3D graphics in Erlang Jakob Cederlund - jakob@gnodata.se Björn Gustavsson - bjorn@erix.ericsson.se Dan Gudmundsson - dgud@erix.ericsson.se

3D graphics in erlang 3D graphics with hardware acceleration OpenGL - an open version of SGI’s GL Reasonable API Open standard Cross platform (Wintel, Linux, Sun, Mac) Widespread support from hardware SDL - a library supplementing OpenGL with interaction, 2D graphics and more

erlang and 3D graphics erlang high level language 3D graphics needs symbolic language Fast development Performance critical code mostly in 3D hardware and drivers

ESDL An erlang driver that interfaces with SDL Supports most OpenGL calls Fast Optimized C driver Uses binary syntax Available as download from contrib area Written by Dan Gudmundsson

ESDL erlang 3D program esdl-driver esdl SDL lib OpenGL 3D hardware

Wings - a 3D modeller in erlang Uses erlang as functional language Fast development Good performance Powerful Innovative user interface Inspired by Nendo Written by Björn Gustavsson Some inspiration from Jakob Cederlund

Wings Most of the erlang code not performance critical Some functions optimized Winged-edge structure for 3D objects Uses gb_trees and gb_sets (included in OTP R8)

Wings - features Powerful modelling Every operation applicable to several objects at the same time Imports and exports to different formats Wavefront 3D studio Easy to do easy things As opposed to other 3D modellers

Wings - development Functional Only one process Process dictionary used in for GUI state Some things suprisingly easy to do Multiple undo, with shared data Only updates appriopriate parts of the model Continues after crash, e.g. to save work Just a catch, saves dump to file Library functions used gb_sets and gb_trees (R8) sofs - Sets OF Sets (R8) digraph and digraph_utils

Wings - development cont. Funs used a lot special fold operations to iterate over model elements Optimization after implementation and testing Data structures hidden, used via functions Most user commands uses primitive commands Example inset Extrude Scale

Wings - examples Rendered in Bryce, composited in PhotoShop

Wings - examples cont. Modelled in only 5 minutes! Rendered afterwards in Bryce

Wings - performance Most things fast enough Optimized floating point in R8 Some things take time Smooth Dissolve Used as primitive by many commands erlang fast enough, even for interactive tasks

Wings - future Long to-do list Ongoing development, bugfixing and new features Future features Plug-ins, both in erlang and C More export formats, e.g. renderman Cameras, multiple views Materials, textures New platforms (MacOSX)

Wings - availability Open source Full source on sourceforge Compiled versions Currently requires otp, esdl and SDL Stand-alone erlang version with installer will be available shortly Documentation and examples Home page http://www.erlang.org/project/wings/