Subject:
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Re: Java LDraw/LDLite
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.cad.dev, lugnet.cad
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Date:
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Fri, 26 Feb 1999 17:43:39 GMT
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Reply-To:
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jsproat@geocities/NoSpam/.com
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Viewed:
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1764 times
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Greg Williams wrote:
> [...] or the parts would have to be downloaded on the fly over
> the network.
I've though a bit about this -- I think I would prefer uncompressed
individual files, as this would make parts updates easier on the server
end. Just copy the /P and /PARTS dirs to the Web server. (1)
<DEVILS_ADVOCATE>
However, the JDK now has built-in support for ZIP files, so why not put the
entire parts library into a ZIP file, and cache a local copy if an app?
</DEVILS_ADVOCATE>
> Here's a quick rundown on what just such a program could be able to do.
> - Read DAT files locally or from the network (think of inputting a URL directly
> to a DAT file and viewing it that way)
> - Automatically download parts files from the network (So if a part that is
> requested isn't there, it could be downloaded. If we could guarantee a standard
> for parts file locations, we could create an online database that the program
> would autodownload the part if you don't have it when viewing a model. Todd,
> would lugnet be the choice for this database?)
Absolutely. I think this would be the greatest strength of a Java version.
> - Program would be self updating on request (It could determine if an update is
> available and go get it when you want. This only makes sense for an
> application, of course.)
Probably not. You'll have a huge problem with non-standard install
directory paths, with being more than just one version out of date, etc.
etc. etc. Better to let the user be notified of updates, and let them do it
themselves, perhaps with the aid of an external wizard.
> - Multithreaded (This means it could be drawing one part while downloading the
> next, for example.)
Another strength of using Java. MediaTracker works well for this, though
it's optimized for images.
> The only downside is finding enough time to do it.
Amen.
Greg, it's good to see you again. :-,
Cheers,
- jsproat
1. Greg has an idea. And the applet could be linked to the message in
cad.dat. Todd what do you think about something like
http://www.lugnet.com/ldraw.cgi?/parts/3039.DAT ? Your typical model might
make 1500 hits or so before it's done, though, which is another argument for
ZIP compression.
--
Jeremy H. Sproat <jsproat@geocities.com>
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Horizon/5249/
"The world will not perish for want of wonders but for want of wonder"
-- British scientist J. B. S. Haldane (1892-1964)
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Java LDraw/LDLite
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| (...) Yes, definitely if as an app would you have all the files locally. I was talking about an applet that would not. You don't want to have to download the entire zip file every time because it would be fairly large. Having individually compressed (...) (26 years ago, 26-Feb-99, to lugnet.cad.dev, lugnet.cad)
| | | Re: Java LDraw/LDLite
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| (...) Why not serve both compressed and uncompressed versions? (...) Amen to that! Say, Greg, how's about posting the URL of your Blacktron Galaxy Explorer over in the .build group? Probably a lot of new-timers there who haven't seen it yet. (...) (...) (26 years ago, 26-Feb-99, to lugnet.cad.dev, lugnet.cad)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Java LDraw/LDLite
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| I actually thought of this long ago and mentioned it to LDraw Master James himself. He didn't sound very interested in it at the time because he didn't think java was fast enough to support it. I sorta dropped the idea after that. I'm glad Todd made (...) (26 years ago, 26-Feb-99, to lugnet.cad.dev, lugnet.cad)
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