Date: Tue, 5 Jul 1994 23:16:28 -1000 From: vdhamer@prl.philips.nl Message-Id: <9407060916.AA05484@isthp2.prl.philips.nl> Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: KiteFlight - new releases In November 1993 I posted a message on rec.kites announcing a new PC program named KiteFlight. Those who missed that can find a mildly updated version of this original posting at the end of this file. ============================================================================== KITEFLIGHT NEWS (November '93 - July 6th '94) 1. KiteFlight by ftp ================= A demo version (kfd) was placed on the rec.kites archives in Nov. '93. 2. Changes ======= There have been the usual (minor) enhancements to KiteFlight and the associated KF1 control language. 3. XKF and rec.kites feedback ========================== There has been a lot of E-mail discussion about the program with Lee Hetherington, Marty Sasaki, Simo Salanne, and others. This lead to some changes and to Lee writing a KiteFlight compatible program, XKF, that runs on UNIX workstations. XKF supports almost all KF1 constructs and planned changes to KF1 are discussed with Lee. 4. New windowing user interface ============================ KiteFlight's user interface was totally rewritten (using Borland's Turbo Vision). The user interface now has windows, dialog boxes, mouse support, on-line context-sensitive help, pull-down menus, saveable settings, etc. 5. Press ===== KiteFlight was described in Kite Lines (latest issue) by rec.kiter Michael Graves and in Drachen Magazin by Simo Salanne. Both 'reviews' were favourable. 6. Compulsory School ================= There was briefly a 'column' by Simo Salanne in rec.kites with a mixture of texts on precision kite flying and accompanying 'illustrations' which could be animated using KiteFlight. The column stopped after one or two installments due to lack of feedback from the rec.kites community. 7. Book and floppy disk ==================== KiteFlight was released (late June 94) as part of an appendix to the new kite book by Servaas van der Horst and Nop Velthuizen. The book is: 'Stunt Kites II - new designs, buggies and boats'. ISBN 90 6868 085 5, THOTH Publishers, Bussum, The Netherlands also available in German and Dutch To get this straight: I have no business links to this book and my links to KiteFlight are more emotional than financial. My earnings per floppy are less than the price of a postage stamp and my expected income from KiteFlight is going to be less than my development expenses in terms of HW/SW costs. The 720K floppy contains KiteFlight (in 2 different flavours), a full length routine by the Dike Hoppers (6 kite team) and by Ron Reich (from his new book 'Kite Precision') and a complete set of STACK/AKA compulsories coded by Simo Salanne (STACK Finland). The floppy also contains 2 other programs by P. Ruinard which are related to building kites described in Stunt Kites II: plans for many of the kites in the book can be printed actual size on most types of printers. Large designs are "plotted" on multiple pages. The floppy is packaged in a plastic CD package with a full-color artwork and sells for 20 guilders here in Holland. The jacket of book states that the book is complete without the floppy: you can build any kite in the book based on the printed information only. You cannot build kites based on the floppy without access to the book, although KiteFlight (700f the space on the floppy?) does not require the book in any way. 8. Training judges =============== Simo Salanne is currently experimenting with the use of KiteFlight to train new judges. Simo has written a prototype shell for use with KFC which collects statistics about awarded points. Simo is opening up a dialog within STACK/AKA on this method. Contact Simo directly for further information (salanne@convex.csc.fi). 9. New release of KFD ================== This week I sent an updated version of KFD (1.01) to the rec.kites archives. It is compiled using the same kernel as the first commercial version, KF 1.01 . See next section for comparison. ============================================================================== VERSIONS OF KITEFLIGHT At present there are 3 different versions of KiteFlight: KF, KFC and KFD. The release numbers (e.g. 1.01) of all 3 are synchronized: KF 1.01 and KFC 1.01 and KFD 1.01 were compiled from the same library and thus contain the same 'engine', and thus have the same basic features. If there is a (non-UI) bug in KF 1.01, it will thus also be in KFD and vice versa. [ Regarding my bug track record: only two minor bugs were discovered since KFD/KFC 0.51 (respectively listed in CHANGES.DOC and PLANS.DOC). KF probably contains more (undiscovered) bugs because it is an order of magnitude more complex internally. ] Command Line Windowing User Interface User Interface ----------------|---------------- | | | Note that the Command Line | KFD | doesn't | version actually has a simple Freeware| | | menu system (in addition to *demo* | on rec.kites | exist | command line control). versions| archive sites | | | | | ----------------|---------------| | | | | KFC | KF | Commercial| | | | on disk with | on disk with | | Stunt Kites II| Stunt Kites II| | | | --------------------------------- The difference between KFC and KFD is that the latter does not accept large input files. KF is a lot fancier than KFC: the difference is roughly comparable to a Windows and a DOS version of the same program (both versions run under DOS, but KF provides a windows-style look and feel). Summary: KF - the best version (on Kites 1.0 floppy) KFC - same, but with simpler user interface (on Kites 1.0 floppy) KFD - demo version of KFC (freeware/demoware/anywhere) ============================================================================== +-------------------------+ | A summary of KiteFlight | +-------------------------+ KiteFlight is a DOS program which can simulate the motion of an individual sports kite or kite team. The motions