Java3DRoadmap

This page shows the roadmap to new releases. Only next release might have release dates shown. Release dates are added as soon as decided. Please read Java3DWikiInfo before making any changes to these pages.

NOTE: The Java 3D Feature Suggestions section is for Java 3D community members to add their list of desired features.

Table of Contents

Released versions of Java 3D

We have released the following versions of the Java 3D API on java.net.

Current Version

• Java 3D 1.5.2

Previous Versions

• Java 3D 1.5.1
• Java 3D 1.5
• Java 3D 1.4
• Java 3D 1.3.2 (first community source release)

Open Issues

The following links will query the bug database for open P1-P4 issues:

• Issues targeted for: post-1.5.2 (currently unplanned)
• Issues not yet targeted for a release

The following links will query the bug database for P5 issues (which we have no plans to address, unless something changes):

• "owner-needed" issues (will be addressed only if someone in community volunteers)
• "incomplete" issues (not enough information to reproduce them)
• "placeholder" issues (these are place-holders for informational purposes)

Java 3D Future Releases

Improvements to the Java 3D API are on hold at this time. See our forum post for more information.

Java 3D .next Features

Following are possibilities for an unplanned future release:

• Render to texture - (Issue XXX)
• Multipass rendering^? - (Issue XXX)
• Shadow map support - (Issue XXX)
• Texture optimizations:
  • Rectangular textures - (Issue XXX)
  • Compressed textures - (Issue 230)
  • Use Pixel Buffer Objects - (Issue 118)
• Geometry optimization:
  • Use Vertex Buffer Objects - (Issue 119)
• Cg shader support for DirectX 9 - (Issue 218)
• Change to using nanoTime internally for alpha interpolators - (Issue 214)
• More efficient use of CPU/resources by modifying scheduling behaviour - (Issue 261)
• Extensibility:
  • Access to the native context (JOGL integration)
  • Geometry extensibility
  • Additional node types (e.g., haptic rendering)
  • Extensible geometry processing algorithms

Note that these new issues are in addition to any other issues that have been filed (see Open Issues).

Community Features

This list of features is under discussion for possible inclusion into a new version of the API, if there is community involvement. Please refer to the Contributing to Java 3D page to learn how to contribute.

• Point sprites - (Issue 188)
• Ability for nested ViewSpecificGroup nodes to replace the set of views - (Issue 310)
• Netbeans module
• P5 "owner-needed" issues

Java 3D Feature Suggestions

This section is for collecting ideas for possible future versions of Java 3D. Anyone should feel free to add their ideas to this section. Some of these will make their way into the appropriate section above (probably the community features section).

Possible Java 3D Future Features

Here is an unprioritized list of features and utilities that could be considered for a future release:

• Nurbs surface rendering (utility)
• API support for retained alpha buffers - (Issue XXX)
• Plug-in capability
  • Rendering Device Interface (pluggable renderers)
  • Visibility structure