Endlos - Multithreaded Fractals

File Release Notes and Changelog

Release Name: V 0.13.0

Notes:

   endlos                                       http://endlos.sourceforge.net/

       A multithreaded fractal generator.

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Requirements:
-------------
Correctly installed Java virtual machine (runtime environment or developer kit) version 1.5.0 or above.

Note 1:
On non "Server class machines" (see http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/vm/server-class.html),
like non-64 Bit Windows, the client JVM is used by default. If you want more performance, you need to
call the Java virtual machine with the "-server" parameter. Unfortunately, the Sun JRE doesn't include the
server JVM, so you also need to download the JDK and copy the directory "jre/bin/server/" from the JDK into the
JRE bin/ directory (same hierachy as the existing "client" directory of the JRE).

Note 2:
I highly recommend the latest version of Java, as endlos is up to twice as fast when using Sun's Java 1.6 JVM
compared to Sun's Java 1.5 JVM!


Installation:
-------------
Copy file "endlos.jar" and the optional "ColorMaps", "Demos" directories to any (installation) directory you want.
If you want to use the enclosed custom start scripts, also copy "startCustomUnix.sh" or "startCustomWindows.bat".


Start:
------
Start application by

a) double clicking "endlos.jar". If Java is correctly installed on your computer and your system is properly
   configured to start *.jar" files with Java, endlos will start. But it's also likely that some of your
   archive applications grabbed the file suffix ".jar" to show its contents. Then you can use one of the
   following options.
   
   Note: this method of starting a Java application is intuitive, but it just runs with the default Java
   settings. If you want to improve speed, choose one of the following options that can be customized with
   the java parameters you like.
   
b) running one of the enclosed start scripts (startCustomUnix.sh, startCustomWindows.bat). Remember to first
   make "startCustomUnix.sh" executable before you can start it (e.g. GNOME: right mouse click > properties >
   rights > execute file as application). Look into the script for further start alternatives.

c) performing the following command in a console/terminal:

    java -jar endlos.jar

In addition, you can try enabling OpenGL hardware acceleration with the parameter "sun.java2d.opengl":

    java -Dsun.java2d.opengl=true -jar endlos.jar
    
You can also use the server JVM by setting the "-server" parameter to improve performance (see also Note 1 of
requirements above):

    java -server -jar endlos.jar

By default, Java uses up to 64 MB of memory for an application. If you use a bigger zooming level and have
zoom preview enabled, this might be not enough - an error message will appear telling you this. You can
workaround this by giving your application more memory with the "-Xmx" parameter. E.g. to give endlos up
to 256 MB, use "-Xmx256m":

    java -server -Xmx256m -Dsun.java2d.opengl=true -jar endlos.jar

I noticed crashes on some Linux machines when using the "-server" parameter and invisible modal dialogs when
they were moved that I solved by disabling OpenGL support:

    java -server -Dsun.java2d.opengl=false -jar endlos.jar


Manual:
-------
I didn't enclose a manual because real intuitive software shouldn't need a manual ... and nobody wants to
read it anyway. Of course, the current version is not "user fail save" and therefore not as intuitive as I would
like to achieve it. But I keep improving the user interface to somewhen have a release where no questions will
arise. I prefer explaining functions right at the function component (tooltip, context sensitive help).


Uninstallation:
---------------
Delete the files you copied in step "Installation". The endlos preferences are stored via the standard
Java Preferences API. For this reason, you also might want to delete your endlos preferences which are stored at:

- on Windows: registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\JavaSoft\\Prefs
- on Linux (and other OSes): ~/.java/.userPrefs/

See also: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/preferences/index.html


Changes:
2007-01-08 : Version 0.13.0 - sweet Julia
---------------------------

CHANGED:
  1. Fractal frames don't store their dimension anymore as it caused some size problems. As the preferences
     also were changed, you won't get all former preferences values anymore.
  2. Right mouse click into image shows popup menu instead of zooming out. Zoom out via middle mouse button.
     Therefore, former middle mouse function (reset) was removed. If you want to reset, you need to open a
     new fractal window (or set the corresponding coordinates + radius).
  3. Settings panel changed again.

FIXED:
  1. Preview image was slightly misplaced.

NEW:
  1. The exponent of the standard Mandelbrot formula (Zn+1 = Zn^2 + C) can be changed to other values than 2
     to generate cubic Mandelbrots and so on.
  2. New fractal type: Julia set.
  2. Right click on image shows popup menu with new functions:

     "Open location"   : clones the current window with click point centered.
     "Open Mandelbrot" : open a Mandelbrot fractal based on the click point location.
     "Open Julia"      : opens a Julia fractal based on the click point location.
     
     and save functions that formerly were in the settings panel.