VTK what is it?

[Casteel, Don]

Where can I download the precompiled binaries? I'm looking at the download
page here: http://www.kitware.com/vtkhtml/vtkdata/HowToGetSoftware.html
<http://www.kitware.com/vtkhtml/vtkdata/HowToGetSoftware.html> 
but it's unclear as to which download I need and which need to be compiled
and which are pre-compiled.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Kitware [mailto:kitware at kitware.com]
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 9:07 AM
To: dcasteel at tac.textron.com
Subject: Re: VTK what is it?


Hi Don-

At 11:50 AM 1/30/00 -0500, you wrote:


Please reply to my work e-mail address: dcasteel at tac.textron.com, or
contact me directly at (423)744-1109

I've been looking over the VTK web site, and am extreemly interested in
your products for a specific application. A few things aren't clear
however.

>From what I see VTK is a graphical/scientific API. Assuming this is
correct, does it come with the required compilers?


You provide the compiler, or if you download the precompiled binaries,
you can use Tcl, Java, or Python and write "interpreted" scripts.




I see there are Java libraries, I already know a little Java & Java3d,
but building my application from scratch is a daunting task. Will VTK
simplify development?


VTK will simplify development in that the functionality for graphics
and visualization data processing is done for you. You still have to
code the GUI, etc.




I need a particle system based fluid simulation package similar to
"RealFlow" ( http://www.realflow.com/ <http://www.realflow.com/>  ).
RealFlow has some limitations
which at this point do not allow it to work for what I need. My
application requires a powerful customizable particle system, would I
have to build it from scratch, or does VTK contain most of what I'd
need?


You'd probably have to do a fair amount of work, VTK supports points
but probably not in the way that particle systems need. On the other hand, 
you've got the source and we are always looking for contributions.




Basically I am curious if using VTK means I have to learn a whole new
programming language, or if I can accomplish my objectives with some
simple limited programming?


Being an OO system, learning VTK means learning about the objects and 
what you can do with them - there's no getting around that. The VTK objects
are
fairly high level and there are 500 examples distributed with the code, so
it's
very powerful and quick to learn.

Here's some products and other info about vtk.

Please be advised that the best place to report VTK bugs / questions is on
the VTK Users mailing list. It is likely that you will obtain a faster
response since this list is read frequently by many VTK developers and
users. More information on this list can be found at:

http <http://www.kitware.com/vtkhtml/vtkdata/subscribe.html>
://www.kitware.com/vtkhtml/vtkdata/subscribe.
<http://www.kitware.com/vtkhtml/vtkdata/subscribe.html> html

For your information, the following products and services are available from
Kitware, Inc:

The VTK User's Guide
Everything you need to install, use, and extend VTK. Detailed examples,
installation procedures, developers guide, file format descriptions, how to
write imaging and graphics filters, plus data object API details for VTK
version 2.3. Includes source code, updated HTML documentation, release
notes, data, and PC binaries. User's Guide is 300 pages, CD-ROM. $60 +
shipping. (Note: shipping fee is $4 US/Canada or $16 International.)

Professional Subscription / 1-Year Support & Releases
One year, single contact support for Unix and PC systems, plus The VTK
User's Guide, release notes, and a years worth of software updates. Support
is via e-mail and phone and includes installation assistance, bug fixes,
limited development support, and one working day response time. If you or
your small organization depend on VTK to get your work done, this is the
choice for you. $1,500.

Site License Support
One year site support for any number of Unix and PC systems. Includes The
VTK User's Guide, release notes, and software updates. Support is via e-mail
and phone and includes installation help, bug fixes, limited development
support and one working day response time. The cost effective way to keep
the larger VTK site up and running. $20,000.

Gold Site Support
Gold site support is designed for advanced sites which need the benefits of
site license support plus potential VTK customizations to meet the needs of
their working environment. Gold site support provides for any number of Unix
and PC systems and includes site license support. Gold site support is
priced based on an evaluation of the site and its projected needs.

Consulting and Training
Per hour and fixed-fee consulting and VTK training. We will help you create
your next imaging, graphics, or visualization application, or teach you how
to use VTK to build your own. Courses can be held on-site, if desired. Work
with the developers of VTK to build high performance, professional VTK
applications! Please call for pricing and information.

For more information, visit the Kitware, Inc. site at
<http://www.kitware.com/> http://www.kitware.com  <http://www.kitware.com/>
/ or contact us at kitware at kitware.com.