Empathy List Archives

WF

William F. Adams

Mon, May 12, 2025 6:32 PM

Actually, I do both --- I use (Open)PythonSCAD as a core, then wrap it up in OpenSCAD code so as to make the functionality I have coded up available, then I load that into OpenSCAD Graph Editor:

https://github.com/derkork/openscad-graph-editor

and use it as shown in the attached image.

William

Actually, I do both --- I use (Open)PythonSCAD as a core, then wrap it up in OpenSCAD code so as to make the functionality I have coded up available, then I load that into OpenSCAD Graph Editor: https://github.com/derkork/openscad-graph-editor and use it as shown in the attached image. William

JD

John David

Mon, May 12, 2025 6:46 PM

Interesting... Can you give some use case examples why the node graphic
editor was written? I've used similar looking glyph-based programming
interfaces to great success in the distant past, but that fitted very
specific niches.

EBo --

On Mon, May 12, 2025 at 2:33 PM William F. Adams via Discuss <
discuss@lists.openscad.org> wrote:

Actually, I do both --- I use (Open)PythonSCAD as a core, then wrap it up
in OpenSCAD code so as to make the functionality I have coded up available,
then I load that into OpenSCAD Graph Editor:

https://github.com/derkork/openscad-graph-editor

and use it as shown in the attached image.

William

OpenSCAD mailing list
To unsubscribe send an email to discuss-leave@lists.openscad.org

Interesting... Can you give some use case examples why the node graphic editor was written? I've used similar looking glyph-based programming interfaces to great success in the distant past, but that fitted very specific niches. EBo -- On Mon, May 12, 2025 at 2:33 PM William F. Adams via Discuss < discuss@lists.openscad.org> wrote: > Actually, I do both --- I use (Open)PythonSCAD as a core, then wrap it up > in OpenSCAD code so as to make the functionality I have coded up available, > then I load that into OpenSCAD Graph Editor: > > https://github.com/derkork/openscad-graph-editor > > and use it as shown in the attached image. > > > William > _______________________________________________ > OpenSCAD mailing list > To unsubscribe send an email to discuss-leave@lists.openscad.org >

WF

William F. Adams

Mon, May 12, 2025 7:03 PM

On Monday, May 12, 2025 at 02:46:49 PM EDT, John David ebo.2112@gmail.com wrote:

Interesting... Can you give some use case examples why the node graphic editor was written?
I've used similar looking glyph-based programming interfaces to great success in the distant past,
but that fitted very specific niches.

My understanding is the developer of:

https://github.com/derkork/openscad-graph-editor

chose to write it so as to be able to use it.

I like it as a graphical expression since I have dreamed of this sort of thing since reading Herman Hesse's The Glass Bead Game (originally published as Magister Ludi) when I was a teen.

I am hoping to work up some new examples once I finish the current feature I am working on in my project, a joinery module for full-blind box joints at 90 degree angles and in both horizontal and vertical orientations.

William

On Monday, May 12, 2025 at 02:46:49 PM EDT, John David <ebo.2112@gmail.com> wrote: >Interesting... Can you give some use case examples why the node graphic editor was written? >I've used similar looking glyph-based programming interfaces to great success in the distant past, >but that fitted very specific niches. My understanding is the developer of: https://github.com/derkork/openscad-graph-editor chose to write it so as to be able to use it. I like it as a graphical expression since I have dreamed of this sort of thing since reading Herman Hesse's _The Glass Bead Game_ (originally published as _Magister Ludi_) when I was a teen. I am hoping to work up some new examples once I finish the current feature I am working on in my project, a joinery module for full-blind box joints at 90 degree angles and in both horizontal and vertical orientations. William

JD

John David

Mon, May 12, 2025 7:50 PM

Thank you. I have used similar interfaces in the past, but I do not see
its utility here. I was hoping to get some examples to see if it may be
worth fitting into my tool-chain.

On Mon, May 12, 2025 at 3:03 PM William F. Adams via Discuss <
discuss@lists.openscad.org> wrote:

On Monday, May 12, 2025 at 02:46:49 PM EDT, John David ebo.2112@gmail.com
wrote:

Interesting... Can you give some use case examples why the node graphic

editor was written?

I've used similar looking glyph-based programming interfaces to great

success in the distant past,

but that fitted very specific niches.

My understanding is the developer of:

https://github.com/derkork/openscad-graph-editor

chose to write it so as to be able to use it.

I like it as a graphical expression since I have dreamed of this sort of
thing since reading Herman Hesse's The Glass Bead Game (originally
published as Magister Ludi) when I was a teen.

I am hoping to work up some new examples once I finish the current feature
I am working on in my project, a joinery module for full-blind box joints
at 90 degree angles and in both horizontal and vertical orientations.

