Inexor

Visual Scripting System

General architecture

 +---------------+                     +---------------+
 |Entity Instance|                     |Entity Instance|
 +---------------+                     +---------------+
 | attribute     | (output)----(input) | attribute     |
 +---------------+                     +---------------+

Keep it simple!

  1. Connectors connects output-attributes and input-attributes (see next section)
    • Attributes not being an INPUT cannot be controlled by the visual scripting system. The reason of not being an INPUT can be:
      • performance
      • read-only
      • engine-controlled
    • Each attribute can be either an output-attribute or an input-attribute, but not both
      • reason: recursion / loops
      • We have to detect avoid loops to make it possible!
  2. Active components (calculating, executing, ...) are entities (not relationships)
    • Active components are using one or multiple input-attributes in order to calculate or execute something and writes the result into zero, one or multiple output-attributes

Communication

Möglichkeit von Kommunikation zwischen den Spielern, z.B. für custom game modes. Ist natürlich nicht soo performant, aber die Möglichkeiten sind sehr interessant!

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
SEND_INT packet_name string Y N
value int Y N
SEND_FLOAT packet_name string Y N
value float Y N
SEND_VEC3 packet_name string Y N
value vec3 Y N
SEND_VEC4 packet_name string Y N
value vec4 Y N
SEND_BOOL packet_name string Y N
value bool Y N
SEND_STRING packet_name string Y N
value string Y N
RECEIVE_INT packet_name string Y N
value int N Y
RECEIVE_FLOAT packet_name string Y N
value float N Y
RECEIVE_VEC3 packet_name string Y N
value vec3 N Y
RECEIVE_VEC4 packet_name string Y N
value vec4 N Y
RECEIVE_BOOL packet_name string Y N
value bool N Y
RECEIVE_STRING packet_name string Y N
value string N Y

Dbus

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
DBUS_MESSAGE x string Y N

Octree

Inexor's representation of the world geometry is based on an octree.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
OCTREE_NODE
An octree node has exactly zero or eight children (see HAS_SUB_NODE)		 - - - -
OCTREE_SIDE - - - -
OCTREE_CORNER - - - -
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
HAS_OCTREE_SUB_NODE_0 OCTREE OCTREE
HAS_OCTREE_SUB_NODE_1 OCTREE OCTREE
HAS_OCTREE_SUB_NODE_2 OCTREE OCTREE
HAS_OCTREE_SUB_NODE_3 OCTREE OCTREE
HAS_OCTREE_SUB_NODE_4 OCTREE OCTREE
HAS_OCTREE_SUB_NODE_5 OCTREE OCTREE
HAS_OCTREE_SUB_NODE_6 OCTREE OCTREE
HAS_OCTREE_SUB_NODE_7 OCTREE OCTREE
HAS_OCTREE_SIDE_0 OCTREE OCTREE_SIDE
HAS_OCTREE_SIDE_1 OCTREE OCTREE_SIDE
HAS_OCTREE_SIDE_2 OCTREE OCTREE_SIDE
HAS_OCTREE_SIDE_3 OCTREE OCTREE_SIDE
HAS_OCTREE_SIDE_4 OCTREE OCTREE_SIDE
HAS_OCTREE_SIDE_5 OCTREE OCTREE_SIDE
HAS_OCTREE_CORNER_0 OCTREE_SIDE OCTREE_CORNER
HAS_OCTREE_CORNER_1 OCTREE_SIDE OCTREE_CORNER
HAS_OCTREE_CORNER_2 OCTREE_SIDE OCTREE_CORNER
HAS_OCTREE_CORNER_3 OCTREE_SIDE OCTREE_CORNER
USES_TEXTURE_SLOT OCTREE_SIDE TEXTURE_SLOT

Note: Parts of the world geometry (i.e. a sub tree starting with an entity instance of OCTREE_NODE) can be re-used by linking it with multiple parents. This may save disk-space and/or bandwith for heavily repeated maps.

cube2 implementiert den octree etwas anders:

  • edges: 13x
  • faces: 4x
  • texture: 6x

Octree Selection

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
SELECTION
A selection of octree nodes in coop edit mode		 name string N N
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
SELECTS_OCTREE_NODE
The selection points on one or multiple octree nodes		 SELECTION OCTREE_NODE
SELECTS_OCTREE_SIDE
The selection points on an octree side		 SELECTION OCTREE_SIDE

Note: it is possible to make octree selections permanent by saving the OCTREE_SELECTION and all SELECTS_NODE relations.

Note: it is possible to share a octree selection by synchronize OCTREE_SELECTION and all SELECTS_NODE relations.

