CompuServe Thread

>>Is anyone out there serously using autodesk's cyberspace developer kit, and if so; how do you like it? what are you using it for? how much experience in c++ do you need to use it? what is the learning curve of the program? do you have an examples that you can share? how well does it integrate with 3d studio? Thanks Sam Coor<< Sorry it took so long to reply… We thoroughly enjoy it, but then we are not very normal people, I am told. We jumped into C++ with CDK because of our Autodesk background and it has had it's good points and bad. The theory is very enjoyable, but C++ considerations have been a pain….I think this is all right, but don't make me swear to the details… after Zortech (their first compiler of choice) got bought by Symantec and stopped supporting the old version, CDK, facing new non-compatibilty, switched to Metaware. Now Metaware has so many updates out that we are all bla.bla.bla.blad out in version numbers and new compatibility problems since they update (it feels like) almost weekly (not reallyl). So, Release 2.0 which is due out a soon has switched to Visual C++ in Windows (NT and 32S). At least MS should be a little more stable so we can move on … We just uploaded a CDK based shareware flyer called NAVFlyer. I hope to see it in the Software Developer Kit Section soon, I think that's where they are going to put it. It uses the keypad only to fly around DXF models in wireframe and shaded modes. It has a lock on ability to orbit objects easily, a view reset, and online help. It is a very simple example of a CDK app. It uses only the default VESA display driver that shipped with CDK Rel 1, unless you register it. This VESA driver is not the fastest VGA renderer on the market by far and we feel has had much to do with folks getting the impression that CDK is slow. Its not, just this VESA driver is. But remember, when they released it, it was the only VESA renderer around. The newer software rendering engines (RenderMorphics, RenderWare, etc) were not yet available. We are working on several accelerated display classes for Rel 1 using a few different rendering libraries that speed up frame rates dramatically (Rendermorphics and others). Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get them into the free shareware version yet, but we are trying. Right now you have to pay ($49) to get the faster version, an ADS version that runs inside of AutoCAD, and we just agreed today to include some elementary collision detection in it too! Now you can toggle on and off whether you want to fly through walls or bump into them. We are hoping that this shareware version will make more people aware of what CDK can do, at least at the very elementary levels. Please check it out and give us any feedback. Rel 2 will integrate with 3D Studio much better than did Rel 1. I'm not sure how much of the details have been made public, but keep an eye out for info on it. I think there is a press release on CDK Rel 2 in the library here somewhere. Rel2 runs in Windows. I encourage you to try CDK. It is a very visionary product for Autodesk and my feeling is that they are struggling to help make the world aware of this technology while maintaining their usual open architecture approach. Not an easy task when there are not many other parties to be open to… There are other real-time libraries out there, but none that will integrate as well with Autodesk products. Being both dealers and developers, we are one of many sources for CDK if you are interested in further information…. Angela Pate MicronGreen