Small example of the new engine (needs a webGL browser, like Firefox or Chromium)

The 3d-visualizing-project at the Advance Hackathon was successful. The LuaCrumbs-scripts now compile into a Processing file. The moving path can be previewed 3D with panning, rotation and autorotation. In parallel a html-file is generated. The contents of the processing-file can be watched in any modern webbrowser, that supports WebGL. I used the processingjs-libary for that purpose.

This hack enhances the fun of work with LuaCrumbs by nearly 100 percent – you can conveniently work on your lua-script while generating a 3D-preview at anytime, resulting in a much better “know-what-you-are-doing“-feel. As usual FabLab-machine-ready HPGL, .svg or G-Code (and other formats in the future) are generated as well. So “work home, fab later” is the new command!

The source is already available at github. In the next weeks I will prepare some more documentation, examples and a forum site for reaching BETA-stadium.

PS: You can run the 3d-files (.pde-format) also in the Processing IDE. In case, the IDE can’t find the OpenGL-Libary, just change den rendering mode from OPENGL to P3D in the .pde-file.

The kickoff of the Advance Hackathon 2012 was pretty amazing. Great people and high motivation to work on stuff. After various discussions with other participants I made the roadmap for this weekend. The focus will go to enhancing the LuaCrumbs-framework.

1. Work on the core-architecture and getting deeper into Lua
The Lua-language is very easy to learn, but not that easy to master. A take the opportunity to dig deeper into more advanced Lua-techniques. The blog at www.corsix.org got some very interesting writings about Lua.

2. Enhance the visualization-(preview)-module
Talking about enhancements of the core-architecture is not that thrilling to show-off to the other participants. That’s why I want to work on the html-(preview)-module of LuaCrumbs. Make it 3D and maybe animated. Processing.js or three.js could be my weapon of choice to archive the desired results.

PS: Feel free, to visit the Dingfabrik – it is located right next to the Advanced Hackathon.
PPS: Pastebin.com is still extremely useful for porting working code from one machine to the other.
PPPS: If there are some people interested in a “Lua user group” in Cologne and surroundings, feel free to contact me! UPDATE: I started a quick user group on Facebook – let’s see what the Lua User Group Cologne will develop into.

HiScore Pixeleditor is on SALE until Sunday – price is 0.99$/0.79€. Take the opportunity!

PS: You can also meet me this weekend at the Advance Hackathon in Cologne.

Pixeleditor Hiscore got a small, but essential update. The version 1.0.2 introduces transparent color. With that, you really can draw (for example) tile-maps that are ready to go with any level-designer or programmer. HiScore works well with the Tiled map editor.

Other parts of the update, include some UI-details. If you wait for 5 seconds while not drawing, the cursor-control is hovering out of the screen – for you to enjoy your artwork in a full screen style. New is also a “latest news from Nodepond” feature and a “directly mail feedback”.