Map

Usually a map is contained in a entity system instance system (ESIS) which is loaded from file. The entity type MAP stores the meta data of a map and also is an umbrella and connects all important mechanics. A MAP entity instance should be the only occurence in an ESIS.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
MAP
The map contains the world geometry, map models and everything else		 name string N Y
author string N Y
version string N Y
description string N Y
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
HAS_WORLD_GEOMETRY MAP OCTREE
HAS_SKYBOX MAP SKYBOX
Relationship Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
HAS_WORLD_GEOMETRY
The relative position where the octree is inserted		 position vec3 N Y
rotate_x_negative bool N Y
rotate_y_negative bool N Y
rotate_z_negative bool N Y
rotate_x_positive bool N Y
rotate_y_positive bool N Y
rotate_z_positive bool N Y
mirror_x bool N Y
mirror_y bool N Y
mirror_z bool N Y
is_active bool N Y

Note: You can add multiple octrees in a map and they may be positioned relative to (0,0,0). The settings are only used by loading a map.

Skybox

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
SKYBOX
A skybox is the background of a map to make it look bigger than it really is		 name string N Y
author string N Y
version string N Y
description string N Y
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
HAS_SIDE_UP SKYBOX TEXTURE_SLOT
HAS_SIDE_DOWN SKYBOX TEXTURE_SLOT
HAS_SIDE_BACK SKYBOX TEXTURE_SLOT
HAS_SIDE_LEFT SKYBOX TEXTURE_SLOT
HAS_SIDE_FRONT SKYBOX TEXTURE_SLOT
HAS_SIDE_RIGHT SKYBOX TEXTURE_SLOT

Shader

Shader loading

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
SHADER_IMPORTER
Loads a shader from file		 filename string Y N
shader bytearray N Y

Shader representation

If the attribute shader changes, the engine will loads the shader into the graphics card.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
SHADER
Representation of a shader on a gfx card		 name string Y N
shader bytearray Y N

Texture

Definition of textures, loading textures from file, saving textures to file, transforming textures using filters and operations, connecting textures with a gfx card texture slot.

Texture loading

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
TEXTURE_IMPORTER
Loads a texture from the specified location		 filename string Y N
texture bytearray N Y
texture_type string N Y
author string N Y
version string N Y
TEXTURE_RENDER_URI
Renders a website to the texture using CEF		 uri string Y N
texture bytearray N Y

Texture represenation

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
TEXTURE_SLOT
Representation of a texture slot on a gfx card		 slot_id int Y N
diffuse_map bytearray Y N
normal_map bytearray Y N
height_map bytearray Y N
specular_map bytearray Y N
glow_map bytearray Y N

Texture manipulation and saving

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
TEXTURE_EXPORTER
Exports a texture to file, for example generated textures		 texture bytearray Y N
filename string Y N
filetype string Y N
TEXTURE_COLORIZE input_texture bytearray Y N
color vec4 Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_BRIGHTNESS input_texture bytearray Y N
brightness float Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_HUE input_texture bytearray Y N
hue float Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_SATURATION input_texture bytearray Y N
saturation float Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_SCALE input_texture bytearray Y N
scale_x float Y N
scale_y float Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_BLEND input_texture_1 bytearray Y N
input_texture_2 bytearray Y N
blend_texture_1 float Y N
blend_texture_2 float Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_MASK input_texture bytearray Y N
mask_texture bytearray Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_BLUR_ANISOTROPIC input_texture bytearray Y N
intensity float Y N
anisotropy float Y N
angle float Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_SPLIT_CHANNEL input_texture bytearray Y N
red bool Y N
green bool Y N
blue bool Y N
alpha bool Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_AMBIENT_OCCLUSION input_texture bytearray Y N
height_depth float Y N
surface_size float Y N
height_scale float Y N
radius float Y N
quality int Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y

... Investigate further ...

  • https://support.allegorithmic.com/documentation/sddoc/files/172818670/172818672/1/1530026718726/Substance+Designer+Documentation+-+26-06-2018.pdf

Noise generation

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
TEXTURE_SIMPLEX_NOISE width int Y N
height int Y N
noise_level float Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_PERLIN_NOISE width int Y N
height int Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_VALUE_NOISE width int Y N
height int Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_WORLEY_NOISE width int Y N
height int Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y
TEXTURE_PAINTER width int Y N
create a texture via an editor: a brush or a polygon painter) (i.e. import from points height int Y N
output_texture bytearray N Y

Color

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
PALETTE name string Y N
COLOR
Extends VEC4_STORE		 name string Y N
color vec4 N Y
COLOR_ADD input_color_1 vec4 Y N
input_color_2 vec4 Y N
output_color vec4 N Y
COLOR_SUB input_color_1 vec4 Y N
input_color_2 vec4 Y N
output_color vec4 N Y

TODO: Investigate further color operations.

Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
PALETTE_CONTAINS_COLOR PALETTE COLOR

Light

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
LIGHT name string Y N
position vec4 Y Y
color vec4 Y Y
DIFFUSE_LIGHT name string Y N
radius float Y Y
intensity float Y Y
SPOT_LIGHT name string Y N
distance float Y Y
intensity float Y Y

Camera

A camera looks from a position to a specific direction. This can be in first person, means the player looks as the character he plays. Other perspectives are possible: in third person, a fixed position camera or along a rail.

