Older blog entries for nymia (starting at number 506)

DC Development Kit

Just finished step one, SH4 and ARM compiler is now installed on one of the Linux box here. Will get some sample code later and test the output object file later.

PowerVR

Been spending some time playing with DreamCast console, collecting information available from the Net. A lot of information is definitely out there, one of them is this article about the graphics engine. Basically uses a tile- based rendering technique, though. Anyway, here is the link to the article.

Infobits

Here is another website containing technical stuff about the DreamCast console. It contains various bits and pieces of information, ranging from processor to the code.

Cg

Regarding the comment I read one day back about pointers in Cg, it looks like Cg is nothing but a compiler for a certain architecture. While it may be good to have a pointer tucked-in the language, it may not serve its purpose, though, as the architecture may have no means of providing pointer ops.

Links:

Research Musing

Dreamcast

Decided to hang NG3D for about a week, thinking it might burn me out. I don't want to lose it by pounding it down even further.

Instead, I'm currently reading OpenGL code and this little kernel that can boot on a Dreamcast console. I'll spend some time playing with it, figuring out the things needed to setup a simple 3D program running on a DC console, though.

Also, I was surprised to see the level of sophistication this console has. It looks like it can do a lot of cool stuff, though.

One thing I'm still confused about is how vertex buffers can be set up to work with the framebuffer. This could be tough, though. Will probably find some time just to figure this out.

Game

It looks like I have 6 months to prepare for game that will run on several consoles, though. I don't know if I can make it, but I will try nonetheless. NG3D is moving along fine, but I need a little vacation.

Cg

It was interesting to find out what Cg is all about. I personally think Cg is a good idea, though. It will move the level of abstraction one level higher, saving the programmer the time dealing with a virtual machine. More of their time will definitely go to figuring out abstract structures and algorithms. It is definitely the way to go. Although, Cg is good for vertex and pixel shading, it is probably useless for other things. Now, if they can setup something for non-windows platform, that would definitely get things moving.

Grammar

Speaking of grammar, it looks like some languages will probably have a grammar similar to or contain a subset of the C grammar. As to why the C grammar is becoming the de-facto, I have no idea. One reason might be the popularity of C itself, though.

Programmers who has coded using the C grammar probably got infected with it and are now suffering from this addiction. Somehow, once infected, the knowledge always persists. It will probably reach an epidemic proportion soon, though. Could it be biblical in event? I don't know.

NG3D

Just wrote an article about messaging, fleshing out my initial thoughts on the subject. Will add more to it later. BTW, The link is here, for documentation purposes.

Cg

Just downloaded Cg SDK. Will play with it later.

NG3D

Spent some time playing around with a sample code, made changes to it and was able to come up with an interesting screenshot. Not sure exactly when I'll be able to get a simple 3D game working, though. Anyway, here is a sample screenshot taken when I was playing with the code. Here is another screenshot.

Also need to put a bookmark on one of anselm's musing.

NG3D

Finally got something written, a simple document defining a subset of the API.

Third Tale

Tale number three is here, titled: The Boy Who Became A Stone.

Job

My other half started working yesterday. The last time was, I think, way back in 1996, though. The kids are already capable, but there are still some other things to adjust in order to make things work. Just a couple more effort and things may turn out well.

Game

Made several steps already in setting up the name. Initially thought of videntur but it was already taken. Then went for dominum but decided it was too oldie. Maybe Super String might be a good one, though.

Also wrote an article about game development.

NG3D API

Been spending some time coding the API. Adding classes on top of the existing classes. Was able to setup a simple event model, similar to message passing. No documentation has been made yet in rationalizing the API. Might start working on it next week.

Rose

Found three garden variety worms. Took them out of their hiding place and placed them in one of the rose container. I figured worms might actually help the roses by keeping the soil loose and soft. Anyway, it's only an experiment.

Tale #2

Now, it's time to read about the second tale titled The Man With The Coconuts.

Operation Daybreak

It's unfortunate hostages have to suffer under the hands of armed bandits. While the rules of engagement tend to protect the hostages from harm, it was not the case for this operation as hostages died in the heat of the battle.

The Associated Press reported that the Light Reaction Company, a US-trained unit equipped with silencers, night vision equipment and high-tech headsets, had fanned secretly throughout the area of coconut groves and farms in recent days after solid indications that at least one of the Burnhams was being held near there.

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Eduardo Purificacion said four of the bandits were killed and seven soldiers were injured, four seriously, in the firefight. [1]

3D

Finally decided to pick PS2 and Xbox as the platform to target. Currently making a lot of documentation which is actually a way of picking up the details. Here is one of the many articles I prepared (rehashed), though. More will be re-documented as I continue to move along this path.

Somehow, the TQLR method seems to have worked. Also found an interesting page dealing with reading improvement.

Folk Tale #1

In line with collecting all the possible folk tales, I have started cataloging them. This is the first tale titled "How The First Head Was Taken."

3D Widget

After playing with the basic toolkit, I figured there is a good chance a widget set could be created from it, though. Attempted to create simple 3DObject class, being the foundation of the hierarchy itself. So far, it looks like it is in the experimental stage.

Also wrote a very simple camera class intended to move two vectors based on events. Need to implement the action map later, though.

Conscience

After reading an article about a bungled rescue op, somehow got the time writing a shortie on conscience. It seems, though, that we are fitted with something that sometimes work and sometimes doesn't. More often broken than functioning.

Plant Propagation

Found a good site for rose propagation, it was recommended by someone from the Yahoo rose newsgroup. It contains a collection of articles demonstrating the variety of ways plants are propagated. Here is the link.

I've tried cuttings as a means, but found the process a little bit long. There is actually a waiting period of a couple of months in order to get a cutting in a good condition. There is one process I haven't tried yet and that is by Air-Layering, though. I will try it and see how long the process takes.