Hello, Rana: I think it's great that you want to modernize Fractint, and I would like to definitely help with this, but .NET is the devil. Microsoft and open-source really shouldn't go in the same sentance. Think Java or C++. C++ would be very nice because it would be easier to port the existing code, as well as performance considerations. --- Rana Ian <rana_ian@hotpop.com> wrote:

Hi,

I'm looking at how to bring forth an up-to-date, open source fractal generating application into creation. The vision is to have a more robust Fractint-like application that offers a modern user interface, GPU (video card) calculations, and a more robust feature set. Fractint users have offered many wonderful suggestions on Robin Bussell's wish list that I would like to see realized.

A survey of the field of fractal applications shows ~80 fractal generation applications with varying feature sets. Only a handful of the current fractal generating applications seem to have on-going maintenance and development. Fractint seems to have the most features of fractal generating applications at the moment. One of the developers of the fractal apps was joking that writing owns own fractal app is an obligatory action for many programmers. The existence of so many fractal apps offers some evidence to that truth. I think one of the strengths Fractint has is that instead of ~80 developers writing their own application ~80 developers contributed to an open source project which became greater than any application made by one or two developers.

I abandoned the idea of writing my own application. Re-writing the wheel is not really appealing. What I want is a richly featured modern fractal generating app. What I want is basically Fractint with up-to-date features. So, how will this up-to-date fractal generating application manifest?

.Net, C#, and DirectX offer a modern user interface, real-time fractal calculation using GPU pixel shaders, and up-to-date technologies to develop new features going forward. I propose to rewrite Fractint in c# for the .Net platform. Windows would be supported. Unix would be supported to the extent .Net is implemented on Unix systems by the Mono project.

As we know, there are many interesting things that can be done. Some ideas Fractint users have suggested to the wish list:

Video Card acceleration, Modern user interface Distributed Calculation across CPUs Key Frame sequencing for deep zoom animation Animation response to audio patterns Fractal Audio Generation Photoshop Plug-ins Winamp Plug-Ins More Coloring Options Localization Video Animation Screensavers Internal formula editor

Some other features I would like to see are:

Peer-To-Peer File swapping and Gallery Item Rating System In-app bug reporting In-app feature requesting Variable Canvas sizes KPT-like mutation lab (Randomness suggested form wish list) Gradinet Designer (like KPT) XML File Formats File compatability with competing fractal applications Inter-operability with Adobe technologies - Palettes - Layers Multiple Image export formats

A rewrite would go a long way to enabling an integrated engine to address all of the would-b-nice requests to go forward. The intent is to build upon what has already been done. The intent is to maintain open source ideas. The intent is to continue developing the best fractal exploration application.

What do you think? Is there any support, criticism, or suggestions you would like to offer towards a Fractint.Net port?

Thanks,

Rana Ian

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Fractint Wish List

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/robin.b2/olig/fracwish.htm

List of Fractal Applications

http://home.att.net/~Paul.N.Lee/Fractal_Software.html

GPU Shader Development

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/FX_Composer_Shaders.html

..Net Development http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/

The Mono Project (.Net on Unix) http://www.go-mono.com/

...

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All I have to say is that if you are serious about putting in the amount of necessary work (I think Tim is underestimating it, frankly), then do what you think is best and other people's ideas of what you should do be damned. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline"-- code samples, sample chapter, FAQ: <http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/> Pilgrimage: Utah's annual demoparty <http://pilgrimage.scene.org>