Month 2 - Blog 3 - Gateware Development

Over the past two weeks, I have worked on getting the new GNodeFactory library set up and having a basic skeleton structure with boilerplate implemented. An initial work item for adding the initial GNodeFactory boilerplate files was made. Within it, the Universal/Dummy Implementation, Class Header, and Unit Test files were all incorporated. Since most of the functionality within GNodeFactory is shared between the floating and double precision types they can exist within a shared implementation class. A few structures needed to be added within GMathDefines being the GNode, GNodeState, and GNodeMeta. Each of these structures will help manage the basic information required within the factory. GNode will contain the transformation/rotation/collision information. GNodeState would incorporate how to traverse the hierarchy with access to the parent, child, and siblings. Lastly, GNodeMeta data will be utilized for future libraries within Gateware were the data can be managed by downstream systems.

Since GNodeFactory is part of Gateware it also requires Unit Tests to be made using the Catch2 API as all previous libraries have. For the Unit Tests I wanted to make them clear as to what functionality I would be testing with descriptors of the precision type. Some prior libraries use the SECTION macro to differentiate tests, so I opted to also use that with distinguish precision.

Lastly, I have been working on a spike solution for GNodeFactory as I wait for Merge Requests and Code Reviews to take place. I have made some significant progress with the spike solution as I was able to get some users to test out the work in progress library and give some feedback. The spike solution is a significantly condensed version of GNodeFactory but aims to stick as true as it can to the goal of the library. Within the spike solution I am opting to use return types instead of pass by references/pointers which Gateware utilizes. This is for simplicity on what the library will do in the meantime. Below are some implementations of the spike solution:

As we get into the next couple of weeks I will aim to implement the spike solutions research into the GNodeFactory library itself. Currently awaiting code reviews and feedback from maintains, advisors, and instructors.