Re: [Plib-devel] ssg sky

[Durk T. <d.t...@di...>]

Curtis L. Olson wrote:

> Dave McClurg writes:
> > Curt wrote:
> >
> > >     http://www.menet.umn.edu/~curt/tmp/tux-sky-demo.jpg
> > >
> > >I'm designing this in such a way that you can use a separate module
> > >that calculates the real positions of the sky objects so you can have
> > >a live dynamic sky that will precisely match the real world.
> >
> > cool! glad to see your hard work paid off.
> > is this intended for possible inclusion in ssg or a ssg example
> > or will it be only in flightgear.
>
> Dave,
>
> I'd certainly offer it up for potential inclusion in plib/ssg, but the
> decision would be up to Steve.  My interests are more simulation
> oriented rather than game oriented.  I've been considering putting
> together my own package of things that would sit a level up from plib,
> or be out of the scope of plib ... things like a drop in sky, terrain
> rendering/paging tools, or even a collection of vehicle dynamics
> codes.
>
> I'm thinking it would be nice to have plib + my_package = getting your
> simulation project off the ground quickly.
>

Well since this is my first post to the plib list, a quick introduction (for
people who are not subscribed to any flightgear list). The original (non
plib/ssg)  version of the astronomy code was written by me, approx. between
1997 and 1998. And in addition to this, I also worked on some other parts of
the FlightGear projects, mainly involving time code, some gui work, as well
adding a preliminary form of clouds. Because I haven't had much chance to
contribute lately, I haven't worked with plib that much.

The code that calculates the right position of the sun, moon, and planets
currently pretty much intertwined with the rest of FlightGear, and one of my
intentions is to seperate this from the core of the simulator code. Because
Astronomy and time code is pretty much intertwined, I'm currently thinking of
reorganizing this into a single time/astromomy lib. Though I'm open to
including this code in plib as well, I'm not sure if this is the right place
for this lib to go.

Eventually, I'd like to develop some code that is also suitable for use in
stuff like a Space Flight simulator, and this would impose an additional
demand on the lib. My first choice in that case would be to include the
Astronomy and Time code in something like Curt's SimGear lib. As said, I'm
open to suggestion.

Regards,
Durk