=============================================================== Name: Joseph Wilkicki (jwilkick) =============================================================== =============================================================== Project Title 1: Real-time Strategy Game Description: A game system similar to StarCraft or Command & Conquer which is expandable through use of plugins. Includes a mission editor and map editor for users create custom games. The plugins would be for additional units for players. Unit API would incorporate AI in a manner similar to a RoboCup simulator. By adding terrain to the maps, the game system could also be used as a robot simulator to design better algorithms for navigating through uneven terrain. Identify Local Users: PC game players, AI Group researchers, robotic researchers Assign a 1-5 score for these criteria (Assuming 5 is most desirable/valuable) Useful to others: 3 Has specific users: 5 Can be scaled up to a PC product: 5 Divisible: 5 In C++ on Suns: 5 Overall: 4.6 Pros: If the system is implemented in a general manner, it can provide a simple and well-understood graphical interface for robotic simulation and for simulation of robots acting in concert. Can also provide a simple API for implementing algorithms. The project also has the broad appeal of a PC game. Cons: Developing entertaining game play even for the limited means of demoing the system could be difficult. Requires a fair amount of artistic talent to developing an appealing look. Requirements for use as an AI or robotic simulator could require greater complexity than might be expected for what would at least start out as a game system. =============================================================== =============================================================== Project Title 2: Universe Simulator Description: This project would be a general 3D solar system simulator which simulates the motion of planets or other celestial bodies. The uses for the system could be as a teaching tool to demonstrate Newtonian physics, as a general system for modeling the behavior or projected orbit of space probes for Brown researchers collaborating with NASA, or as a star map or demonstrator for astronomy classes. It might also be possible for a networked version to grab information about the position of current NASA space craft (such as the International Space Station) from the Internet for display in the system. The project could also serve as a game library for space flight or combat simulators or a game similar to SimEarth. Identify Local Users: Physics students studying Newtonian motion, astronomy researchers for demo purposes. Assign a 1-5 score for these criteria Useful to others: 3 Has specific users: 3 Can be scaled up to a PC product: 3 Divisible: 2 In C++ on Suns: 5 Overall: 3.2 Pros: Utilizes the 3D capabilities of the Sun Workstations. Could lead to the development of a general physics and motion library for use in any kind of simulation system which requires functions of that nature. Cons: May be difficult to divide tasks among a large team, unless the system was target to something specific like a game. =============================================================== =============================================================== Project Title 3: Coffee Grinder A Java IDE for CS15/16 students. The IDE would include a syntax highlighting editor, automatic generation of blank class stubs and javadocs for projects, 'pretty printing' of source code, and a decent java debugger. A TA module could provide utilities for configuring student IDEs for particular projects (e.g. a "Projects" menu that would configure the student's environment with starting classes for an assignment and a button to handin assignments from the IDE). Another useful feature would be to have the IDE be a Java client which could talk to a CS assignment server so students could work from any networked computer without worrying about Exceed software keys. A possible extension could be a networked TA help wait list and collaboration tool which would allow students to ask questions and get comments from TAs while reducing TA Room congestion and long waits for help. Identify Local Users: CS15,16 students, anyone who needs an environment for writing Java files. Assign a 1-5 score for these criteria Useful to others: 5 Has specific users: 5 Can be scaled up to a PC product: 3 Divisible: 4 In C++ on Suns: 4 Overall: 4.2 Pros: Would finally provide a simple environment for beginning CS students which would be more reliable than the old Wave environment and be less complex than Xemacs. If it were possible to include a platform-independant client it would also help reduce SunLab congestion. Cons: May not be of sufficient complexity for a large group team. Commercial products exist which appear to handle this need for professionals; the only benefit could be to academic users. =============================================================== =============================================================== Project Title 4: WinXFree86 A free implementation of X11 which would be more robust and feature-full than the current free alternatives of M/IX, WeirdX, or VNC. Identify Local Users: Any users who need to remote access X apps from department machines Assign a 1-5 score for these criteria Useful to others: 5 Has specific users: 5 Can be scaled up to a PC product: 5 Divisible: 5 In C++ on Suns: 1 Overall: 2, since requirement of C++ on Suns is ultimately deciding factor. Pros: The SunLab is often congested during project deadlines and there are sometimes problems obtaining keys for Exceed or using free alternatives. Cons: Implementing a useful server for this purpose would mean coding for Windows instead of the specified Sun environment, but the project would be extremely beneficial to students in the department. There is also the complexity of implementing a very extensive and crufty graphics system which could take more time than a semester. ===============================================================