To create a screenshot of the world, the camera has an output-attribute named texture. This can be saved to disk or used as source for texture generation.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
CAMERA
The base entity type for all types of cameras. A camera has at least a position and a direction		 name string Y N
position vec3 Y Y
direction
(YPR = yaw, pitch, roll)		 vec3 Y Y
fps int Y N
texture bytearray N Y
CAMERA_FIRST_PERSON
The camera's position is the eye-position of the player. The camera looks along the player's velocity vector.
Parent Type: CAMERA		 - - - -
CAMERA_THIRD_PERSON
The camera's position is behind the player's position. The camera looks at the player.
Parent Type: CAMERA		 - - - -
CAMERA_RAIL
The camera's position moves along the rail.
Parent Type: CAMERA		 - - - -
CAMERA_MINIMAP
The camera's position is on the top of the map and the camera looks orthogonally down (2D-View).
Parent Type: CAMERA		 - - - -
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
CAMERA_MOVES_ALONG CAMERA RAIL
CAMERA_FOLLOWS_PLAYER CAMERA PLAYER

Game Mode

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
PLAYER_SPAWN name string Y N
position vec3 Y Y

Player

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
PLAYER name string Y N

Team

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
TEAM name string Y Y
color vec4 Y Y
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
IS_MEMBER_OF PLAYER TEAM

Rails

The rails system allows to create a predictable movement along a rail.

For example:

  • camera flights
  • particle movement along the rail (like wind streams)
  • particle creation
  • Movement of bots, NPCs, mapmodels or any other objects on a map
Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
RAIL name string Y N
RAIL_POINT position vec3 Y N

Rail relationships

The rail relationships define which rail point is connected to which other rail point.

Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
RAIL_STARTS_AT RAIL RAIL_POINT
RAIL_ENDS_AT RAIL RAIL_POINT
RAIL_CURVE RAIL_POINT RAIL_POINT
Relationship Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
RAIL_CURVE
The curve between two rail points.		 curve_type string Y N

Rail curve types

The curve between two rail points can be specified. A comprehensive list of curve types is available on wikipedia. We probably start with these curve types.

Curve type Degree Description
line 1 Straight line from point to point
bezier2 2 Bezier curve with one control point
bezier3 3 Bezier curve with two control points

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_curves

Geometric shapes

Geometric shapes are useful for

  • geometry collision
  • area definition
  • rendering geometric objects
  • rendering meshes
  • rendering particles
  • emitting particles
  • generating textures based on 2D or 3D geometry

... Futher investigation ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_shapes

Mesh

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
MESH position vec3 Y N
MESH_POLYGON - - - -
MESH_POLYGON_VERTICE position vec3 Y N
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
HAS_POLYGON MESH MESH_POLYGON
POLYGON_STARTS_AT MESH_POLYGON MESH_POLYGON_VERTICE
NEXT_MESH_POLYGON_VERTICE MESH_POLYGON_VERTICE MESH_POLYGON_VERTICE

Load mesh (MD3→Entity System) Save mesh (Entity System → MD3) Scale mesh

Mapmodel

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
MAPMODEL position vec3 Y N
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
HAS_MESH MAPMODEL MESH
HAS_TEXTURE MAPMODEL TEXTURE

Curves

... Futher investigation ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_curves

Surfaces

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
GEOMETRIC_CUBE position vec3 Y N
size vec3 Y Y
GEOMETRIC_SPHERE position vec3 Y N
size float Y Y
GEOMETRIC_SURFACE_CONE position vec3 Y N
size float Y Y

... Futher investigation ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platonic_solid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surfaces

Polygons

... Futher investigation ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_polygons,_polyhedra_and_polytopes#Honeycombs_2

Collision

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
COLLIDES_CUBE cube_position vec3 Y N
player_position vec3 Y N
is_active bool N Y
COLLIDES_SPHERE position vec3 Y N
player_position vec3 Y N
is_active bool N Y
COLLIDES_OCTREE player_position vec3 Y N
is_active bool N Y

Scripting

Scripting allows to call a script. The entity systems calls a method named execute with an object containing all input attributes as parameter. The method has to return an object with output attributes which gets overwritten.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
SCRIPT language string Y N
script_name string Y N
... more input attributes ... any datatype Y N
... more output attributes ... any datatype N Y

Text

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
TEXT text string Y N
font_size float Y N
position vec3 Y N
color vec4 Y N

User Interface

This is the main integration of HTML user interfaces.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
USER_INTERFACE
The user interface is a website rendered in front of the world with a transparent background.		 name string Y Y
url string Y Y

Note: a user interface has to be

Use Cases

  • The main menu
  • The HUD
  • Console / Chat (separate console and chat?)
  • User interface for coop edit

Commands

Dynamic creation of commands. Default commands, game-mode-specific commands or even map-specific commands.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
COMMAND name string Y N
description string Y N
value string Y N
COMMAND_PARAMETER_INT name string Y N
description string Y N
value int Y Y
COMMAND_PARAMETER_FLOAT name string Y N
description string Y N
value float Y Y
COMMAND_PARAMETER_STRING name string Y N
description string Y N
value string Y Y
COMMAND_PARAMETER_BOOL name string Y N
description string Y N
value bool Y Y
COMMAND_RESULT name string Y N
value string Y Y

