Beginner: Install and run BRL-CAD! #44BRL-CAD
Status: ClosedTime to complete: 100 hrs Mentors: Mandeep Kaur, Popescu AndreiTags: modeling, CAD, 3d, designBeginner

This is a two-part task. First part is about open source communication, second part is to install and run one of BRL-CAD's tools.

PART 1: For the first part, see the Voluntary Communication Checklist on our org profile page here: https://www.google-melange.com/gci/org/google/gci2014/brlcad

Simply do one or more of the checklist items and leave a comment here saying which you did. Provide some evidence that we can verify like if you talk on our IRC channel, let us know your username. If you join a mailing list, just leave a comment stating the first four letters of your e-mail address (please don't post your whole address). We encourage you to do all four!

PART 2: The second part of this task involves downloading, installing, and running BRL-CAD and then proving you got it working. You'll prove it by creating some really simple geometry, rendering it, and submitting a screenshot.

You have a choice of how to obtain our software, each with different learning challenges:

  • BEST: You can download and compile directly from our repository: http://brlcad.org/wiki/Building_from_SVN
  • EASY: You can download our Virtual Machine image: http://brlcad.org/wiki/Deuces#Getting_Started
  • MEH: You can use a binary tarball: http://brlcad.org/d/download

Once you have BRL-CAD installed, you'll want to run either mged or archer. You can see our Intro to MGED on http://brlcad.org/wiki/Documentation for extensive tutorials on how to model, but here are some quick steps to get you going:

  1. First, create a simple 512x512 black and white image that has your name in it somewhere. Any paint program will do here. You'll want to create white text on a black background.
  2. Save that as a png image named hello.png
  3. Convert your png image to a bw image by running our png-bw command (png-bw hello.png hello.bw). If you can't figure out how to do that on your system command line, this command on the mged prompt should work if you copy-paste it exactly as written into mged: exec \[ file join \[ bu_brlcad_root bin \] pix-bw \] hello.png \ hello.bw
  4. Create your extruded bitmap geometry: in gcirocks.ebm ebm hello.bw 512 512 64
  5. Render a pretty picture:
    B gcirocks.ebm
    ae 35 25
    zoom 1.5
    l gcirocks.ebm
    rt
  6. You should see a rendering window pop up if everything else was okay. Take a full screenshot and submit it here.

Once you submit your screenshot, remember to leave a comment with details about which communication checklist item(s) you performed along with your evidence.

References:
  • http://brlcad.org/wiki/Compiling -- if you're trying to compile from source
  • http://brlcad.org/wiki/Documentation -- intro to mged and quick ref command card
  • http://brlcad.org/wiki/EBM -- more details on the ebm you are creating
Uploaded Work
File name/URLFile sizeDate submitted
Jovan.png185.7 KBJanuary 15 2015 10:20 UTC
jovanscreenshot2.png107.8 KBJanuary 19 2015 06:38 UTC
Comments
Jovan Teoon January 15 2015 10:10 UTCTask Claimed

I would like to work on this task.

Popescu Andrei on January 15 2015 10:11 UTCTask Assigned

This task has been assigned to Jovan Teo. You have 100 hours to complete this task, good luck!

Jovan Teoon January 15 2015 10:20 UTCReady for review

The work on this task is ready to be reviewed.

Jovan Teoon January 15 2015 10:21 UTC

I wrote on the irc chat. I am mini_monstar

Sean on January 16 2015 06:45 UTCokay

Jovan, this is looking okay, but it's very generic.  Also, the rendered angle is poor.   I suggest rendering from a different angle (perhaps ae = 30x20) and making sure the command window is visible too (write your name in there).

Sean on January 16 2015 06:45 UTCTask Needs More Work

One of the mentors has sent this task back for more work. Talk to the mentor(s) assigned to this task to satisfy the requirements needed to complete this task, submit your work again and mark the task as complete once you re-submit your work.

Jovan Teoon January 17 2015 16:34 UTCClaim Removed

The claim on this task has been removed, someone else can claim it now.

Jovan Teoon January 18 2015 08:31 UTCTask Claimed

I would like to work on this task.

Harmanpreet on January 18 2015 08:33 UTCTask Assigned

This task has been assigned to Jovan Teo. You have 32 hours to complete this task, good luck!

Jovan Teoon January 19 2015 06:38 UTCReady for review

The work on this task is ready to be reviewed.

Jovan Teoon January 19 2015 06:39 UTCChanged

Hi i have changed it according to your comments. Thanks for your help.

Daniel_R on January 19 2015 07:39 UTCTask Closed

Congratulations, this task has been completed successfully.