Interested in Mac Network Renderer?

DarkLight · 10-01-2003, 08:20 PM

Just a simple poll to check out the level of interest here.

Myself and Alain Bertrand developed a network rendering solution for lightwave called Amleto (check sig) which at the moment runs on PCs only.

I am currently looking at re-writing this software and i'm thinking of making a version for both the PC and the Mac. Are there any Mac users out there who would like to have something like this?

I would like to know if there is any interest in such as system before i start.

Steve

Beamtracer · 10-01-2003, 09:13 PM

Hi Darklight. There's a lot of interest in network rendering on the Mac, and a lot of interest in using something other than Screamernet.

I don't know whether or not Lightwave 8 will have any improved network rendering features for the Mac. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Otherwise it'll be third party solutions.

drclare · 10-01-2003, 10:03 PM

I'm definetely interested. I read about your plugin a little while back and was sad that it wasn't for macs. It looks like exactly what i think network rendering should be...easy.

DarkLight · 10-02-2003, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beamtracer
Hi Darklight. There's a lot of interest in network rendering on the Mac, and a lot of interest in using something other than Screamernet.

That's basically what i wanted to know before i start any major re-writes. Is there much requirement for OS9 now, or are most people now running OSX?

toma · 10-02-2003, 04:19 AM

Hi Darklight,

looks wonderfull, I hope you'll manage to make it run smooth on the mac… I think you shouldn't make a Os9 version : with this Os one application can't use more than 1 Gb, and that is just not enought to render with lightwave.

btw, something I would like to see is beeing able to use both intel (win or linux) and mac (osX) nodes (with screamernet, mac and pc fail to load the scenes, because of the way directories are written in the job file ( Z:content:scenes vs Z/content/scene )…

thomas

3dworks · 10-02-2003, 05:52 AM

yes, very interested - if it makes network rendering easier to manage! a split image render option would be very welcome, we are working more for print and render times with actual G4s for high resolution images are near to prohibitive at the moment. Of course G5 macs will be much faster, but many mac users will use their old G4s as parts of their small or big renderfarm - like we do, i guess.

best regards

markus groeteke
3dworks visual computing

jpburns · 10-02-2003, 07:34 AM

I'd be very interested.
I even went so far as to write a Mac OSX (AppleScript) application for setting up LWSN -3 renders, called LW Sequencer, but would love something more distributed (and, no doubt, better written).

eblu · 10-02-2003, 09:56 AM

I am holding out for a complete re-write of screamernet.
Amleto looks very good, much better than screamernet in fact, but it cannot be expected to solve screamernet's flaws. Above and beyond the UI and design flaws, I have found that screamernet is Not consistently reliable. Crashes, weird renders, lost images, and render stoppages halfway through a render cannot be avoided by simply putting a snappy outfit on this tired and worn out application.

I have tried other third party screamernet controller apps in the past, and the net result is that even with clever programs, that do the setup work for you, there is no getting around the bugs in screamernet. Screamernet is in the heart of every LW network rendering solution, and its just not a viable piece of software (on the mac).

-eblu

mlinde · 10-02-2003, 11:26 AM

You should also be aware that there are ... issues with scene files not being completely cross-platform, and plug-ins not working in a cross-platform rendering environment. Lots of lovely headaches when trying to develop cross-platform stuff for LW. I'm still working on a good solution, most of my LScripts I write have completely separate branches when it comes time to access the platform information or files.

Ade · 10-02-2003, 11:49 AM

OS9 is dead, make it pure OSX and UI savvy.
Include stuff like being about to support dual cpus, shut down any cpu, restart any cpu, NAME any cpu. Screamernet controller kinda does this but is expensive.

DarkLight · 10-02-2003, 12:30 PM

Well i'll be starting work on this on the weekend and it's my first attempt at a Mac application, so this may take some time.

I'll keep you posted on progress.

Ade · 10-02-2003, 12:37 PM

1. Dont be shy to ask for beta testers.
2. Dont be shy to ask for advice and help from the mac programmers here.
3. Brush metal would be a nice interface

DarkLight · 10-02-2003, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ade
1. Dont be shy to ask for beta testers.
2. Dont be shy to ask for advice and help from the mac programmers here.
3. Brush metal would be a nice interface

I will probably look for beta testers at some point as i have plenty of PC's here, but only the one Mac.

At the moment i would be happy with any interface, let alone a nice one

eblu · 10-02-2003, 01:45 PM

first attempt at a mac app?
I suggest Apple's home grown dev tools.

DarkLight · 10-02-2003, 04:08 PM

I'll take a look at the Apple devtools, but have actually got Codewarrior for the PC and i can use that to develop Mac applications. That's how i compile Amelie for the mac.