Console Handlers

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
INPUT_HANDLER_STDIN value string N Y
OUTPUT_HANDLER_STDOUT value string N Y
OUTPUT_HANDLER_STDERR value string N Y

Windows

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
WINDOW
A client can show one or multiple windows. A window renders zero, one or multiple cameras and zero, one or multiple user interfaces		 title string Y Y
position vec2 Y Y
dimensions vec2 Y Y
fullscreen bool Y Y
minimized bool Y Y
is_active bool Y Y
Relationship Type Name Start Node Entity Type End Node Entity Type
RENDERS_WORLD_USING
The window renders zero, one or multiple cameras		 WINDOW CAMERA
RENDERS_USER_INTERFACE
The window renders zero, one or multiple user interfaces		 WINDOW USER_INTERFACE
Relationship Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
RENDERS_WORLD_USING position vec2 Y Y
dimensions vec2 Y Y
order int Y Y
is_active bool Y Y
RENDERS_USER_INTERFACE position vec2 Y Y
dimensions vec2 Y Y
order int Y Y
is_active bool Y Y

Note: A window can render multiple cameras and multiple user interfaces at the same time.

Use Cases

  • Default: One window renders the world using the full screen space in first person perspective. Also a minimap is rendered in the top right corner in front of the main view.
  • Second spot: Two windows at the same time, one renders the world in first person perspective of the player, the other renders the world from a fixed position camera.
  • Multi-spectator: One window renders the world in first person perspective of four spectated players, each view uses 1/4 of the screen space.
  • User-Interface only: A second window renders only a user interface, for example the user interface for coop edit.

Input Handling

The idea is to make keyboard input available within the entity system.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
KEY_DOWN keycode int Y N
is_active bool N Y
KEY_ALIAS aliasname string Y N
keycode bool N Y
is_active bool N Y
MOUSE_DOWN button int Y N
is_active bool N Y

PollEvent → switch(event.key.keysym.sym) → is_active

TODO: Missing connection: Window → Input Handling

Sound

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
SOUND_IMPORTER filename string Y N
format string Y N
sound_data bytearray N Y
SOUND_PLAY sound_data bytearray Y N
is_active boolean Y N
volume int Y N

Entity System Example (Teleport System)

Example of a flexible and dynamic teleport system using the entity system and the visual scripting system

This simple example shows how the teleport subsystem could be automized using visual scripting. A teleporter instance (TELEPORTER_1) has multiple targets (TELEDEST_1, TELEDEST_2 and TELEDEST_3) which should be addressed alternately. Timers (TOGGLE_TIMER_1, TOGGLE_TIMER_2 and TOGGLE_TIMER_3) enables / disables the relationships (TELEPORTS_TO_1, TELEPORTS_TO_2, TELEPORTS_TO_3) using visual scripting.

Entity Types

TELEPORTER

Name Datatype Type
position vec3 INPUT

TELEDEST

Name Datatype Type
position vec3 INPUT

TOGGLE_TIMER

Name Datatype Type
total_ms int INPUT
active_ms int INPUT
duration_ms int INPUT
is_active bool OUTPUT

Relationship Types

TELEPORTS_TO

Start-Node-Type End-Node-Type
TELEPORTER TELEDEST
Name Datatype Type
enabled bool INPUT

Entity Instances

TELEPORTER

Name Position
TELEPORTER_1 (0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
TELEPORTER_2 (100.0, 0.0, 0.0)

TELEDEST

Name Position
TELEDEST_1 (500.0, 0.0, 0.0)
TELEDEST_2 (-500.0, 0.0, 0.0)
TELEDEST_3 (0.0, 500.0, 0.0)

TOGGLE_TIMER

Name total_ms active_ms duration_ms
TOGGLE_TIMER_1 150 0 50
TOGGLE_TIMER_2 150 50 50
TOGGLE_TIMER_3 150 100 50

Relationship Instances

The relationship instances defines the connections between teleporter instances and tele destination instances.

TELEPORTS_TO

Relationship Instance Start Node (Entity Instance) Relationship Instance Relationship Instance End Node (Entity Instance)
TELEPORTER_1 →TELEPORTS_TO_1→ TELEDEST_1
TELEPORTER_1 →TELEPORTS_TO_2→ TELEDEST_2
TELEPORTER_1 →TELEPORTS_TO_3→ TELEDEST_3
TELEPORTER_2 →TELEPORTS_TO_4→ TELEDEST_1

Connectors

Just to more confusion: We are still friends with HackMD heart

For the whole renaming story, see the related issue

Change teleport target dynamically using visual scripting connectors

Output
Entity-Instance		 Output
Entity-Instance
Attribute		 Input
Entity-Instance		 Input
Entity-Instance
Attribute
TOGGLE_TIMER_1 is_active → TELEPORTS_TO_1 enabled
TOGGLE_TIMER_2 is_active → TELEPORTS_TO_2 enabled
TOGGLE_TIMER_3 is_active → TELEPORTS_TO_3 enabled

Visual Scripting Mechanichs Example

Teleporting a player

Entity Type Output Attribute Name Data type Entity Type Input Attribute Name Data type
PLAYER position vec3 → IN_BOX position vec3
TELEPORTER position vec3 → MAKE_BOX position vec3
MAKE_BOX box_1 vec3 → IN_BOX box_1 vec3
MAKE_BOX box_2 vec3 → IN_BOX box_2 vec3
IN_BOX is_active bool → ACTIVATOR_VEC3 is_active bool
TELEPORTER position vec3 → ACTIVATOR_VEC3 input bool
ACTIVATOR_VEC3 result vec3 → PLAYER is_active position

Um die Position des Teleporters wird eine Box erzeugt. Befindet sich der Spieler in der Box, wird die Position des Teleporters in die Position des Spielers geschrieben.

