Yes, Michale, tell us more about you ;-)

NURBS development is a bit tricky and far more professional than polygons...

Tell us what is your history : studies, work experience...
What NURBS softwares did you use before ?

etc...

There's an interview linked to from the main page where he mentions being one of the main developers of Rhino.

Hmmm, let's see. I got involved with 3D modeling back on the Amiga computer around 1989 or so, using "Turbo Silver".

I went to college (The Evergreen State College) after that and studied computer programming, and I had always wanted to have a quicker and easier way to make 3D models so I started to focus on that.

One summer at college, I didn't have any classes, and I didn't sleep very much and worked an excessive amount on a new modeling program that I eventually called "Sculptura". This was around 1992 or so. The first place that I demoed it was at the Olympia AutoCAD User's Group, and some people from Robert McNeel & Associates were there and were interested in it, and I started an internship with them. After a couple of quarters I dropped out of school and just switched to a regular job there, and after Sculptura was finished I threw everything out and started over on a brand new modeler that I originally called Sculptura 2.0, but which I eventually re-named to Rhino as a code name which ended up sticking as the final product name.

Right before I joined RMA, there was a deal between RMA and a company called Applied Geometry to try and bring AG's NURBS modeling library technology as a plug-in to AutoCAD (RMA was primarily an AutoCAD dealership at that point). So when I started Sculptura 2.0 (Rhino) I had AG's NURBS technology available to me and that's when I was introduced to working with NURBS. I worked by myself on Rhino for a couple of years while some other people worked on the AutoCAD plug in which was called AccuModel. Eventually I made the case that AccuModel should be canceled and all the effort switched over to Rhino because it was much more promising, and that's what happened.

After 6 years or so at RMA, I decided it was time for a change and I quit and took the summer off. Then I joined Microsoft and worked there for about 4 and half years, on a bunch of stuff that was canceled and then some stuff in MSN. But Microsoft doesn't really do any work on software that is used for creative works, like design, art, sculpture, etc.. I really missed working in this area, so nearly 3 years ago (in November) I quit from there and decided to give a try at doing my 3rd generation modeling program on my own...

As far as NURBS development, it is tricky. It was really confusing for me for a long time when I first started on it, but like a lot of things if you keep studying and working on it, it gets easier and more familiar over time.

Ok, that's plenty enough information about me, I think! ;)

- Michael

Cool,

It is always good to know that stories...

Ahhh, Turbo silver, one of past's pleasures...

Good job anyway, keep on going, Moi3D can grow upto sort of a "how could we work before" software i think...

And thank you for giving back NURBS the good place... My students always say Nurbs are past, poly-smooth is future...

I am sorry for bringing the thread up:), I am just fascinated by how you can manage this all alone, to bring such a polished program, great work.
I wanted to ask, did you leave RMA on a bad note?, do you still know some people there? and how do they react to moi3d?

What a nice story!
And very interesting. It's a pleasure to hear things like that :-)

Hi olio,

> I am just fascinated by how you can manage this all alone,
> to bring such a polished program, great work.

Thanks! Basically it has just taken a whole lot of work - this is now entering into my 6th year of working on this project.


> I wanted to ask, did you leave RMA on a bad note?,

It just seemed like a good time to try something else.


> do you still know some people there?

Well, I worked there for like 6 and a half years, so sure I know a lot of people that work there. But I haven't really been in close contact with them, it was about 10 years or so ago that I left.


> and how do they react to moi3d?

I guess you'd have to ask them!

But it is not a primary goal of MoI to replace Rhino, I'm trying to do somewhat different things but of course there is some overlap.

- Michael

>But it is not a primary goal of MoI to replace Rhino, I'm trying to do somewhat different things but of course there is some overlap.

I call MoI, "the Rhino Usability plugin". :D

Hi Michael,

>> Amiga computer

I guess if you started back then with a
personal computer(PC), you never would have
invented such a user friendly program.
(just a compliment)

Hi Paolo, Amigas were sure a lot of fun back then! So far ahead of their time...

I actually started with computers with a Commodore 64 back in 1983, then later I got interested in 3D graphics on an Amiga.

I did a pretty big switch in college from working on programming an Amiga into learning how to program for Windows, since I thought that would be more commercially applicable.

It was pretty amazing what the Amiga had back in the 80's with multi-tasking, high color graphics, video, etc... all while PCs had CGA screens.

- Michael

Poor Denise, Agnus and Paula :'(

Ah, Amigas! Warm memories...Stereo Sound!!

Moi's less prone to "guru meditation" though.

>> I actually started with computers with a Commodore 64 back in 1983, then later
>> I got interested in 3D graphics on an Amiga.

Ahh the venerable old C64. A MASSIVE 64k of RAM. Twice that of the BBC, more than its main rival the Spectrum. Real keyboard, built in ports and a dedicated cassette player.

I ended up with 2 floppy disk drives that are bigger than some complete PCs are now :-)

Oh happy days.