Re: The future of Performer

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Angus Dorbie (dorbie++at++sgi.com)
Tue, 23 Jun 1998 17:23:19 -0700

Joseph R. Spann wrote:
>
> > > With Michael Jones departure it's not clear to me how committed
> > > the "new" SGI is to Performer. Who all has left the
> > Performer team and
> > > are they being replaced?
> >
> > The notion that Michael Jones was the source of SGIs commitment
> > to Visual Simulation is ridiculous.
>
> I certainly in NO way implied that Michael Jones was the source of SGI's
> commitment to VisSim. I'm not sure how you got that from my question.
> But since YOU brought it up ....

Your post is easily read this way, the text of which is above.

> However the circumstances of his departure
> suggest a change of commitment on SGI's part. That is why I asked.
> I'm very glad to hear Sharon-Rose is still there. Exactly how many others
> left?

It's pretty clear that you don't know what the circumstances
of his departure were. You also don't know what decisions have
been made before or since his departure, and you won't know
because that's confidential information. Please don't post this
kind of damaging innuendo to public mailing lists.

>
> The reason I'm asking is I'm starting new development and may opt to build
> it all from the ground up with OpenGL if the tea leaves suggest Performer is
> not going to be relevant in 3 years. Lets face it. The integration of
> Performer,

The main issue has been cross platform support which is clear
from the Cosmo3D/Java3D, OpenGL++ and now Fahrenheit plans.
The roadmap has finally settled and the horizon is pretty
much the same shape. We're just closer to the destination.
That's not lack of commitment.

SGI will continue to support and develop Performer.
The support will last much longer than 3 years.

> Inventor, ImageVision etc. has dragged on for 3 years now. I thought that
> was
> Michael's "mission". A single scene graph and multi-API integration (my
> words.)
> That effort changed names more times than anyone cares to remember. Are
> these
> activities moving forward? The SGI strategic plan makes no mention of the
> future
> of the API's.

If you look in the right place there is clear commitment. If
you read a 10000 feet overview of the company strategy you
may not see it mentioned, that's not surprising.

Without undermining Michael's contribution there are many more
people tasked with implementing the API roadmap and supporting
current products then just Michael Jones. In addition we people
managing the API group who are totally committed to Performer
support including ongoing development of new features which
are important to Vis Sim customers. This is something I've
personally sought since it's important for my market and the
assurances and commitment are there.

This is my last word on this thread.

Cheers,Angus.

-- 
"Only the mediocre are always at their best." -- Jean Giraudoux 


For advanced 3D graphics Performer + OpenGL based examples and tutors:
http://www.dorbie.com/
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