolkit:

"The Visualization ToolKit (VTK) is an open source, freely available
software system for 3D computer graphics, image processing, and
visualization used by thousands of researchers and developers around the
world. VTK consists of a C++ class library, and several interpreted
interface layers including Tcl/Tk, Java, and Python."

I think this would be useful for a lot of people but don't have the time
to look into this myself right now. If you are looking for an interesting
Ruby project I encourage you to take this one on!

IMHO VTK is useful, powerful, extensive, stable, portable, OO (and there
is already a Python interface) so should be a snatch... ;-)

Read more at: 
  http://public.kitware.com/whatisvtk.html 
and 
  http://www.kitware.com/case/vtkinuse.html

Here's "VTK In a Nutshel":

* What's Cool About vtk 
   * It's free (although the book helps!) 
   * Easy to create graphics/visualization applications 
   * C++ source code - you have a lot of control  
   * Easy to derive new classes 
   * Can prototype or build applications using "interpretive" languages 
     Tcl, Python, and Java 
   * User interface can be created fast with Tk or Java GUI class
     libraries 
   * Can learn about graphics / visualization / imaging 
   * Platform/rendering library independent 
   * Lots of advanced and very useful algorithms 
   * Integrated software, not a bunch of unreleated snippets of code 
   * You can convert data into pictures 
   * Object-oriented 
   * Heavily tested in real-world applications...not academic code 
   * Large user base including mailing list 
* What's UnCool About vtk 
   * Not a super-fast graphics engine...vtk uses C++ dynamic binding and a
     device independent graphics model. 
   * C++ source code (so use Tcl, Python, or Java) 
   * Very large...not a toy...you'll need a decent system to use it
     effectively 

Regards,

Robert Feldt