On 4 September I launched a software project to create an asset loader for JMonkeyEngine based on the Open Asset Importer, aka Assimp.
I've now published 2 test versions of MonkeyWrench, my LWJGL-based library. Version 0.5.1 works okay, mostly, and in many cases it is clearly superior to the standard jme3-plugins loaders. However, I have doubts whether anyone will use MonkeyWrench, and my enthusiasm for the project is waning.
After 53 days of often-intense coding effort, I have a nice little open-source project: about 5300 lines of Java code at GitHub (not counting blanks and comments). I also learned a lot, of course. But I think my main accomplishment has been to document 17 issues in JMonkeyEngine, many of which have since been solved. (My project coincided with Hacktoberfest, which is perhaps why JME had more coding activity than usual.)
I also documented 5 issues in Assimp, though I'm not optimistic they'll ever be solved. That project has a huge backlog of open issues (currently 683) and doesn't seem very active.
My original plan called for investigating the Kotlin version of Assimp, but I see now that would be a separate project. Furthermore, the Kotlin project is even less active than Assimp itself: no commits since 2020. I'd probably wind up maintaining my own fork, which would defeat the purpose. Plus I've very little interest in learning Kotlin.
It's time to start winding down the project, making sure my code is clean and my documentation is adequate, and pursuing each residual issue to the best of my ability.
oh yeah i did some stuff for school :) i got to participate on the 3rd years' projects while waiting for my own 3rd year to kick in!! i made these for a little game about using your emotions to save the day, with a circus/fair theme :) screenshots of my assets in-game below in the cut ⬇