Java 3D is an extension of the Java language in the field of three-dimensional graphics. It is a set of application programming interfaces (APIs). With the API provided by Java 3D, you can write a web page 3D animation, a variety of computer-aided teaching software and three-dimensional games. Using Java 3D programs only require programmers to call these APIs to program, and clients only need to use standard Java virtual machines to be browsed, so they have the advantages that do not need to install the plugin.
Java 3D provides developers from a high level to developers to create, manipulate, and coloring, making development work easier. At the same time, the low-level API of Java 3D is depends on the existing three-dimensional graphics system, such as Direct 3D, OpenGL, QuickDraw 3D and XGL, etc.
This architecture of Java 3D can only develop procedures "to run everywhere", which makes it possible to make full use of the system's three-dimensional characteristics. Just because Java 3D has such a powerful three-dimensional ability, it makes it in the network world, especially in the game.
Java3D history introduction
The Java3D API is an interface defined by Sun to implement 3D display. 3D technology is the underlying display technology, Java3D provides a Java-based upper-level interface. Java3D packs OpenGL and DirectX these underlying technology in the Java interface. This new design makes 3D techniques no longer cumbersome and can join J2SE, J2EE's complete architecture, which guarantees powerful scalability of Java3D technology.
Java3D is based on Java2 (Java1.2), and the simplicity of the Java language makes the promotion of Java3D. It implements the following three-dimensional display that can be used:
Generate simple or complex forms (can also call existing three-dimensional body)
The form is color, transparent effect, and map.
Generate lights and moving lights in a three-dimensional environment.
Treatment of behavior (keyboard, mouse, timing, etc.).
Fun, background, sound.
Make the body deform, move, and generate a three-dimensional animation.
Write a very complex app for all kinds of fields such as VR (virtual reality).
J2SE does not provide Java3D API in its standard development package, Java3D is an independent optional component that can be downloaded separately. Java3d now (as of May 2003) The official version offered is 1.3.0, you can download the development kit at http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3d/download.html.
Java3D 1.3 has 7 different downloadable versions:
Java3D for Windows (DirectX Version) SDK for JDK (Include Runtime);
Java3D for Windows (OpenGL Version) SDK for JDK (Include Runtime);
Java3d for Solaris / SPARC Runtime for JDK (Include Runtime);
Java3D for Windows (DirectX Version) Runtime for JRE;
Java3D for Windows (OpenGL Version) Runtime for JRE;
Java3d for Solaris / SPARC SDK for JRE;
Java3d for Solaris Runtime 64 Bit Support;
The first three versions are development kits. The 4th, 5th, 6 versions are the Java3D running period support package. The last is to support the Solaris 64 bit operation platform to run Java3D packages. The top three developments contain their respective periodless support packages. The Java language itself has cross-platform features, regardless of the above version of the development kit, concept, and implementation code will remain exactly all. Here we use Java3D for Windows (OpenGL Version) SDK for JDK (Include Runtime); version as our discussion, implement Java3D toolkit. Note To ensure the following environments before installing this version of SDK: Java 2 (Runtime Or SDK) version 1.3.1 or later version
OpenGL 1.1 or later version, and is a graphics card manufacturer supported by Microsoft
Windows NT 4.0 ONLY: Service Pack 3 or later version (Window2000, Windowxp)
Comparison of Java3D and other three-dimensional technology
Java3D can be applied to three-dimensional animation, three-dimensional game, mechanical CAD and other fields. But as a three-dimensional display implementation technology, it is not the only choice and is a new face. There have been many three-dimensional technologies before Java3D, these three-dimensional technologies have different technologies, the language and applicable cases, and we mainly introduce three technologies that are closely related to Java3D: OpenGL, Direct3D, VRML
OpenGL is the industry's most popular also supports the most widely foundation 3D technology, almost all graphics manufacturers have achieved support and optimization of OpenGL at the bottom. OpenGL also defines a series of interfaces for programming 3D applications, but these interfaces are implemented using C (C ) language and is very complicated. Mastering programming technology for OpenGL requires a lot of time energy.
Direct3D is a 3D graphic programming API launched by Microsoft, which is primarily applied to the programming of 3D games. Many excellent three-dimensional games are implemented by this interface. Like OpenGL, Direct3D is mainly used by C languages.
VRML2.0 (VRML97) has been extensive in the network since December 1997, which is a wide range of applications in the network. This is a simple language than Basic, JavaScript, etc. The scriptized statement can be written in three-dimensional cartoon, 3D game, computer 3D aid teaching. Its biggest advantage is that it can be embedded in the web page, but this simple language function is weaker (such as a collision check function between the form), and is difficult to master with other advanced languages such as Java language, thus gradually Submerged in a highly competitive network three-dimensional technology.
Table 1 is a comparison chart of Java3D and other three-dimensional technologies, which can be seen from it. Differences between them:
