CONDOR: constraint-based dataflow

Abstract

CONDOR is an interactive constraint-based dataflow programming environment which is particularly suited to problems that arise in computer graphics. In addition to traditional dataflow functions, CONDOR dataflow elements can perform efficient derivative evaluation and interval arithmetic. As a result, CONDOR is able to support constraints, dynamics, surface trimming, collision testing, and a variety of other computations which are difficult or impossible to implement in traditional dataflow systems. CONDOR includes a graphical interface in which mathematical functions are represented as boxes with vector or scalar inputs and outputs. The functions can be composed by interactively connecting together their inputs and outputs, CONDOR performance is sufficiently fast to make it suitable for creating shaders, parametric surfaces, and complex constrained mod