From: Joel VanderWerf <vjoel@...>
Date: 2009-08-10T02:15:06+09:00
Subject: [ANN] tkar


Hi, all,

Tkar aims to be the gnuplot of animation � a quick and dirty way to get 
data from a stream or file into a window to see what is happening. It is 
more suited to animating discrete objects rather than numerical 
functions or arbitrary datasets. It would be ideal for visualizing 
output of a multi-agent simulation, for example.

Tkar is now a gem on rubyforge.[1] Previously, it was a single-file 
executable.[2] The only dependency is Tk/Ruby.

Tkar also functions as a simulink block, analogous to the plotter block 
and superior to simulink's native animation features. (You need to 
compile a simulink plug-in.)

Here is a movie[3] made from one of the examples:

http://path.berkeley.edu/~vjoel/vis/tkar/movie.gif

(tkar has rudimentary support for creating such movies)

[1] http://tkar.rubyforge.org
http://rubyforge.org/projects/tkar

[2] http://groups.google.com/group/ruby-talk-google/msg/4e0bece7cbda7984

[3] this particular animation is from a tool for visualizing vehicle 
safety systems in which tkar was used. The tool was developed for an 
automotive company that citizens of my country are now part owners of. 
Tkar itself is free software under the ruby license.

-- 
       vjoel : Joel VanderWerf : path berkeley edu : 510 665 3407