Re: [TuxKart-devel] Use ODE?

[Steve B. <sjb...@ai...>]

Ryan Flegel wrote:
> Well, I think we should decide soon whether or not we should use ODE.

Good idea!

> Time to vote. And by "vote" I'm mean "discuss until almost everybody
> is leaning the same way" :)

Yes - that's the way to proceed.  Votes are for tie-breakers.

> I'll toss in my vote:
> 
> I don't think we should use ODE. No one here seems to know it, meaning
> it could take a *long* time (a lot longer than estimated) just to get
> it up-and-running.

I've played with it enough to know that it's not too hard to integrate.
The demo programs are pretty easy to understand and the API is very simple.

The tricky things that make me wonder whether it's the right thing or
not are:

1) Collision detection.  Should we use ODE's collision detection?  If not,
    how hard is it to integrate PLIB's collision detection scheme?  ODE can
    use external collision checks.

2) Parameter 'tweaking'.  How hard will it be to adjust friction, spring
    stiffness and damper coefficients to make the karts behave 'nicely'.

3) Tyre dynamics are hard.  They are hard for non-ODE approaches too.

These are worrysome things - but if we made it work, the results would
be amazing.

Everyone who even THINKS about speaking against ODE should DEFINITELY
download a copy and try out the little 3 wheeled kart demo.  *PLEASE*
give this a try.  It's exceedingly compelling.

> Also, TuxKart's physics don't seem like they will be too complicated
> that they will need an engine the size of ODE. Current physics seem
> not bad as they are, we just need a few new features like sliding,
> etc.

Well - yes.  The results certainly won't be as nice as ODE.  (Try the
kart demo!!!)   But it may be easier to put together and be more
controllable in the end.

Did I mention that you should try the demo?

---------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------
HomeEmail: <sjb...@ai...>    WorkEmail: <sj...@li...>
HomePage : http://www.sjbaker.org
Projects : http://plib.sf.net    http://tuxaqfh.sf.net
            http://tuxkart.sf.net http://prettypoly.sf.net
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