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Introduction to Alice: A Modern 3-D Programming Tool

Learn about Alice, a modern programming tool for creating 3-D graphics and animations. Discover how to get started with Alice, install the software, and go through tutorials to learn the basics of program design.

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Introduction to Alice: A Modern 3-D Programming Tool

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  1. CS120 Lecture 01 Introduction to Alice 28 August, 2012 Alice is named in honor of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland Slides Credit: Joel Adams, Alice in Action

  2. Alice • A modern programming tool • 3-D graphics • 3-D models of objects • Animation • Objects can be made to move around the virtual world (a video game or simulation implemented in 3-D) • Two kinds of animations: • Movie: passive user watches the animation • Interactive: active user clicks on mouse, types a key on keyboard … • Actions of user are called events

  3. Demo: Getting started • Starting Alice • Load and run a world • FairyCourt(movie) • HelicopterSimulation(interactive) • First program: Alice and WhiteRabbit welcome us to their world (movie)

  4. Getting and Running Alice • Alice software is freely distributed • Downloading Alice • Go to the website: http://www.alice.org • Click the link Get Alice 2.2 • Click download link specific to your operating system • Save Alice.zip (or Alice.dmg) to your PC • Installing and running Alice • Extract Alice from Alice.zip (or Alice.dmg) file • Create desktop shortcut (alias) to Alice.exe • Double-click Alice icon to launch Alice application

  5. The Alice Tutorials (continued) Go through the tutorials to learn the basics of Alice

  6. Program Design • We don’t start with writing program code, very much the same as filmmaker don’t start with filming, rocket scientists don’t start with building rockets • We start with design! • Design is very important and affects the correctness and efficiency of the solution • Design needs to revised, improved… Alice in Action with Java

  7. User Stories • Contain • Basic description of what happens when program runs • Nouns in story (Alice, the White Rabbit) correspond to objects • Verbs correspond to actions, responses to messages • Chronological flow describes the sequence of the actions When the program begins, Alice and the White Rabbit are facing each other, Alice on the left and the White Rabbit on the right. Alice turns her head and then greets us. The White Rabbit also turns and then greets us. Alice and the White Rabbit introduce themselves. Simultaneously, Alice and the White Rabbit say “Welcome to our world.” Alice in Action with Java

  8. The Flow of User Story A numbered sequence of objects and actions 1. Alice turns her head toward the user 2. Alice greets the user 3. The white rabbit turns toward the user 4. The white rabbit greets the user 5. Alice introduces herself 6. The white rabbit introduces himself 7. Simultaneously, Alice and the white rabbit say “Welcome to our world.” Alice in Action with Java

  9. Algorithms • An algorithm is a sequence of step to solve a problem or perform a task • Example algorithms: • The flow of a user story • Driving directions • Cooking instructions • Installation instructions • Algorithms for search of records in phonebook, database, web… • Algorithms for displaying, editing, animating pictures… • Algorithms are generally not tied to programming languages • Their implementations do Alice in Action with Java

  10. Transition Diagrams • Link the multiple storyboard-sketches • In a movie, transition diagram is a linear sequence • In the first Alice program, there will be 7 actions Alice in Action with Java

  11. Programming Implementation in Alice • Templates provide a basic world environment • Sample program is based on the “grass” Template • Areas in the Alice window • Menus: includes File, Edit, Tools, and Help • Buttons: includes Play, Undo, and Redo • Object tree: lists all world objects; e.g., ground • Details area: includes properties, methods, functions • World window: displays graphic objects in a program • Editing area: includes editing space and controls • Events area: contains actions responding to events Alice in Action with Java

  12. Programming Implementation in Alice (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  13. Program Style • Change program display styles in Preferences • How to access Preferences dialog box • Click the Edit menu • Click the Preferenceschoice • Selecting a display style in Preferencesdialog • Click next to “display my program” in General tab • Select a style • Style recommended for course: Java Style in Color Alice in Action with Java

  14. Program Style (continued) (We are aware of a problem with this setting. It’s ok to keep it as Alice style.) Alice in Action with Java

  15. Demo: A new world • Create a new world • File  New • Choose template

  16. Objects • An "object" is • any thing that can be identified as unique from other things • How is an object unique? • has a name • has properties: • width, height, color, location • can perform actions (methods): • associated actions it can perform • tasks it can carry out

  17. Object Parts • Objects may be composed of parts

  18. peter Person paul mary spike Dogs scottie fluffy Class • Objects are categorized into classes • Each object is an instance of the class. • All objects in a class have similar propertiesand generally can perform the same tasks.