are defined in a language we call KF1. VIEWER: For casual users, KiteFlight is thus the viewing program for KF1 files (in the same sense that there are various viewing programs for various animation formats). KiteFlight and KF1 have certain benefits related to the fact that they were specifically designed for simulating kite flying: + you get a smoother animation (typically >100 frames/second) + the display resolution is limited by your hardware rather than by the format of a (precalculated) video file + you can adjust the speed of flight, magnification and resolution + KF1 files are very compact (see example) Drawbacks: - Kites are shown only as simple triangles for computational reasons. LANGUAGE: For the non-casual kite-a-holics, KF1 is also a language in which to describe your own routines and ballets. Main benefits: + your computer doesn't have to calculate for hours to generate a few seconds of animation footage: the KF1 source file is animated in real time. This shortens the test cycle time (important for KF1 'authors'). + the source file *is* the animation file (no source file --> preview image --> high quality 'overnight' image) + you can adapt any KF1 file which you can beg, steal, borrow or FTP + KF1 was designed as a programming language for non-programmers. It is not particularly difficult to understand what an instruction does. We don't claim to make the design of new routines trivial: we only claim to make it easier, more effective and .. more fun. Main drawbacks: - Professional programmers may prefer a more abstract language with various more powerful abstractions. In case you are wondering, KiteFlight itself is programmed in ANSI C (Borland C++ 3.1 compiler + some assembly). The user interface code for the KF version is written in (real) C++. EXAMPLE: ; KiteDemo.KF1 - a demonstration file for KiteFlight KF1 1.00 ; start of file (written for KiteFlight Ver 1.00) KiteInit 1 -100 50 ">" "blue" ; kite #1 x=-100, y=50, heading to right KiteInit 2 -80 50 ">" "green" ; kite #2 x= -80, y=50, heading to right KiteXY 0 50 ; goto x=0 y=50 KiteArc 10 -360 ; loop 360 degrees counterclockwise (radius=10) KiteDH 70 ">" ; move 70 units to the right (or use: KiteDH 70 +90) For 1 ; for kite #1 only.. KiteArc 12.5 -180 ; rotate 180 degrees counterclockwise (r=12.5) Endfor For 2 ; for kite #2 only.. KiteDH 10 ">" ; compensate for half of headstart KiteArc 12.5 +180 ; rotate 180 degrees clockwise (r=12.5) KiteDH 10 "<" ; compensate for remainder of headstart Endfor ; at this point both kites are 'in synch' KiteDH 70 "<" ; fly back to center of screen (x=0) KiteArc 10 +360 ; simultaneously loop 360 degrees clockwise (r=10) KiteDH 90 "<" ; fly back to left side of screen (x=-90) EndKF1 ; end of routine Once you have a KF1 description of a routine or figure, KiteFlight (in its current form) allows you to use this information in three different ways: (1) - you can simulate the kite's motion on the screen (2) - you can display the kite's path ("trail") on the screen (3) - you can create a printable file showing a trail segment Items (2) and (3) resemble the diagrams used to represent compulsories on paper. TEAMS: The above example illustrates the main ingredients of KF1. In the first lines, two kites are 'following': both kites take the same route, but one has a head start. In the For..Endfor blocks, the kites are flying independent (but similar) motions. In the last few lines, both kites are flying in formation: they are doing the same moves simultaneously. COLORS: The individual kites in a team can be displayed in the same color, or with one kite highlighted (you!) or with each team member in a different color. KF1 will even let you change colors in midflight (although you may find this hard to duplicate in reality). PURPOSE: KiteFlight was originally developed as a tool for use by the Dutch team The Dike Hoppers. This team uses KiteFlight as a tool to visualize, develop and learn their ballet and precision routines and to make hardcopies for taking home. In their experience, it is less work to develop, discuss and optimize a routine using KiteFlight than by making lots of sketches and a series of paper diagrams. COMPULSORIES: KiteFlight is also suitable for expressing individual and team compulsories. A typical compulsory is about 10-20 lines of KF1, can be automatically simulated, is unambiguous and can be transferred on floppy or via E-mail. Simo has compiled a library containing most of the AKA/STACK compulsories. HARDWARE: KiteFlight supports all major PC color graphics modes (EGA, VGA, SuperVGA), prefers a 386 or better (but can run on antiques too). Note that the speed of flight is NOT influenced by the speed of your hardware ("real time"): slower machines sometimes produce somewhat jerkier motions than faster ones. DISTRIBUTION: KiteFlight is (loosely) bundled KiteFlight with the new book "Stunt Kites II. New designs, buggies and boots" released in June 1994 in English, German and Dutch editions (authors are Dutch). The software is distributed through the same channels as the book (kite stores and book stores). The book and floppy are loosely bundled in the sense that each is useful stand-alone, but both will benefit from each other (symbio-whachamacallit). AVAILABILITY: The KiteFlight floppy was released in late June 1994, and was first sold (in a CD enclosure!) at the 1994 kite festival in Scheveningen (the Open Dutch Grand Prix and areal art show ;-). By the time you read this, it should be available world wide (depends on boats, planes, caravans, stage coaches..). WANTED: We are still looking for top class teams who are interested in having their routines on the KiteFlight distribution floppy (free publicity & free copy of program & KF1 support in exchange for permission to 'publish' your KF1 file on the KiteFlight floppy). --- Peter van den Hamer Karel de Stoutelaan 6 5583 XD Waalre The Netherlands vdhamer@prl.philips.nl = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =