JAVA programmer? (and Win-DomMap, and some GIMP)

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
Not to curb your enthusiasm but so far what we have managed to do is get the DomMap from Dominions 1 to work for Dom2. There is a wish-list for this program. Many things that could be upgraded. If we wander into two code-sets it will be hard to keep up. Your choice of course.

First, no one has yet come forward to volunteer for Source Forging. I would if I was familiar with the system. I've never used Source Forge.

Second, and more pointedly, if I apply "window-dressing" to the app, it will be a major (ie: almost complete) rewrite of the code, not just a recompile. This will render moot any source control between a Windows GUI Version and a linux console Version.

The ideal option, of course, is to do any GUI in Java, which, if done properly, will run on all platforms. Doing it in Java will take me longer as the code not only has to be translated from C, but I'm not as swift a Java coder as I am a C coder.

BTW, I haven't been doing this out of any interest I have in the app (I don't plan to use it myself), but just because a need for a Windows Version was expressed. So just point me in the direction you want me to go.

There are also other 3rd party program requests where window-dressing (pun intended) is what is being asked for.

Such as? Someone else is doing the game-save app, so I'm not going to parallel that effort. I haven't seen mention of any other projects in progress or desired. Please post a list of what's been asked for, and solicit volunteers ...

[ February 24, 2004, 21:54: Message edited by: Arryn ]

[Leif_-]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
I like that. The "canvas" thing that Illwinter uses was interesting also (I think Saber Cherry recommended it in another thread) but I think I like this one better.

But I suspect this is farther away from being batch-useable than blur is. Im sure ImageMagick commands can do what I want. I just dont understand enough about masks and such.

I've been messing around with Jeff Kelly's selective blur script, and have added bump-mapping to it. You can find the edited Version here: http://home.Online.no/~rmoldskr/Domi...blur-batch.scm

It _almost_ works in batch mode (with the command-line gimp -b '(selective_blur_batch "/complete/path/to/file/random.tga")(gimp-quit 0)'), but for some reason the gimp-by-color-select calls refuses to work unless there's an open display. I did a quick google on the problem, and it seems other people _are_ able to use the gimp-by-color-select calls in batch mode, so it might perhaps be related to the Version of Gimp I'm using (1.2.3)

[Gandalf Parker]

Hmmm the dommap has kindof a UI called run_dommap.sh which I tried to convert to a batch file. Didnt really come out good. All it does is give an easy semi-documented way to edit the many parameters of DomMap and run them with your favorite settings over and over. Doing a GUI front-end to DomMap would probably be a great thing.

On my linux system I made a front-end for me to play with which ran batches of maps thru DomMap while randomizing many of the parameters (within reasonable boundarys) so that I could view the results of 30, 50, 100 at a time. It gave me a feel for the settings I prefered. I can provide the code if you promise not to laught at it (its in Basic)

You could probably do something with those two. A front end that offered help on the variables, let you set them, save them, randomize them, and run a batch for viewing.

I started a list of desired 3rd party apps but it got kindof long. I thought maybe I had better make it another thread.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Gandalf Parker:
You could probably do something with those two. A front end that offered help on the variables, let you set them, save them, randomize them, and run a batch for viewing.

Sounds like something useful, that I can do without the "me-too" issues of the core generator. I'll begin work on the front end. Thanks for the suggestion.

[mgarnett]

Hi all,

I also have compiled a working windows Version of the DomMap generator. I have also started work on afront end to allow variable changing etc.

I am new to the forum and see that Arryn has also started work on a front end. Let me know if you need any help. I'll keep working on mine just in case you don't get any time to finish.

By the way Arryn, I was finally able to view the TGA files.

Thanks

Mark Garnett
Brisbane Australia

[alexti]

Originally posted by Arryn:
Second, and more pointedly, if I apply "window-dressing" to the app, it will be a major (ie: almost complete) rewrite of the code, not just a recompile. This will render moot any source control between a Windows GUI Version and a linux console Version.

If you'll do window UI using Qt, you will be able to compile the same code on Linux and Windows (and Mac). And AFAIR, Qt is free for GPL-ed projects.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by alexti:
If you'll do window UI using Qt, you will be able to compile the same code on Linux and Windows (and Mac). And AFAIR, Qt is free for GPL-ed projects.

I don't see a Qt/GPL Version for Windows. Also, if I'm going to write cross-platform code, I'd rather do it in Java. The only advantage to writing in C++ would be to use the (obviously non-portable) MFC libraries.

But thanks for clueing me in that there is a cross-platform compiler besides those from Borland and IBM.

[ February 24, 2004, 23:53: Message edited by: Arryn ]

[Leif_-]

I've finally managed to get the "blur and bump-map" script to work with Gimp's batch mode - although unfortunately I had to hard-code the color values into the script. (I'm sure it's possible to send them in as parameters, but I don't know enough scheme to get it done.)

I've put the working script up at http://home.Online.no/~rmoldskr/Domi...blur-batch.scm

Place it in Gimp's scripts directory (~/.gimp-1.2/scripts on unix machines) and you can run it from the command line by typing gimp-1.2 -b '(script_fu_blur_random_map_batch "./random.tga")' - Alternatively, just add this as the Last line of run_dommap.sh

[alexti]

Originally posted by Arryn:

quote:

---

Originally posted by alexti:
If you'll do window UI using Qt, you will be able to compile the same code on Linux and Windows (and Mac). And AFAIR, Qt is free for GPL-ed projects.

I don't see a Qt/GPL Version for Windows.

---

I can't find it on their site either and now their current Version is 3.xx. But if I'm not mistaken, 2.xx Version was GPL-ed, so it can be obtained from somewhere else. and btw, it's not compiler, it's a GUI library (plus few extra libraries and tools)

Also, if I'm going to write cross-platform code, I'd rather do it in Java. The only advantage to writing in C++ would be to use the (obviously non-portable) MFC libraries.

The use of MFC is only advantageous in commercial projects, where you're getting paid for fixing MFC bugs ;-)

[Gandalf Parker]

Originally posted by Leif_-:
I've finally managed to get the "blur and bump-map" script to work with Gimp's batch mode

Looks like you got it to work. And I thank you. Some of the GIMPers will be able to make use of it.

Unfortunately it still wont quite fill my needs because Im hard-headed and dont load GUIs on my servers. Everything I do with the maps so far uses no console display. WHen I run your new script I get much farther than before but I get this...
Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:
even though Im not asking for a displayed finish. I even deleted the display line out of the script completely and it gave me that error

[ February 25, 2004, 15:21: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]