JVerge

A Free VRML 2.0 Node Java Class Library

Beta 4.5

No Longer Actively developed

A GNU production of The Virtual Light Company

The combination of the platform independent languages of Java and VRML promise much for the future of the real CyberSpace on the Internet. Unfortunately the API's provided by both the Script and External Interfaces are far too low level for most programmers to be bothered with. JVerge is my offering to the combined communities of both VRML and Java in a effort to bring them closer together.

What is JVerge?

JVerge is a library of Java classes that mimic the VRML node structure. Instead of worrying about how to write the parameters of individual nodes you just say "I want one of those" and it is done for you. If you happen to have a VRML browser with your applet then you can see the effects immediately on the screen. No need to have a separate web browser to view the output. You see things the way they are meant to be.

The current version is 0.8 (Beta 4) is destined to be the final beta release before the real 1.0. No new features will be added between now and official release. Bug fixes yes, major rewrites - not unless I really have to. There has been a huge amount of testing in this last period. The challenge is now to find the bugs!

Features at a Glance

Complete implementation of all VRML 2.0 nodes as java classes
Independent of VRML-Java API environment
Enforced correctness of VRML through java class mechanisms
Entire scenegraph output to any streamable source.
Automatic DEF/USE capabilities.
Deep clone to replicate chunks of the scenegraph with 1 method call
VRML file parser to turn VRML code into JVerge classes (beta 1)

Licensing

Yeah, yeah, all this legal stuff. I've put a sh*t-load of work into getting this written and I don't want no lamer stealing it off me. So...

JVerge is released under the GNU Library Copyleft Basically this means you can take, modify and make real money using any software based on these class files so long as you include the source code of the library with it and this license (including the LGPL) And of course you need to credit me as being the original author. Of course if you are making lots of money using this then I'm not impartial to donations :)

Also the usual warranty stuff applies. If you decide to send someone to Mars or invent the warp drive using the libraries then I'll be happy to take the credit but they aren't designed for that sort of stuff. Just go have fun with them.

Hey - don't laugh. I did get some comments back from the guys at JPL about them using JVerge in some of their VR work. But no, it wasn't on the Mars website stuff.

All bug reports and modified code can be sent to me jverge_bugs@vlc.com.au

Downloading

Oh yeah... The important part. You can find the JVerge files at the following sites. If a link is greyed out, then that is because they have not yet updated to the beta 4 code. As time goes on, this will change.

How	JVerge src		Javadoc docs
FTP	zip	gzip	zip	gzip
HTTP	zip	gzip	zip	gzip	Online

The beta 4 versions of the libraries will work with the currently available version of VermelGen VRML 2.0 editor.

The last version is called beta 4.5 because it contains all of the bug fixes from when the code was in active development and use, but not really enough to deal with a final release. There are some reports every now and again of bug fixes that have not been incorporated into this release.

Installation

The JVerge libraries come in their own package vlc.vrml.[internal|external|generic].geometry. To install the files simply uncompress the file in an appropriate directory and adjust your CLASSPATH to suit. I recommend that you put the root of these classes in c:\java\classes.

The classes have only been thoroughly tested with Cosmo Player for PC. If you are using the internal or external versions, they require that you have the appropriate libraries for them to load but are not dependent on them once the application has started to run as you can create, delete and print out the internal information without needing to talk to a VRML browser.

Documentation

Javadoc based documentation is now available for JVerge. You can get it either by downloading it from the following sites or by viewing it online.

How Javadoc docs

FTP zip gzip

HTTP zip gzip Online

How	Javadoc docs
FTP	zip	gzip
HTTP	zip	gzip	Online

The documentation is almost complete now. There are a number of incomplete parts however. If you find any major doucmentation bugs please let me know.

[ The Virtual Light Company ] [ Justin Couch ] [ Bug Report ] [ VermelGen ]