Using A Programming Language to Model in 3D

In order to use a programming language, you need access to a compiler or interpreter. The simplest way I know of to get that is to sign up for web hosting, since most servers are running PSP.

To use a programming language to do something, you write an application.

A model begins as a list of points. At the end of the process, your application displays a rendering based on the points you supplied, and relationships you established between them.

A first component, then, would create a form into which you can enter your list of points and relationships. When you send your list, all your points get stored in variables. I guess your relationships do, to. I'm still thinking this out.

You could start a model by giving it a name:

(model name="my house")

next, you can name a few points:

(point name="left front corner of the foundation of my house" feet="0,0,0")
(point name="right front corner of the foundation of my house" feet="50,0,0")

Wow, I can see how this is going to take some doing. Boy, do I feel it will be worthwhile, though.

(point location="0,0,0" name="lower left corner of the outside of the front wall of the living room, where it meets the brick step at the base of the wall" accuracy="a guess")

If we don't include a location, our interface for recording observations can prompt us for it later.

Here, though, we've re-named the origin. Later, if we call that point, our interface can remind us that it has a history, and what the history is.

We could teach our application to understand the definition of a feature, for example, a wall.

(rectangular plane color="light grey") (name="outside face of front wall of living room")
(corner 1)(/corner 1)
(corner 2)(/corner 2)
(corner 3)(/corner 3)
(corner 4)(/corner 4)
(/rectangular plane)

More later.

Urbanism and Computing

For the present purpose, let us define urbanism as mapping.

Since the purpose of the blog was previously defined as computing, the general question is about computer mapping.

My idea is to create a place on line where people can do their own mapping.

I propose teaching people to write their own mapping software. Contrary to what appears to be prevailing thought, this will make it easier for people to access the technology.

I described the blog as a place to ask questions. If I can formulate a series of questions that anyone can follow ...

My other thought is to separate the process of recording observations from the rendering component of the mapping process, by describing a language for making observations. Again, this should make the process in question much more accessible.

Finally, a business component of some sort seems to be central to any enterprise, but how is that done? Similar to the idea of teaching people to write their own software, what about teaching people to organize their own businesses? If we teach people to write software, they will innovate, and their innovations should be turned into products, which is the role of business.

My plan is to write to anyone I can find who might be able to help, and ask them to read the questions and thoughts I'm recording, and for information to publish here, or other kinds of support they might suggest.

Purpose of the Blog

The general purpose is urbanism.

The narrower purpose is computing applied to urbanism.

The narrow purpose is to be a place for me to ask for information about computing, in the context of questions about urbanism and experiments with technology I understand.

The ride-along specific purpose is to be a place to note things of interest.

In my log I noted "a very nice wine that cost five dollars, I had a feeling as soon as I saw it."

I have never bought a South African wine. I figured it was a gimmick. I mean, I figured there is a good movement, there, but what do I know about it, and that most people buy because it's a gimmick. I'm sort of wary of gimmicks. They can be fun, but they're dangerous. You could end up being an idiot.

My adventuresome parents did visit a winery, when they were in Capetown, and they had a picture, and looked, I thought, quite classy, and nice. That's part of the reason I had a feeling when I saw this bottle. I only saw it because my Kat has been playing around with buying wines. She tries things I don't even look at. As usual, I like everything she does. Anyway, I also thought this bottle had sort of a serious look, even though, on the surface, it looks like a souvenir. (Come to think of it, I've received some very, very nice souvenirs from Africa ... touristy things, but really good.) The wine confirmed my intuition.

I guess I'd say it's big. I don't really know what the term means, though, so I may get laughed at.

I was just thinking about something related. What was it? Oh, right, I had some honey from Zambia, I think it was (Kat bought me that, too, come to think of it), and it had quite a powerful bouquet of African leather. (We should do a perfume!) I wondered if Zarafa would be like that, and, actually, subtly so, it is.

And there was this, too: ... and now I can't remember what this one was ... Oh, right: Pinotage. Is that a know type? (Click the picture to see it a little larger.) I feel like I've heard it. Anyway, I love the word.

How To Move Oneself

There are all these things I could do in the garden that would really be good. I could go out and do some work first thing in the morning, a lot of days. That would be the ideal time. When I think about it then, though, I don't want to go outside, for various reasons. It's too cold, and I feel shy, and I don't want to spend the whole morning doing those jobs. So, typically, and pretty much every time, I've just stayed inside and put off the outdoor things. It made me mad that I wasn't getting anything done, but that's just how it went.

In general, I've been experimenting with the idea that, when something is hard to get done, I can make progress by tackling it in very small pieces. This has actually worked really well, at least on some things. Mostly I've been using to keep up with the cleaning, and I feel like I'm gradually getting caught up with it. I'm using the idea in other parts of life, too, though. Actually, this blog is probably an example, though, as I think about it right now, I'm having to work to remember how I developed my routine, and what I thought about. Still, I'm sure it's the case.

What I'm saying is, I think people can succeed at anything by taking this approach, even really big things. In fact, I think it's the secret to being able to get really big things done. Also, I think when we work at little parts of something, gradually, we build momentum, until, at a certain point, we can find ourselves really flying, and all sorts of amazing stuff can happen in really easy ways.

Anyway, I was thinking about how to get all those garden things done, and I had been thinking for more than a week about maybe going out in the front yard in the morning, with my bushel basket, and just picking up a few leaves, and trimming a few of the long Bermuda runners, and then going back in. It wouldn't even look like I'd done anything, which was actually part of the idea, but over time, doing it regularly, it would get the yard looking tidy.

I could still feel how I would hesitate, when it came to it, in the morning. Then I got this other idea, to just go out and sort of tour the yard and look around a bit, at that time in the morning. One of the things that I felt was happening was that I couldn't remember what I needed to do, at those moments, and that made me hesitate, so, if I did a little tour like that, I would be reminded. Plus, it would get me moving around a little.

Well, I did it this morning, and then I ended up doing a little raking. I did just a little, just as I'd planned, and then came in. It felt good.