Visual Scripting - Connector

Keep it simple!

  • An output-attribute can be connected to multiple input-attributes
  • An input-attribute can only receive one connection from a single output-attribute
  • The output-attribute and the input-attribute MUST be of the same data type
  • Only the attributes of instances (entity instances and relationship instances) can be connected!
  • Automatic propagation of updates: If the value on an output-attribute has changed, the input-attribute will be updated as well

Data model of connectors

Alternative 1: We store connectors as a separate data structure

Property Name Datatype Description
uuid_output string The UUID of the output-attribute
uuid_input string The UUID of the input-attribute

Alternative 2: We store the signals in the output attributes

Property Name Datatype Description
uuid string The UUID of the attribute
name string The name of the attribute
datatype enum The data type of the attribute
value ? The default value (entity type, relationship type) or the value (entity instance, relationship instance)
features map<string, bool> The features are stored as a map, where the feature-name is the key (new)
connections vector<string> The connections are stored as a vector of UUIDs to the target input-attributes (new)

Implementation of connectors

  • We set the value of the input-attribute if the value of the output-attribute has changed using signals:
    • https://schlangster.github.io/cpp.react/tutorials/BasicSignals.html
  • Therefore the implementation of the propagation of attribute values is simple

Management of connectors

  • On creation of an entity instance we have to create signals for each connector (reactive programming)
  • On adding an connector, we also have to create a signal and we have to synchronize the new connector
    • Bevor wir einen connector erzeugen dĂĽrfen, mĂĽssen wir erst ĂĽberprĂĽfen, ob der input-connector nicht schon andersweitig belegt ist
  • On deletion of an entity instance we have to remove the incoming and outgoing signals before we remove the entity instance (also we have to remove the relationship instances connected to the entity instance)
  • Load and save connectors (JSON)
  • Extend REST-API for the connectors
    • get_outgoing_connectors(attribute_uuid)
    • get_outgoing_connectors(entity_instance_uuid, attribute_name)
    • has_input_connector(attribute_uuid)
    • get_input_connector(attribute_uuid)

Active Components

  • Keep it simple:
  • Active components are entities not relationships
  • Active components calculate something
    • It uses data from one or multiple input-attributes for calculation of the result
    • The result is stored one or multiple output-attribute(s)
  • Reactive programming: The calculation/execution happens (and only happens) if one of the input-attributes has changed
  • Active components can be placed anywhere in the 3D-world, which makes the scriping visual
  • On creation of an entity-instance which is an active component we only have to wire the calculation function and the input-attributes together

Type Systems

In this section you'll find a comprehensive list of entity types which can be used in the Inexor entity system and visual scripting system.

Base Types

The entity system allows entity types to inherit from multiple other entity types. Therefore we provide some useful basic entity types for common use cases.

Entity Type Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
NAMED
The entity instance has a name		 name int Y Y
POSITIONAL
The entity instance has a position		 position vec3 Y Y
MOVEABLE
The entity instance moves from the current position along the velocity vector		 velocity vec3 Y Y
ACTIVATABLE
The entity instance can be activated by setting the boolean value to 1		 on_activation bool Y N

Constants

Constants cannot be modified and have only a single output-attribute. Useful for use in entity instance systems like maps (for example the name of a base) or gamemodes (for example the maximum number of players per team).

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
INT_CONSTANT
Contains an unmodifiable integer attribute		 value int N Y
FLOAT_CONSTANT
Contains an unmodifiable float attribute		 value float N Y
VEC2_CONSTANT
Contains an unmodifiable vec2 attribute		 value vec2 N Y
VEC3_CONSTANT
Contains an unmodifiable vec3 attribute		 value vec3 N Y
VEC4_CONSTANT
Contains an unmodifiable vec4 attribute		 value vec4 N Y
BOOL_CONSTANT
Contains an unmodifiable boolean attribute		 value bool N Y
STRING_CONSTANT
Contains an unmodifiable string attribute		 value string N Y
BYTEARRAY_CONSTANT
Contains an unmodifiable byte array attribute		 value bytearray N Y

Note: It is possible to make the constants configurable by adding the attribute feature CONFIGURABLE

