Java 3D

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Java 3D is a scene graph-based 3D application programming interface (API) for the Java platform. It runs on top of either OpenGL or Direct3D. Since version 1.2, Java 3D is developed under the Java Community Process. JSR 926 specifies Java 3D 1.4; as of 2007, the current version is 1.5.0 (released in December 2006). Java 3D 1.5.1 is currently under development, and is scheduled for release in May 2007.

Compared to other solutions, Java 3D is not only a wrapper around these graphics APIs, but an interface that encapsulates the graphics programming using a real, object-oriented concept. Here a scene is constructed using a scene graph that is a representation of the objects that have to be shown. This scene graph is structured as a tree containing several elements that are necessary to display the objects. Additionally, Java 3D offers extensive spatialized sound support.

Contents 1 History 2 Features 3 Competing technologies 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] History

• Intel, Silicon Graphics, Apple, and Sun all had retained mode scene graph APIs under development in 1996. Since they all wanted to make a Java version, they decided to collaborate in making it. That project became Java 3D.
• Development was underway already in 1997.
• A public beta version was released in March 1998.
• First version released December 1998.
• From mid-2003 through summer 2004, the development of Java 3D was discontinued.
• In the summer of 2004 Java 3D was released as a community source project, and Sun and volunteers have since been continuing its development.
• Version 1.4.0 of the API was released on February 24, 2006.
• Version 1.5.0 of the API was released on December 13, 2006.

[edit] Features

• Multithreaded scene graph structure
• Platform independent
• Generic Real-time API, usable for both visualization and gaming
• Support for retained, compiled-retained, and immediate mode rendering
• Includes hardware-accelerated JOGL, OpenGL and Direct3D renderers (depending on platform)
• Sophisticated virtual-reality-based view model with support for stereoscopic rendering and complex multi-display configurations
• Native support for head-mounted display
• CAVE (multiple screen projectors)
• 3D spatial sound
• Programmable shaders, supporting both GLSL and CG
• Stencil buffer
• Importers for most mainstream formats, like 3DS, OBJ, VRML, X3D, NWN, and FLT

[edit] Competing technologies

Java 3D is not the only high-level API option to render 3D in Java. In part due to the pause in development during 2003 and 2004, several competing Java scene graph technologies emerged:

General purpose:

• AgentFX

Gaming:

• Xith3D
• jMonkey Engine
• Espresso3D

Visualization:

• Aviatrix3D
• JView
• Jreality. http://www3.math.tu-berlin.de/jreality/

In addition to those, many other C or C++ scene graph APIs offer Java support through JNI.

At a lower level, the JOGL (JSR 231) OpenGL bindings for Java are a popular alternative to scene graph APIs such as Java 3D.

[edit] See also

• Project Looking Glass Experimental 3D Desktop using Java 3D

[edit] External links

• Java 3D Official Home Page The Java 3D community source project
• Java 3D 1.5.0 API (Javadoc documentation)
• Java 3D 1.5.0 implementation
• JSR 926 (Java 3D 1.4)
• JSR 912 (Java 3D 1.3)
• Java 3D Wiki A place for Java 3D collaboration (includes lists of books and users, faq and knowledge base)
• Java 3D Forums For users and developers
• J3D.ORG Java 3D information page and lots of sample code
• Java 3D support and information page
• Example VR application using Java 3D
• Java 3D test page An applet that tests if Java 3D is installed correctly.