William

OpenSCAD mailing list
To unsubscribe send an email to discuss-leave@lists.openscad.org

Thank you. I have used similar interfaces in the past, but I do not see its utility here. I was hoping to get some examples to see if it may be worth fitting into my tool-chain. On Mon, May 12, 2025 at 3:03 PM William F. Adams via Discuss < discuss@lists.openscad.org> wrote: > On Monday, May 12, 2025 at 02:46:49 PM EDT, John David <ebo.2112@gmail.com> > wrote: > > >Interesting... Can you give some use case examples why the node graphic > editor was written? > >I've used similar looking glyph-based programming interfaces to great > success in the distant past, > >but that fitted very specific niches. > > My understanding is the developer of: > > https://github.com/derkork/openscad-graph-editor > > chose to write it so as to be able to use it. > > I like it as a graphical expression since I have dreamed of this sort of > thing since reading Herman Hesse's _The Glass Bead Game_ (originally > published as _Magister Ludi_) when I was a teen. > > I am hoping to work up some new examples once I finish the current feature > I am working on in my project, a joinery module for full-blind box joints > at 90 degree angles and in both horizontal and vertical orientations. > > William > _______________________________________________ > OpenSCAD mailing list > To unsubscribe send an email to discuss-leave@lists.openscad.org >

JB

Jon Bondy

Mon, May 12, 2025 8:16 PM

I agree with John. I can understand the utility of the graphical
network for small projects or for people learning the principles of
OpenSCAD, but I have yet to see a complex project where this approach
was important and helpful. Any examples come to mind?

Jon

On 5/12/2025 3:50 PM, John David via Discuss wrote:

Thank you. I have used similar interfaces in the past, but I do not
see its utility here. I was hoping to get some examples to see if it
may be worth fitting into my tool-chain.

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com

I agree with John. I can understand the utility of the graphical network for small projects or for people learning the principles of OpenSCAD, but I have yet to see a complex project where this approach was important and helpful. Any examples come to mind? Jon On 5/12/2025 3:50 PM, John David via Discuss wrote: > Thank you. I have used similar interfaces in the past, but I do not > see its utility here. I was hoping to get some examples to see if it > may be worth fitting into my tool-chain. -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software. www.avg.com

GB

Glenn Butcher

Mon, May 12, 2025 10:11 PM

Dataflow network programming has some utility in image processing, where
parallel paths are sometimes used. Blender has such.

A little closer to home, I've been messing with coherent noise networks
to make stone textures. Coherent noise is all over CGI, just about any
"random" texture you see in an animated movie is a product of such an
algorithm. There's an open-source library available to do it, aptly
called libnoise. It has various noise generators, aggregators, math
operations, and such, and you stitch them together in a network to get
the output. I wrote a command-line program to shell the library, aptly
called noisetool:

https://github.com/butcherg/noisetool

It reads a text file that defines the nodes, line-by-line, then defines
the connections, line-by-line. I've messed with writing a graphical
front end, but I'm losing interest... :D

Glenn

On 5/12/2025 2:16 PM, Jon Bondy via Discuss wrote:

I agree with John. I can understand the utility of the graphical
network for small projects or for people learning the principles of
OpenSCAD, but I have yet to see a complex project where this approach
was important and helpful. Any examples come to mind?

Jon

On 5/12/2025 3:50 PM, John David via Discuss wrote:

Thank you. I have used similar interfaces in the past, but I do not
see its utility here. I was hoping to get some examples to see if it
may be worth fitting into my tool-chain.

http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient
Virus-free.www.avg.com
http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient

<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

OpenSCAD mailing list
To unsubscribe send an email todiscuss-leave@lists.openscad.org

Dataflow network programming has some utility in image processing, where parallel paths are sometimes used. Blender has such. A little closer to home, I've been messing with coherent noise networks to make stone textures. Coherent noise is all over CGI, just about any "random" texture you see in an animated movie is a product of such an algorithm. There's an open-source library available to do it, aptly called libnoise. It has various noise generators, aggregators, math operations, and such, and you stitch them together in a network to get the output. I wrote a command-line program to shell the library, aptly called noisetool: https://github.com/butcherg/noisetool It reads a text file that defines the nodes, line-by-line, then defines the connections, line-by-line. I've messed with writing a graphical front end, but I'm losing interest... :D Glenn On 5/12/2025 2:16 PM, Jon Bondy via Discuss wrote: > > I agree with John. I can understand the utility of the graphical > network for small projects or for people learning the principles of > OpenSCAD, but I have yet to see a complex project where this approach > was important and helpful. Any examples come to mind? > > Jon > > On 5/12/2025 3:50 PM, John David via Discuss wrote: >> Thank you. I have used similar interfaces in the past, but I do not >> see its utility here. I was hoping to get some examples to see if it >> may be worth fitting into my tool-chain. > > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> > Virus-free.www.avg.com > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> > > > <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > > _______________________________________________ > OpenSCAD mailing list > To unsubscribe send an email todiscuss-leave@lists.openscad.org

WF

William F. Adams

Mon, May 12, 2025 10:32 PM

For me, the utility is in the graphical representation and the ability to arrange in two dimensions/orientations as opposed to the single axis of a text file (positioning a line or block above or below). It also helps that syntax is enforced, so no errors on my part on that count.