  19. Adding Objects to Alice • Class: blueprint for an object • How to populate Alice world with objects • Click Add Objects button in world window • Locate class specifying the object in the Alice Gallery • Right-click class and select “Add instance to world” • Objects in sample world: aliceLiddell and whiteRabbit • Naming conventions for objects and classes • Class: capitalize all words; e.g., AliceLiddell • Object: capitalize all but first word; e.g., aliceLiddell • Objects can be renamed from the object tree Alice in Action with Java

  20. Demo: Adding objects

  21. Galleries • Classes (3D models) are found in the galleries • Local gallery (installed with the software) • Minimum or complete options • Web gallery

  22. Adding Objects to Alice (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  23. Demo: Saving a world • Writing and testing an animation is an intense load on the computing system – a crash can occur. • Best solution: • save your world every 15 minutes • (Or at least every half hour) • also save to a backup system (for example, a zip disk or memory key)

  24. Accessing Object Subparts • Bounding box: encloses any Alice object • Impact of selecting an object in the object tree • Bounding box is drawn around object in world window • Details area adapts to the selected object • First action to program: Alice turns head to user • First set of programming steps • Select + sign next to aliceLiddellin object tree • Select + sign next to neck subpart • Select head (bounding box is drawn, details change) • Drag doInOrder control to top of editing window Alice in Action with Java

  25. Accessing Object Subparts (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  26. Accessing Object Subparts (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  27. Sending Messages • Alice programs rely on sending messages to objects • Objects’ methods deliver actions in response to messages • Programming Alice’s head to turn • Select Alice Liddell’s head in the object tree • Scan through the methods in the details area • Click on pointAt() • Drag pointAt()to the editing area and drop it • Specify camera as the target Alice in Action with Java

  28. Sending Messages (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  29. Testing and Debugging • Bug: error interfering with normal program functions • Debugging: process of removing program bugs • Click the Play button to test Alice Liddell application • Alice Liddell’s head will turn toward the user Alice in Action with Java

  30. Testing and Debugging (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  31. Coding the Other Actions • say() message • Displays dialog for an object • Text can be customized by selecting other… • Task: complete first Alice Liddell application • Add Alice Liddell’s initial greeting • Point the white rabbit to the user • Have Alice Liddell introduce herself • Have the white rabbit introduce himself • Customize messages by selecting from more… • Example: adjust fontSize of message text to 25 Alice in Action with Java

  32. Coding the Other Actions (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  33. Statements/Instructions • Statement/instruction: a line or control structure in a program that executes (is carried out by computer at runtime) • Program: a set of instructions that tell the computer what to do • Basic format of a line in an Alice program • object.message(value); more... • Control structures manage other statements • Example: doInOrder contains other statements Alice in Action with Java

  34. The Final Action • Sequential execution • Actions are performed consecutively • Example: actions executed in doInOrder structures • Simultaneous execution • Actions are performed in parallel • Example: actions performed in doTogether structure • Finishing the first program • Add doTogether control structure to application • Send say( )to aliceLiddelland whiteRabbit • Message value: Welcome to our world Alice in Action with Java

  35. The Final Action (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  36. Final Testing • First set of actions are performed separately • Final actions are performed simultaneously Alice in Action with Java

  37. Final Testing (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  38. The Software Engineering Process • A methodical, disciplined approach to constructing programs • Multiple parts • (problem specification,) design, implementation, testing (, revising..) • Elements of software design • Write the user story • Organize nouns and verbs into an algorithm • Create storyboard-sketches and the transition diagram • Elements of software implementation and testing • For each noun in the story, add an object to Alice world • Match message to verb and send message to object • Test message to determine if it produces desired action Alice in Action with Java

  39. Alice’s Details Area • Reflects attributes and behaviors of selected object • Three panes: properties, methods, and functions Alice in Action with Java

  40. The properties Pane • Includes attributes such as color, opacity, visibility • Change values to alter object appearance/behavior • Example: make the White Rabbit disappear • Click opacityin the properties pane • Drag opacityto the editing area • Set opacity to 0 • Change the duration to 2 seconds • How a program changes when a property is altered • New message is added to editing area • In the example above, a set () message is added Alice in Action with Java

  41. The properties Pane (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  42. The methods Pane • Provides a list of behavior-generating messages • In Object Oriented Programming, an instruction targeting an object is said to be a method. • To get an object to perform a behavior, send that object a message that asks it to produce that behavior • E.g. aliceLiddle.say(…) Alice in Action with Java

  43. Methods • Alice Objects have predefined methods for basic tasks • Additional methods may also be created by Alice developers • Two reasons for building your own methods • To organize your story into more manageable pieces • To provide an object with additional behaviors Alice in Action with Java

  44. The methods Pane Alice in Action with Java

  45. The functions Pane • Provides list of information returning messages • Differentiate functions from methods • Functions return data, messages produce behavior • Type of information returned by functions • Proximity to another object • Size in terms of height, width, or depth • Spatial relation to another object • Point of view (position and orientation in the world) • Subparts • worldobject responds to different set of functions Alice in Action with Java

  46. The functions Pane (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  47. Alice Tip: Positioning Objects Using Quad View • Actions performed after pressing ADD OBJECTS • Navigate the Alice Gallery • Locate classes • Use classes to add objects to the world • Two views: single viewandquad view • quad view • World window • View from the top • View from the right • View from the front Alice in Action with Java

  48. Alice Tip: Positioning Objects Using Quad View (continued) Alice in Action with Java

  49. Techniques and Tools • Mouse is used to • approximately position objects in the scene • Camera Navigation is used to • set the camera point of view • Drop-down menu methods are used to • resize objects • more precisely position objects in the scene • Quadview is used to • position one object relative to another object

  50. Summary • Alice: software tool used to create virtual worlds • User story: prose description of program form the user’s point of view • Shot: component of a scene with the camera at one viewpoint • Algorithm: flow of actions that solves a problem • Storyboard-sketch: drawing of a distinct screen in a computer application Alice in Action with Java

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