User Interface Before and After Screenshots

[Dan Dixon]

Here's a preview of the next version of Universe Sandbox (and what I've been working on over the last 2 weeks).

While it's not obvious, tons of stuff has changed beneath the surface, and the render times for the UI (user interface) are now 10x faster.

I've also makes some minor changes to the Open menu and added sliders for changing the orbital elements.

I expect to release a new version of Universe Sandbox with all of these changes in the next week.

More info on the additional improvements here:
http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,1736.msg17123.html#msg17123

Thoughts? Comments? Ideas?

[infringement153]

Not much to see, but the sliders look useful.

I can't wait for this new speed.  

[atomic7732]

I hope it works on my computer this time!

[Dan Dixon]

I can't wait for this new speed.  

You can see the current UI render times are on your own computer (although only if you can expand the Universe Sandbox window to be at least 1500 pixels wide).

1 - Open Universe Sandbox
2 - Close the Menu
3 - Click anywhere to show the UI (it should fade in)
4 - Press Ctrl+~ to show the old debug info.

The two numbers to look for are HUDRender and HUDRenderPercent.
Mine are about 7ms and 45%. (These are the time to render the UI each frame)

If I open up "Our Solar System" and select the Sun (turning on more UI) the numbers are 15ms and 40%.

In the upcoming version (2.0.7) mine are 0.6 ms and 8%. Opening "Our Solar System" they are 1.6ms and 6%.

Old > New
7ms > 0.6ms
45% > 8%
15ms > 1.6ms
40% > 6 %

In the screenshot the numbers are in the upper right at the end of the long red text line.

On Poor Usability:
This debug text is from very early versions of Universe Sandbox and I've used it rarely over the last 6 months (where it was heavily used in early development). It was never expected to be used by anyone but me.

[infringement153]

What's this?

[infringement153]

Blank universe:
14 ms
48%

Sun:
34ms
51%

Cool.

[Dan Dixon]

Hmmm...what's this?

That's my experimental tab. There's a switch for toggling a body to emit light and some other fun stuff in the works.


And a screenshot with the UI hidden and the simulation running.

[deoxy99]

I didn't need the speed to be faster...I could deal with it.

[atomic7732]

Is there any way we could put in commands on the orange side? like Rotate Moon 45.62 just like that. No xml involved?

[Dan Dixon]

Is there any way we could put in commands on the orange side? like Rotate Moon 45.62 just like that. No xml involved?

The orange text is basically what's getting written to the log file. A command line style input system would be possible, but at the expense of improving other features. It's an interesting idea either way.

I didn't need the speed to be faster...I could deal with it.

Good to hear it. Hopefully you won't mind if it runs faster.

[deoxy99]

I didn't need the speed to be faster...I could deal with it.

Good to hear it. Hopefully you won't mind if it runs faster.

I won't mind.

[Chaotic Cow]

Look awesome Dan!

[Chuck14]

awesome