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Compared to other solutions, Java 3D is not only a Wrapper around these graphics APIs, but an interface that encapsulates the graphics programming using a real, Object-oriented concept. Here a scene is constructed using a Scene Graph that is a representation of the objects that have to be shown. This scene graph is structured as a tree containing several elements that are necessary to display the objects. Additionally, Java 3D offers extensive Spatialized Sound support.

Java 3D and its documentation are available for download separately. They are not part of the JDK 6. However future versions of the JDK are expected to include a API package for Java 3D.


HISTORY


  • Intel , Silicon Graphics , Apple , and Sun all had Retained Mode Scene Graph APIs under development in 1996. Since they all wanted to make a Java version, they decided to collaborate in making it. That project became Java 3D.

  • Development was underway already in 1997 .

  • A public beta version was released in March 1998.

  • First version released December 1998.

  • From mid- 2003 through summer 2004 , the development of Java 3D was discontinued.

  • In the summer of 2004 Java 3D was released as a Community Source project, and Sun and volunteers have since been continuing its development.

  • Version 1.4.0 of the API was released on February 24 , 2006 .

  • Version 1.5.0 of the API was released on December 13 , 2006 .




FEATURES




COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES


Java 3D is not the only high-level API option to render 3D in Java. In part due to the pause in development during 2003 and 2004, several competing Java scene graph technologies emerged:

General purpose:

Gaming:

Visualization:

In addition to those, many other C or C++ scene graph APIs offer Java support through JNI .

At a lower level, the JOGL (JSR 231) OpenGL bindings for Java are a popular alternative to scene graph APIs such as Java 3D.


SEE ALSO





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