newton 1.0 is now released!

I'm the developer of a program called newton, which combines some elements of FVD and AHG in a graphical, user friendly environment. For the past several months, newton has been in beta testing on coastersims, but now that it's reached the 1.0 milestone, I now feel comfortable releasing it to a larger audience.

Basically, newton allows you to create elements based upon forces and roll values (just like FVD, though there is not a 100% overlap in functionality) without the need to post-processing the track in AHG. It is also extremely fast--you see the changes you make in real-time. Here's a video of an earlier build in action:



And here's a screenshot of the same (early) build running in Vista:


In summary, the first version of newton will offer the following relative to FVD:

<advantages>
+ graphical GUI in a single window,
+ the ability to specify non-zero laterals,
+ heartlining built right in...no need for AHG,
+ upstream changes automatically propagate downstream,
+ it's easy to see which section you are currently editing,
+ optional gimbal-lock free quaternion pathway,
+ it's faster by, like, a lot;

<disadvantages>
- can't specify separate times for banking and forces,
- will not be able to create transition formulas.

If you wish to download it, you'll need to know a few things before you do:

XP users: You'll need to download and install the .Net 3.0 Framework (~50 MB) from Microsoft before newton will run.

Vista users: You're ready to go out of the box.

To install newton, just download the zip file and unzip it to a directory of your choice. If you decide that newton is not for you, simply delete the folder (XP users can then uninstall .Net 3.0 if no other programs on their machine depend upon it).

newton comes with a readme file that details the change log and warranty information (regarding the warranty, basically there is none)--be sure you read that before running the program. There's also a pdf file that briefly runs through the basics of the interface (though most of it is pretty self-explanatory by just using it, IMO).

That's pretty much it. Enjoy!

Download link: newton 1.0.0.

Edit: fixed broken link; added YouTube video.

Looks incredible! Any chance of a mac version? Lol.

Seriously though, I have been waiting for something like this, so thanks a ton!

Im sorry, just cuz uv got a mac , and on macs everything is baby fed to you, dosnt mean everything is ment to be too

sorry rant over

Oh cool

i love this, im gonna get it on my NL computer ASAP!

Looks incredible! Any chance of a mac version? Lol.

Thanks! Unfortunately, since it relies heavily on .Net, it can't run on a Mac (at least without booting into Windows).

Newton FTW!!!

I downloaded Version 1.0 yesterday, and I can honestly say that this may be the biggest breakthrough in NL third-party software since elementary. It's so much more user-friendly than Red's FVD. Thanks entropy!

BTW, would using Newton help me gain a better understanding of Redunzelizer's FVD?

BTW, would using Newton help me gain a better understanding of Redunzelizer's FVD?

Yep. In fact, FVD is what gave me the idea for newton. They both operate on the same principle.

The main difference (besides interface) is that FVD allows you to define separate timezones for the roll and normal force. This allows greater control over the final shape of the element.

Man, I am actually amazed by this. Congrats on creating something so easy to use that works wonders, it's awesome!

Can you edit Automatic heartlining settings in this one?

Download it and try it. [:P]



..yes

This may get me back to making coasters.

Incredible program!

It is indeed a very good program, but I'm going to stick with FVD. Being able to seperate banking and time zones is a necessity for me.

If any is curious, my last few rides were all done in Newton.

[jayman]

wont start for me?

[hyyyper]

is there a tutorial?

wont start for me?

What OS do you have?

is there a tutorial?

Not per se, but there is an overview included that covers the interface.

[jayman]

i'm using windows xp pro

i'm using windows xp pro

You probably need to download the .Net Framework (link in original post).

ill try it out, but i think im going to stick with FVD's... there so easy and simple and yea...

Originally posted by Jakizle

It is indeed a very good program, but I'm going to stick with FVD. Being able to seperate banking and time zones is a necessity for me.

Bingo, same for me. Not that newton doesn't look good, but fvd's imo are better for shaping (specifically with hills and transitions.) Still, great work on the program.

Looks pretty good to me!

At least for me, Newton is far more interesting since it supports lateral forces, and will actually work for larger layouts.

^ fvd's do larger layouts just fine, not quite sure what you mean by that though. As for lateral forces, that is what us fvder's have h:sak for.

It is indeed a very good program, but I'm going to stick with FVD. Being able to seperate banking and time zones is a necessity for me.

Wait till you see v. 2. [;)]

fvd's do larger layouts just fine, not quite sure what you mean by that though.

He probably means that newton supports dozens (hundreds? thousands?) of zones--limited only by system memory and the GPU's ability to draw them at a reasonable frame rate.

Ahh, as opposed to FVD's limited zones of 18