Stores

Stores are data containers of a specific data type which can be set by an input but also have a default value.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
INT_STORE
If an incoming input is connected to input_value, the value is copied to output_value, else the default_value is copied		 input_value int Y N
default_value int N N
output_value int N Y
FLOAT_STORE
If an incoming input is connected to input_value, the value is copied to output_value, else the default_value is copied		 input_value float Y N
default_value float N N
output_value float N Y
VEC2_STORE
If an incoming input is connected to input_value, the value is copied to output_value, else the default_value is copied		 input_value vec2 Y N
default_value vec2 N N
output_value vec2 N Y
VEC3_STORE
If an incoming input is connected to input_value, the value is copied to output_value, else the default_value is copied		 input_value vec3 Y N
default_value vec3 N N
output_value vec3 N Y
VEC4_STORE
If an incoming input is connected to input_value, the value is copied to output_value, else the default_value is copied		 input_value vec4 Y N
default_value vec4 N N
output_value vec4 N Y
BOOL_STORE
If an incoming input is connected to input_value, the value is copied to output_value, else the default_value is copied		 input_value bool Y N
default_value bool N N
output_value bool N Y
STRING_STORE
If an incoming input is connected to input_value, the value is copied to output_value, else the default_value is copied		 input_value string Y N
default_value string N N
output_value string N Y
BYTEARRAY_STORE
If an incoming input is connected to input_value, the value is copied to output_value, else the default_value is copied		 input_value bytearray Y N
default_value bytearray N N
output_value bytearray N Y

Converters

Since input-attributes and output-attributes needs to be of the same data type, we can and have to convert the data type using converters.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
INT_TO_FLOAT
Converts the integer to a float		 input int Y N
value float N Y
FLOAT_TO_INT
Converts the float to an integer		 input float Y N
value int N Y
BOOL_TO_INT
Converts true to integer 1 and false to integer 0		 input bool Y N
value int N Y
FLOAT_TO_VEC2
Converts two floats to a vec2		 input1 float Y N
input2 float Y N
value vec2 N Y
FLOAT_TO_VEC3
Converts three floats to a vec3		 input1 float Y N
input2 float Y N
input3 float Y N
value vec3 N Y
FLOAT_TO_VEC4
Converts four floats to a vec4		 input1 float Y N
input2 float Y N
input3 float Y N
input4 float Y N
value vec4 N Y
VEC2_TO_FLOAT
Converts the vec2 to two floats		 input1 vec2 Y N
value1 float N Y
value2 float N Y
VEC3_TO_FLOAT
Converts the vec3 to three floats		 input1 vec3 Y N
value1 float N Y
value2 float N Y
value3 float N Y
VEC4_TO_FLOAT
Converts the vec4 to four floats		 input1 vec4 Y N
value1 float N Y
value2 float N Y
value3 float N Y
value4 float N Y

Branches

Actually, branches are not neccessary because output-attributes can have multiple output-signals. But branches can be a great way to visualize data flows in 3D and make it less confuse.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
BRANCH_INT
Copies the integer value to branch1 and branch2		 input int Y N
branch1 int N Y
branch2 int N Y
BRANCH_INT_3
Copies the integer value to branch1, branch2 and branch3		 input int Y N
branch1 int N Y
branch2 int N Y
branch3 int N Y
BRANCH_FLOAT
Copies the float value to branch1 and branch2		 input float Y N
branch1 float N Y
branch2 float N Y
BRANCH_FLOAT_3
Copies the float value to branch1, branch2 and branch3		 input float Y N
branch1 float N Y
branch2 float N Y
branch3 float N Y
BRANCH_VEC2
Copies the vec2 value to branch1 and branch2		 input vec2 Y N
branch1 vec2 N Y
branch2 vec2 N Y
BRANCH_VEC2_3
Copies the vec2 value to branch1, branch2 and branch3		 input vec2 Y N
branch1 vec2 N Y
branch2 vec2 N Y
branch3 vec2 N Y
BRANCH_VEC3
Copies the vec3 value to branch1 and branch2		 input vec3 Y N
branch1 vec3 N Y
branch2 vec3 N Y
BRANCH_VEC3_3
Copies the vec3 value to branch1, branch2 and branch3		 input vec3 Y N
branch1 vec3 N Y
branch2 vec3 N Y
branch3 vec3 N Y
BRANCH_VEC4
Copies the vec4 value to branch1 and branch2		 input vec4 Y N
branch1 vec4 N Y
branch2 vec4 N Y
BRANCH_VEC4_3
Copies the vec4 value to branch1, branch2 and branch3		 input vec4 Y N
branch1 vec4 N Y
branch2 vec4 N Y
branch3 vec4 N Y

Debugging

Technical visualization of data, mostly as a box for debugging. The debugging boxes are only visible in the debugging overlay.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
DISPLAY_INT
Shows a box with the integer value in the center of the box		 value int Y N
DISPLAY_FLOAT
Shows a box with the float value in the center of the box		 value float Y N
DISPLAY_BOOL
Shows a box with the boolean value in the center of the box. The box is painted in green if the value is true or red if the value is false		 value bool Y N
DISPLAY_STRING
Shows a box with the string value in the center of the box		 value string Y N
DISPLAY_RGB_VEC3
Shows a box which is colored using the color attribute		 color vec3 Y N
DISPLAY_RGB_VEC4
Shows a box which is colored using the color attribute		 color vec4 Y N
DISPLAY_RGB_INT_3
Shows a box which is colored using the color attributes		 color_r int Y N
color_g int Y N
color_b int Y N
DISPLAY_RGB_BOOL
Shows a box which is colored using the color attributes if and only if the boolean value is true		 value bool Y N
color_r int Y N
color_g int Y N
color_b int Y N

