Today I was rigging my 3D train, i was using constraints and parenting to get parts to move correctly.
At that time I thought that it would be much simpler if instead of parenting, i could use simple math to do a lot of tasks, such as “Wheel.x := Train.x + 100” or something simmilar. It’s like a driver. It would make the wheel follow the train as if it was parented, but it will not rotate with the train.
All the constraints could be ported to simple maths to calculate the positions and rotations.
Constraints are roughly the same thing as Drivers, Right? Only more complex.
Now imagine if Drivers and Constraints would be completely removed and Driver Nodes in the node editor were developed.
You could basically connect the train.x value with wheel.x value, pluss adding a “Add 100” node between them. Sounds really quick.
You could add nodes (Which have only a single number in them (Train x value for example)) by simply copying the datablock and pasting it into the node editor.
At this point wheel.x would be completely overridden by another value, and you cannot change it manually unless you disconect it. So if you move the train in X axis, the wheel X follows. You wouldn’t be able to do anything in the curve editor with wheel.x either.
The node editor would have all the Math functions there are and complex node trees would work completely like constraints. There would be premade node groups that would do the same thing as current constraints. Making your own constraints would require no python, just node skills.
The “Constraints” tab in “Properties” could get completely removed, because they would work though nodes.
This way of overriding valuesmay not be simpler to learn, but it would provide way more freedom then what we currently have… Atleast i think it would…
I know some guy is making a particle node system. But i can’t find his blog. (please give me a link) Maybe he could also make this work? Or is this already in his todo? (unlikely).
What do you guys think of this idea?
I wish it worked instantly… Like if you make a “Set position (0, 0, 0)” node, the object would just stick there and you wouldn’t be able to move it. Which is basically a “Limit translation” constraint.