[x3d-public] Chisel Codebase Again Available

[Don Brutzman]

Blast from the past: Chisel tool still works on VRML and ClassicVRML.  Can we upgrade it?

[1]	X3D Resources, Conversions and Translation Tools: Chisel
	https://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/X3dResources.html#Chisel

"15. Chisel VRML Optimisation Tool with autoinstaller and documentation provided by Halden Virtual Reality Centre. Originally built by Trapezium and maintained by NIST."

Thanks to Michael Louka's careful stewardship over many years, am happy to report that this Java codebase - dating to the earliest days of VRML97 and the Web3D Consortium - is *again available and still runs*.  Way cool.

[2]	Sourceforge, Web3D Consortium open source, X3D tools, Chisel
      	https://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/tools/chisel
	https://sourceforge.net/p/x3d/code/HEAD/tree/www.web3d.org/x3d/tools/chisel/test/HelloWorldScreenshotChisel.png

Subversion checkout:

[3]	https://svn.code.sf.net/p/x3d/code/www.web3d.org/x3d/tools/chisel

 From recent evaluation email by me:

> Good news: Michael has maintained this Java codebase locally, still runs it occasionally, and is willing to give it back for maintenance openly under Web3D Consortium's public infrastructure.  Am guessing this might take a few months to become more sharable and actionable, we'll see.  All of the planning and work will be reported on the x3d-public mailing list, hopefully attracting a contributor or two.
> 
> I tried running this (fairly ancient) installer on my Windows machine - installing for invocation with a modern java failed (earlier jar files no longer have same structure) but installing Chisel "as is" with bundled Java 1.6 worked.  8)
> 
> If you can get Chisel running on one of your systems, it is likely worth trying on one of the VRML your models in order to get a sense of what might be possible.  Model reduction workflow is (X3D -> VRML -> chiseled VRML -> X3D) in order to retain all original model metadata.  Chisel data-reduction algorithms work on model geometry (vertices and indices), colors and animations.
> 
> I just ran Chisel to good effect on my second machine, reducing a legacy (Shay D Pixel) 1.5MB VRML model to 450K.  Not bad "out of the box" result.  Will attach result in next message.

[4]	X3D Example Archives: X3D4AM, X3D for Advanced Modeling, Shay D Pixel, Shay D Pixel Version 2
    	http://x3dgraphics.com/examples/X3dForAdvancedModeling/ShayDPixel/ShayDPixelVersion2Index.html
    	http://x3dgraphics.com/examples/X3dForAdvancedModeling/ShayDPixel/ShayDPixelVersion2.wrl

> The 3D model size-reduction arena will remain a common challenge (as it has for over 20 years) and so continues to be worth pursuing.  I don't expect any quick fixes, but am optimistic that we will get Chisel restored.  No doubt can upgrade Chisel to .x3d XML encoding as well as .wrl VRML97 and .x3dv ClassicVRML encodings.  Will probably be able to make it part of X3DJSAIL tool chain as well.  Given our emphasis on backwards compatibility while evolving VRML97 through many versions of X3D, each of the many Chisel techniques are expected to still be viable. 

So this is an exciting development!  Who is interested in helping? Hoping we can plan a meeting to plan partnered work on renewed work.

all the best, Don
-- 
Don Brutzman  Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br       brutzman at nps.edu
Watkins 270,  MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA   +1.831.656.2149
X3D graphics, virtual worlds, navy robotics http://faculty.nps.edu/brutzman