Arithmetric operations

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
ADD_INT
sum = augend + addend		 augend int Y N
addend int Y N
sum int N Y
ADD_INT_3
sum = augend + addend1 + addend2		 augend int Y N
addend1 int Y N
addend2 int Y N
sum int N Y
ADD_FLOAT
sum = augend + addend		 augend float Y N
addend float Y N
sum float N Y
ADD_FLOAT_3
sum = augend + addend1 + addend2		 augend float Y N
addend1 float Y N
addend2 float Y N
sum float N Y
SUB_INT
difference = minuend - subtrahend		 minuend int Y N
subtrahend int Y N
difference int N Y
SUB_FLOAT
difference = minuend - subtrahend		 minuend float Y N
subtrahend float Y N
difference float N Y
MUL_INT
product = multiplicand x multiplier		 multiplicand int Y N
multiplier int Y N
product int N Y
MUL_INT_3
product = multiplicand x multiplier1 x multiplier2		 multiplicand int Y N
multiplier1 int Y N
multiplier2 int Y N
product int N Y
MUL_FLOAT
product = multiplicand x multiplier		 multiplicand float Y N
multiplier float Y N
product float N Y
MUL_FLOAT_3
product = multiplicand x multiplier1 x multiplier2		 multiplicand float Y N
multiplier1 float Y N
multiplier2 float Y N
product float N Y
DIV_INT
quotient = dividend / divisor		 dividend int Y N
divisor int Y N
quotient int N Y
DIV_FLOAT
quotient = dividend / divisor		 dividend float Y N
divisor float Y N
quotient float N Y
EXP_INT
power = base ^ exponent		 base int Y N
exponent int Y N
power int N Y
EXP_FLOAT
power = base ^ exponent		 base float Y N
exponent float Y N
power float N Y
MODULO
remainder = dividend mod divisor		 dividend int Y N
divisor int Y N
remainder int N Y
ROOT_INT
root = root(degree, radicand)		 degree int Y N
radicand int Y N
root float N Y
ROOT_FLOAT
root = root(degree, radicand)		 degree float Y N
radicand float Y N
root int N Y
MIN_INT
result = min(input1, input2)		 input1 int Y N
input2 int Y N
result int N Y
MIN_FLOAT
result = min(input1, input2)		 input1 float Y N
input2 float Y N
result float N Y
MAX_INT
result = max(input1, input2)		 input1 int Y N
input2 int Y N
result int N Y
MAX_FLOAT
result = max(input1, input2)		 input1 float Y N
input2 float Y N
result float N Y

Vector Arithmetric

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
VECTOR_ADD input_vector_1 vec3 Y N
input_vector_2 vec3 Y N
output_vector vec3 N Y
VECTOR_ADD_VEC4 input_vector_1 vec4 Y N
input_vector_2 vec4 Y N
output_vector vec4 N Y
VECTOR_SUB input_vector_1 vec3 Y N
input_vector_2 vec3 Y N
output_vector vec3 N Y
VECTOR_SUB_VEC4 input_vector_1 vec4 Y N
input_vector_2 vec4 Y N
output_vector vec4 N Y
VECTOR_MUL input_vector_1 vec3 Y N
input_vector_2 vec3 Y N
output_vector vec3 N Y
VECTOR_MUL_VEC4 input_vector_1 vec4 Y N
input_vector_2 vec4 Y N
output_vector vec4 N Y

Trigonometric functions

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
SINE
result = sin(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
COSINE
result = cos(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
TANGENT
result = tan(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
COTTANGENT
result = cot(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
SECANT
result = sec(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
COSECANT
result = cosec(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
ARCSINE
result = asin(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
ARCCOSINE
result = acos(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
ARCTANGENT
result = atan(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
ARCCOTANGENT
result = acot(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
ARCSECANT
result = asec(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y
ARCCOSECANT
result = acosec(input)		 input float Y N
result float N Y

... Investigate further trigonometric functions ...

