Little/Big Idea: Nodal App

I’d love to build an app, which basically only manipulated data/prototyped data. Basically you would import mesh data/nulls/shapes etc (possible create base types: nulls etc) and  rig/control them through a nodal work flow. I.e Max’s script controller in encapsulated nodes.

• Import models, objects, point cloud data – possibly create nulls etc
• Transforming wouldn’t need specific connections (i.e a transform handle node in Houdini)
• Parenting would be done in the viewport and possible show up in a schematic type view

MotionBuilder similarities:

• Each object would appear as a node or cluster (point cloud etc) – inputs/outputs being position/rotation/scale/xyz
• Local/world space could be used as input output

XSI/Houdini Similarities:

• Nodes could be grouped/compacted into digital asset/compound like object. i.e you could build an IK/FK compound
• Vector operations on the models etc

Operations E.g.

• add, subtract, multiply, inverse, transpose, dot, cross, power,exp, factorial, abs,ceil,floor,mod,arcLength,tangent, binomial
• sin,tan,cos, acos

Case Types E.g.

• If/else/elseIf/finally/then, continue/while, try/catch/throw/break

Value Types E.g.

• integer,float,point2,point3,point4, matrix n*n
• custom variables
• pi, e, etc

Questions..

• Importing data – simple xml data, open customizable
• Animation support?
• Skinning support?
• UV support? Masks?
• Reference space – At one level we want to work on the object itself, at another we want to work on its vertices/knots etc. Operators need to handle both levels of abstraction.
• Is this just for prototyping? (i like this) – need XML to export data to be readable in a standard web browser for translating in final app max/maya etc..

Maybe I’m just describing Houdini/ICE, but this would be purely for visualizing/manipulating object relative data –  custom subsystems e.g. iksolvers, rendering, animation layers, custom constraints etc etc..

More on XSI Compounds here: http://softimage.wiki.softimage.com/xsidocs/ICE_compounds_OverviewofICECompounds.htm