Image format libraries, raytracers and stuff

[James Dunne]

Stewart Gordon wrote:
> James Dunne wrote:
> 
>> Stewart Gordon wrote:
> 
> <snip>
> 
>>> And I see the other WaveFront format is .mod, which is what the 
>>> Fortrash compilers I've used use for module information files.
>>
>>
>> .MOD to me means an Amiga multi-track music sequence file. 
> 
> 
> That reminds me.  OUAT there was a sound card that included in its 
> bundled Windows software a program called Modus, which IIRC played .mod 
> files.
> 
>> Hey, even DOC used to mean plain-text document back in DOS.
> 
> 
> And some programs would even use filename extensions that are already 
> used by programs that ship with the OS on which they run.  For example, 
> IIRC Windows Paint, Freelance Graphics and Paint Shop Pro all use .pal 
> for their palette files, but they're different file formats.  And 
> wxCLIPS uses .clp even in its Windows version, whereas .clp is also a 
> Windows clipboard image.
> 
> Also, some filename extensions are deliberately chosen to confuse.  For 
> example, see
> 
> http://esoteric.sange.fi/orphaned/bak/
> 
>> ...and what's so bad about Fortran (if I assume correctly that 
>> Fortrash is derived from)?
> 
> <snip>
> 
> I guess it just doesn't have all the power of D I'm used to.
> 
> OK, so built-in vector arithmetic is one of the few good things about 
> it....
> 
> Stewart.
> 

Well, one can hardly blame Fortran for its age now... Still, it has its 
uses; and that is for people who aren't necessarily programmers by 
nature.  For instance, those in engineering and physics fields find it a 
very powerful language in which to express complicated mathematical models.

However, built-in vector arithmetic is something D would certainly 
enjoy, especially in the context of multimedia development!  Intrinsics 
anyone?

-- 
Regards,
James Dunne