  • Sinus hyperbolicus und Kosinus hyperbolicus
  • Tangens hyperbolicus und Kotangens hyperbolicus
  • Sekans hyperbolicus und Kosekans hyperbolicus
  • Areasinus hyperbolicus und Areakosinus hyperbolicus
  • Areatangens hyperbolicus und Areakotangens hyperbolicus
  • Areasekans hyperbolicus und Areakosekans hyperbolicus

Logical operations

Logical operations results a boolean value.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
NOT
result = !input		 input bool Y N
result bool N Y
OR
result = input1 || input2		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
result bool N Y
OR_3
result = input1 || input2 || input3		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
input3 bool Y N
result bool N Y
AND
result = input1 && input2		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
result bool N Y
AND_3
result = input1 && input2 && input3		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
input3 bool Y N
result bool N Y
XOR
result = input1 ^ input2		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
result bool N Y
XOR_3
result = input1 ^ input2 ^ input3		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
input3 bool Y N
result bool N Y
NOR
result = !(input1 || input2)		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
result bool N Y
NOR_3
result = !(input1 || input2 || input3)		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
input3 bool Y N
result bool N Y
NAND
result = !(input1 && input2)		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
result bool N Y
NAND_3
result = !(input1 && input2 && input3)		 input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
input3 bool Y N
result bool N Y

String operations

Operations to modify strings.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
STRING_SIZE input string Y N
result int N Y
TRIM input string Y N
result string N Y
LTRIM input string Y N
result string N Y
RTRIM input string Y N
result string N Y
LOWERCASE input string Y N
result string N Y
UPPERCASE input string Y N
result string N Y
CONCAT input1 string Y N
input2 string Y N
result string N Y
LEFT input string Y N
length int Y N
result string N Y
RIGHT input string Y N
length int Y N
result string N Y
SUBSTRING
see std::string::substr		 input string Y N
start int Y N
length int Y N
result string N Y

... Further investigation ...

Comparison

Comparison operations results in a boolean result.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
EQUALS_BOOL input1 bool Y N
input2 bool Y N
result bool N Y
EQUALS_INT input1 int Y N
input2 int Y N
result bool N Y
EQUALS_STRING string int Y N
string int Y N
result bool N Y
EQUALS_IGNORE_CASE_STRING string int Y N
string int Y N
result bool N Y
GREATER_THAN_INT input int Y N
min_value int Y N
result bool N Y
LOWER_THAN_INT input int Y N
max_value int Y N
result bool N Y
IN_RANGE_INT input int Y N
min_value int Y N
max_value int Y N
result bool N Y
GREATER_THAN_FLOAT input float Y N
min_value float Y N
result bool N Y
LOWER_THAN_FLOAT input float Y N
max_value float Y N
result bool N Y
IN_RANGE_FLOAT input float Y N
min_value float Y N
max_value float Y N
result bool N Y

Set on activation

If input is true, result := value_active. If input is false, result := value_inactive.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
ACTIVATOR_INT input bool Y N
value_active int Y N
value_inactive int Y N
result int N Y
ACTIVATOR_FLOAT input bool Y N
value_active float Y N
value_inactive float Y N
result float N Y
ACTIVATOR_VEC3 input bool Y N
value_active vec3 Y N
value_inactive vec3 Y N
result vec3 N Y
ACTIVATOR_VEC4 input bool Y N
value_active vec4 Y N
value_inactive vec4 Y N
result vec4 N Y
ACTIVATOR_STRING input bool Y N
value_active string Y N
value_inactive string Y N
result string N Y
ACTIVATOR_BYTEARRAY input bool Y N
value_active bytearray Y N
value_inactive bytearray Y N
result bytearray N Y

Timer

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
DURATION_TIMER duration int Y N
is_active int N Y
RANGE_TIMER total_ms int Y N
active_from_ms int Y N
active_until_ms int Y N
is_active int N Y
CRON_TIMER cron string Y N
duration int Y N
is_active int N Y
TIMED_BUFFER
(verzögert aus: an, wenn input an, aus nach wartezeit ab input aus)		 input bool Y N
duration int Y N
is_active int N Y
TIMED_BUFFER
(verzögert an: aus, wenn input aus, an nach wartezeit ab input an)		 input bool Y N
duration int Y N
is_active int N Y
  • https://github.com/Bosma/Scheduler

Random number generators

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
RANDOM_INT_CONSTANT
(executed only once)		 min int Y N
max int Y N
value int N Y
RANDOM_FLOAT_CONSTANT
(executed only once)		 min float Y N
max float Y N
value float N Y
RANDOM_BOOL_CONSTANT
(executed only once)		 value bool N Y
NEXT_RANDOM_INT
(wenn on_activation von falsch nach wahr wechselt, wird eine neue Zufallszahl berechnet)		 on_activation bool N Y
min int Y N
max int Y N
value int N Y
NEXT_RANDOM_FLOAT
(wenn on_activation von falsch nach wahr wechselt, wird eine neue Zufallszahl berechnet)		 on_activation bool N Y
min float Y N
max float Y N
value float N Y
NEXT_RANDOM_BOOL
(wenn on_activation von falsch nach wahr wechselt, wird eine neue Zufallszahl berechnet)		 on_activation bool N Y
value bool N Y

Logging

We can construct log messages using visual scripting and outputs the log message to log.

Active Component Name Attribute Name Data type Input Output
LOG message string Y N
logger_name string Y N
log_level int Y N
LOGGER logger_name string Y Y
log_level int Y Y
log_to_console bool Y N
log_to_file bool Y N
logfile string Y N

TODO: ET: LOGGER_SINK, RT: LOGGER_WRITES_TO

Stell dir vor, du befindest dich im Spiel und kannst das Loglevel eines Loggers per Schalter bestimmen

Improve this page!