WorldWind JavaSCRIPT

[fintler]

It's still a *long*, *long* way off from even having basic functionality.

However, I've started a project to get WWJ ported to JavaScript and WebGL.

My current goal is to create a solid, well tested and documented geometry library based on WWJ geoms. I'll worry about the rest later. Just porting the geometries is difficult enough.

I really only have time to work on this during the weekend as it's just a personal project. You can view the current progress (there's not much) at:

http://code.google.com/p/lanyard/sou...trunk/src/geom

It's currently using jsunit, jsdoc, and the closure compiler all held together with a simple ant build script.

If you'd like to contribute, I'm looking for code that matches the style of the following object:

http://code.google.com/p/lanyard/sou.../geom/Angle.js

Also, unit testers are appreciated.

P.S. "lanyard" is just a code name I picked. I really have no idea what the final product name is going to be.

[nlneilson]

Why do you want to use JavaScript, do you see ANY advantage over Java???

If you want to do something constructive you should consider C++.
http://forum.worldwindcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=24093

I tried using Excelsior Jet trial for an .exe. AOT compiled and it seems faster and smoother.

With a C++ port of WWJ I think there would be more interest.

[fintler]

Originally Posted by nlneilson

Why do you want to use JavaScript, do you see ANY advantage over Java???

Of course I do, or I wouldn't be making the attempt.

Java is good for some things, JavaScript is good for others, they're both pretty nice languages. However, I think it would be really cool to have the ability to manipulate a map that is integrated into the DOM. Imagine using CSS to style placemarks, or the ability to reference surfaceshapes by document.getElementById().

Also, I want a reason to learn the closure compiler and related libraries. It's a really neat library that google recently released. (http://code.google.com/closure/)

Originally Posted by nlneilson

If you want to do something constructive you should consider C++.
http://forum.worldwindcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=24093

I tried using Excelsior Jet trial for an .exe. AOT compiled and it seems faster and smoother.

With a C++ port of WWJ I think there would be more interest.

I'm not really sure what you mean by constructive. I can think of many uses for a nice 3d JavaScript based map (just think of all of the sites that have embedded google maps for various purposes) Other than speed, I really don't see much purpose for a C++ map over the current .Net and Java versions.

[patmurris]

Have you considered using WWJ as an applet with a javascript API?

[fintler]

Originally Posted by patmurris

Have you considered using WWJ as an applet with a javascript API?

Hey Pat,

I actually use the (very nice) wwj applet at my day job. We have it integrated into a webapp with a ton of custom liveconnect-based APIs setup.

I haven't considered using wwj as an applet for this personal project, because porting the map *is* the project. I'm just doing this for fun to see if it leads anywhere.

[patmurris]

I wasn't aware you could do 3D with javascript... Any pointer to examples?

How about building a 3D extension to Open Layers?

[fintler]

Originally Posted by patmurris

I wasn't aware you could do 3D with javascript... Any pointer to examples?

How about building a 3D extension to Open Layers?

Hey Pat,

This might be a good place to start: http://learningwebgl.com/

It's a tutorial series based on the classic NeHe articles. It'll walk you through how to setup your shaders (GLSL based) and buffers. It'll also point you towards what browsers to use (Currently only nightly builds of Firefox work).

WebGL is based on the OpenGL ES 2 spec for the most part, except for a few odd things.

You can view a few examples at: http://khronos.org/webgl/wiki/Demo_Repository

Make sure you take a look at the "shiny-teapot" demo. It's pretty sweet.

A 3d extension to openlayers might be something to look into, I need to read up on that.

[patmurris]

Originally Posted by fintler

If you'd like to contribute, I'm looking for code that matches the style of the following object:

http://code.google.com/p/lanyard/sou.../geom/Angle.js

Looking at that code, i'm wondering whether there would be a way (or a tool) to automate the port from Java to JS?

[fintler]

Originally Posted by patmurris

Looking at that code, i'm wondering whether there would be a way (or a tool) to automate the port from Java to JS?

I looked into this a while back while I was still trying to figure out how to build out the class structure. I couldn't find anything useful. There is an uncanny similarity between the two. Maybe once Javascript becomes a bit more mature in regards to larger designs a project will pop up to ease porting from Java.

For now, I don't mind going line by line. It's helping me brush up on my linear algebra.

On a side note, I just moved things from google code to github...

git@github.com:fintler/lanyard.git