[vtkusers] C++ introspection (was raw buffer access in Tcl)

[David.Pont at ForestResearch.co.nz]

John,
  Yes I do recall a recent announce re RPD.
Your approach of wrapping the C++ sounds great. While it might be easier in
the short term to work in python/Tcl, starting from C++ lays solid
foundations that give a lot more options.
I reckon a GUI pipeline editor could be VERY successful. Done well this
could become 'the way' non-programming experts (= most of the potential
audience) use vtk.
The trick might be to find someone with the pockets and the goodwill to
fund your development. (RPD+£=killerApp?).
I have a vague recollection of Kitware doing funded development for a
client that they were also allowed to contribute back to vtk?? this would
be the ultimate arrangement !
Maybe ITK could use a pipeline editor?
A collaborative effort could be another option, I would put my hand up. But
it sounds like you have already invested substantial effort, so this might
not be a good option for you.
I am keen to give RPD a test drive,  keep us posted 'Marquis de Masochisme'

Dave



|--------+--------------------------------------->
|        |          "John Biddiscombe"           |
|        |          <john.biddiscombe at mirada-solu|
|        |          tions.com>                   |
|        |          Sent by:                     |
|        |          vtkusers-admin at public.kitware|
|        |          .com                         |
|        |                                       |
|        |                                       |
|        |          16/06/2003 21:22             |
|        |                                       |
|--------+--------------------------------------->
  >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
  |                                                                                                            |
  |      To:     "Prabhu Ramachandran" <prabhu at aero.iitm.ernet.in>, "John Biddiscombe"                         |
  |       <jbiddiscombe at skippingmouse.co.uk>                                                                   |
  |      cc:     <David.Pont at forestresearch.co.nz>, "vtkusers" <vtkusers at public.kitware.com>                   |
  |      Subject:     RE: [vtkusers] C++ introspection (was raw buffer access in Tcl)                          |
  >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|




> Cool!  So the question is how do you handle the introspection?  Save
> the data externally and use that or some special Marquis de Sade
> magic? ;-)

If you look at vtkWrapJava, vtkWrapTcl, vtkWrapXXX, I've created a
vtkWrapGUI set of stuff that parses the vtk source and generates a C++
class for each vtk class. The wrapped class inherits from my rpd
BaseControl which is a generic window style control and each vtk subclass
creates radiobuttons editboxes etc for each set/get type method. The the
RPD framework loads these in the form of vtkCommonRPD.dll,
vtkGraphicsRPD.dll etc etc

> BTW, does RPD run on *nix (or Linux) or is it Windows only?

At the moment it's windows only, but I have a working wxWindows compiled
version of quite a large portion of it. I have been using Borland
C++Builder for many years and have recently been getting fed up with it and
decided to experiment with wxWindows. If there was a demand for it, then a
wx version might be released. But I'd need to charge a small £ for RPD to
fund myself to work on it - previous experience shows that RPD will not be
sucessful and so it's not likely to happen.

ttfn

JB
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