davis@karl.ucar.edu (Glenn P. Davis) (12/29/89)
We are to write some software. It is supposed to take images ("weather
pictures from space") and be able to overlay other information (like contour
maps of surface temperature) on the resultant image. The kicker is
that we would also like to be able to animate time series of these.
Oh, yeah ... and it's supposed to work an whatever hardware the customer has,
like low end workstations and maybe even high end PC's.
At this point I've written VERY simple programs to loop say four of these
images (no overlay) in the following API's:
SunView
NeXT Step
Xt (Athena widgets).
I'm personally convinced that the PostScript imaging model is the one
to use. Running the Xt version even on a SPARCStation barely qualifies
as 'animation'. I assume the problem is that I have to shove a quarter
meg image down the client server pipe for each frame. I also feel that
X puts too much responsibility in the client application.
At the risk of starting a flame war, I'd like to get some information/opinions
to back up my position, something I can use to convince the powers that be.
Issues sure to come up:
NeWS only available on Suns.
I don't think this true.
Other platforms supported, vendors and cost?
Performance.
Theoretically better for NeWS when Client/Server
communications is the limiting factor. Other considerations?
Is the PostScript in the pipeline binary encoded somehow or
still ascii? (I seem to remember binary, but may be confused).
Ease of programming.
Any real world comparisons?
(related to above) Maturity of toolkits.
Remarks? Recommendations?
NeWS was a good idea, but isn't it just a dead end now?
Like, who is using it besides some pointy headed academics?
(Not my opinion, but I've heard it said...)
Examples of applications supporting NeWS.
The Spectre of Display PostScript vs NeWS.
If one concedes that X is the window system of the 80's and
that PostScript is the way to go, we still aren't convinced
that NeWS is the PostScript way to go.
Please reply directly and I will summarize.
Pointers to previous discussions also appreciated.
Thanks for you input and the benefit of your experience.
Glenn P. Davis davis@unidata.ucar.edu
UCAR / Unidata
PO Box 3000 1685 38th St.
Boulder, CO 80307-3000 Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 497 8643