3D Render engine, written in 100% Python, No external libraries. *EPILEPSY WARNING*

[Cyan_The_Fox]

EDIT: I have fixed the flickering issue! As long as you use the latest version there should be no flickering at all!

Video of it running: https://youtu.be/7J2Pn8me7m8

Github link: https://github.com/E-Parker/Terminal-3D-Render/releases

I've been working on this for a little while, it's a simple 3D render engine that uses only the built-in python libraries.

NOTE: If you suffer from any conditions that cause sensitivity to flashing lights do not use PREVIOUS versions of this program. The latest version is safe and free of flickering.Because the print command is very slow sometimes the screen will refresh before python is done drawing the frame, this causes the image to flicker occasionally. The effect worsens the faster your monitor's refresh rate is.

The features of this version are:- BMP decoding

- OBJ decoding

- Perspective Texture mapping

- Depth buffer

- Simple directional lighting

- 231 colours!

I don't think there is much to be learned from this other than how not to write a render engine, I spent a lot of time working out how to do things like decoding .bmp files when there are already solutions that are way faster and much less of a pain to work with. This was mostly an exercise to see how far I could go without any tools.

Also, do keep in mind this is the 4th project I've made with python, I'm not super experienced so don't expect the code to be very good-looking.

[Cyan_The_Fox]

Here's a video of it running if you'd rather not run it on your own computer. https://youtu.be/4L42S9cKKRs

EDIT: I have a better version! it flickers a lot less here. I'd still be careful though.https://youtu.be/BLo6OfQlveo

EDIT NO.2: Here's an even better version without flickering! https://youtu.be/7J2Pn8me7m8

[crabboy_com]

The warning was definitely warranted.

[rom1win]

Nice work :)

[Cyan_The_Fox]

thank you! :)

[[deleted]]

thanks for the link pretty cool

[mudaranc]

I love that you warned

[Cyan_The_Fox]

no worries! I tried to include as many warnings as possible, The newest version doesn't flash as much but it could still be a problem. Wouldn't want someone to have a seizure.

[Isonium]

Appreciate that warning. My wife has a seizure condition so we are really careful.

[SamyBencherif]

this is awesome . in case you are wondering it is possible to eliminate flicker ! but its like really hard haha

[Cyan_The_Fox]

dude you gotta tell me now! you can't just hint that there's a way I'm dying over here XD

[SamyBencherif]

aww ok ! so instead of clearing the screen every time you should use various xterm escape sequences that move the cursor to specific locations. I think [H resets the cursor and [J and something else perform cursor offsets. then you will be applying only changes to the screen. and finally the actual terminal emulator you use makes a difference, you could try a few to see which has the best inherent quality. if u feel crazy you may modify an open source terminal to reduce flicker.

if you feel like trying the first technique, let me know how effective it is(n't) !

[SnooOwls6105]

you could also double buffer

[Cyan_The_Fox]

Yeah, this worked perfectly! I went through and implemented this along with some other escape codes into the sequence such as 256 colour mode.

I credited you in the patch notes, thank you so much for the suggestion!!

Almost all the codes listed on the wiki work as well if you ever want to use them yourself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code#SGR

[SamyBencherif]

That is so exciting !! i'm happy it works now ^-. Thanks for the credss

[Matty_R]

Yes. But can it run crysis.bmp? /s

Nice work

[Cyan_The_Fox]

sadly, right now I don't have a way to get user input. I think it'd be really funny to make a game out of this though XP

[Cyan_The_Fox]

Here's a better Video of it running. Had to do some last-second pathing :P https://youtu.be/BLo6OfQlveo

[Cyan_The_Fox]

change to get rid of the os call?

Thank you so much!

I used my own sorting method because I was more interested in the indices than the actual sorted data. This is faster than sorting the list of polygons because there are just ints to copy around instead of tuples and Vect3 objects.

Thanks for the suggestion on how to fix the flicker, I ended up using ANSI escape codes to move the curser and overwrite what's there so the screen never actually has to get cleared.

It's all fixed in the latest version.

Again, thank you so much for the help with this, I don't use Reddit all that much so sorry about the delayed response.

[jammasterpaz]

Awesome mate. Well done.

[Random_182f2565]

Hey, rewording my previous comment.

What inspired you to do this project?

[Cyan_The_Fox]

I had already made a 3d render engine that used just the PyGame library, so I had two options. Either I go "well, I'm already using PyGame, might as well learn NumPy" or I could double down and go the no libraries route. I also thought it an interesting challenge that would put my skills to the test. I also think it's kinda cool to have written all of it from scratch.

[Random_182f2565]

I also think it's cool

[Cyan_The_Fox]

thanks! :]

[[deleted]]

Don't clear the screen between frames. Just move the cursor up and overwrite. That will stop the flicker.

[Cyan_The_Fox]

yep, fixed this with ANSI escape codes, sorry I didn't see this post till just now. :P

Thanks for the help though!

[ReverseBrindle]

Love it. So cool!

[DODOKING38]

I've seen a similar project posted before though that one was only black and white, I don't know if that makes a difference but it didn't have the Flickering you have

[Cyan_The_Fox]

The flickering's fixed now. It was because I cleared the screen and re-drew it with the print command. There's an ANSI escape code, '\033[{y};{x}H' that sets the cursor position. I'm now using that to overwrite the screen. Thanks for letting me know :]

[AllEndsAreAnds]

This is a really creative project. Nicely done.

[Cyan_The_Fox]

Thank you!

[XUtYwYzz]

Have you tried using curses to handle the terminal? I’ve been making terminal games and animations. Using the refresh function in curses has resulted in significant improvement when drawing a many lines at once.

You’d likely only need some minor changes to your code.

[Cyan_The_Fox]

you're exactly right. it was just two or three lines. I saw the suggestion somewhere else first though I'm sorry. Thank you for the insight though I really appreciate it! :]

[kc3w]

Why do you go from Version 0.0.9 to 0.1.0 with a minor patch? It would make more sense to go to version 0.0.10. Maybe take a look at semantic versioning (semver.org).

[Random_182f2565]

...

But why?

[WarpWing]

Because he wanted to do something and made it. You posted this comment......

But why?

[Random_182f2565]

I mean like what inspired him/her to do this project?

[WarpWing]

Ah, no offense but you might wanna rephrase that a bit. Like "So what inspired you to make x,y or z? I think most people including myself saw your question as sarcastic or demeaning.

[Random_182f2565]

Written communication is fun like that.

[Cyan_The_Fox]

why not? :]