The problem of course is that it is best suited to problems which may be described one screenful at a time, and more complex problems can rapidly devolve into spaghetti:

https://blueprintsfromhell.tumblr.com/

https://scriptsofanotherdimension.tumblr.com/

The unanswered question of course is, "What does an algorithm look like?" and the corollary is it possible to have a meaningful and expressive graphical representation.

I still frequently rough out designs or initial algorithms using:

https://www.blockscad3d.com/editor/

(and sometimes OpenSCAD Graph Editor)

and then transfer that code into OpenSCAD (or Python), so it it is helpful to me.

William

For me, the utility is in the graphical representation and the ability to arrange in two dimensions/orientations as opposed to the single axis of a text file (positioning a line or block above or below). It also helps that syntax is enforced, so no errors on my part on that count. The problem of course is that it is best suited to problems which may be described one screenful at a time, and more complex problems can rapidly devolve into spaghetti: https://blueprintsfromhell.tumblr.com/ https://scriptsofanotherdimension.tumblr.com/ The unanswered question of course is, "What does an algorithm look like?" and the corollary is it possible to have a meaningful and expressive graphical representation. I still frequently rough out designs or initial algorithms using: https://www.blockscad3d.com/editor/ (and sometimes OpenSCAD Graph Editor) and then transfer that code into OpenSCAD (or Python), so it it is helpful to me. William

JD

John David

Mon, May 12, 2025 10:35 PM

When I got introduced to glyph based data-flow programming, it was part of
the Khoros CASE tool suite. They had a glyph based language called Cantata
(see: https://www.cs.colostate.edu/cameron/khoros.html ). I probably have
10,000 hours of working in and around Kroros and Canatata. Yea, that was
predominantly image processing and modeling.

On Mon, May 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM Glenn Butcher via Discuss <
discuss@lists.openscad.org> wrote:

Dataflow network programming has some utility in image processing, where
parallel paths are sometimes used. Blender has such.

A little closer to home, I've been messing with coherent noise networks to
make stone textures. Coherent noise is all over CGI, just about any
"random" texture you see in an animated movie is a product of such an
algorithm. There's an open-source library available to do it, aptly called
libnoise. It has various noise generators, aggregators, math operations,
and such, and you stitch them together in a network to get the output. I
wrote a command-line program to shell the library, aptly called noisetool:

https://github.com/butcherg/noisetool

It reads a text file that defines the nodes, line-by-line, then defines
the connections, line-by-line. I've messed with writing a graphical front
end, but I'm losing interest... :D

Glenn
On 5/12/2025 2:16 PM, Jon Bondy via Discuss wrote:

I agree with John. I can understand the utility of the graphical network
for small projects or for people learning the principles of OpenSCAD, but I
have yet to see a complex project where this approach was important and
helpful. Any examples come to mind?

Jon
On 5/12/2025 3:50 PM, John David via Discuss wrote:

Thank you. I have used similar interfaces in the past, but I do not see
its utility here. I was hoping to get some examples to see if it may be
worth fitting into my tool-chain.

http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient
Virus-free.www.avg.com
http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient
<#m_4079270760077519977_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

OpenSCAD mailing list
To unsubscribe send an email to discuss-leave@lists.openscad.org

When I got introduced to glyph based data-flow programming, it was part of the Khoros CASE tool suite. They had a glyph based language called Cantata (see: https://www.cs.colostate.edu/cameron/khoros.html ). I probably have 10,000 hours of working in and around Kroros and Canatata. Yea, that was predominantly image processing and modeling. On Mon, May 12, 2025 at 6:11 PM Glenn Butcher via Discuss < discuss@lists.openscad.org> wrote: > Dataflow network programming has some utility in image processing, where > parallel paths are sometimes used. Blender has such. > > A little closer to home, I've been messing with coherent noise networks to > make stone textures. Coherent noise is all over CGI, just about any > "random" texture you see in an animated movie is a product of such an > algorithm. There's an open-source library available to do it, aptly called > libnoise. It has various noise generators, aggregators, math operations, > and such, and you stitch them together in a network to get the output. I > wrote a command-line program to shell the library, aptly called noisetool: > > https://github.com/butcherg/noisetool > > It reads a text file that defines the nodes, line-by-line, then defines > the connections, line-by-line. I've messed with writing a graphical front > end, but I'm losing interest... :D > > Glenn > On 5/12/2025 2:16 PM, Jon Bondy via Discuss wrote: > > I agree with John. I can understand the utility of the graphical network > for small projects or for people learning the principles of OpenSCAD, but I > have yet to see a complex project where this approach was important and > helpful. Any examples come to mind? > > Jon > On 5/12/2025 3:50 PM, John David via Discuss wrote: > > Thank you. I have used similar interfaces in the past, but I do not see > its utility here. I was hoping to get some examples to see if it may be > worth fitting into my tool-chain. > > > > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> > Virus-free.www.avg.com > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> > <#m_4079270760077519977_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > > _______________________________________________ > OpenSCAD mailing list > To unsubscribe send an email to discuss-leave@lists.openscad.org > > _______________________________________________ > OpenSCAD mailing list > To unsubscribe send an email to discuss-leave@lists.openscad.org >

discuss@lists.openscad.org

Fw: Re: PythonSCAD rocks!