Builder Buddy (WIP)

[Rybec]

Note: Not releasing yet, I want some feedback first.

This is the Builder Buddy!
It's a builder's new best friend.
It displays the world axises, can take measurements, displays info about various entities, and directly replaces the weight and color stools.
It can also switch to a prop-relative mode, where it shows the axises of the prop, it's origin, and gives local coords for positions you indicate (great for planning holographic details/ranger positions)

The Info mode displays the bounding box on physics props for a few seconds, and the measure mode draws a line to show where you measured.

Full command list (directly from the built in /help command)

COMMANDS:
/togaxis        Turn the axises on and off
/axisalpha X    Adjust the alpha of the axises (50-255)
/mode           Check the current tool mode
/off            Turns tool functions off
/measure        Activate the tape measure
/info           Activate the info finder
/offset         Activate the local offset finder
/weight X       Set a prop's weight (weight stool replacement)
/color R G B A  Set a prop's color, A is optional, /color none to reset
/kill           Removes the Builder Buddy
/help           Brings up this menu, but I guess you know that

The settings (show/hide axises, alpha of axises) are saved cross-session with the file functions. You may need to create the config file manually the first time, I'm not sure.... Still have to test that out.

So far, the only palpable "bugs" are that, due to being parented to you, it rotates when you do and takes a couple seconds/requires you to move a little before it re-sets. You can see this in a couple of the screenshots, where things are off of their positions. The alternative is to NOT parent them, at which point they lag behind you rather massively....
The bounding box display also lags behind it's prop a bit in SP, but is seamless in MP. I had it parented originally, but if the prop gets removed, so does the holo.




I think it still needs something, but I'm not sure what. Any ideas of what to add? What would you find useful in something like this? Keep in mind it's primary purpose is to aid in the construction and coding of props, so something like "keep minges away" is outside the scope of the project.




Personally, I'm thinking of adding a Stacker mode where it calculates stacker settings and uses concmd to make it so you can just aim at a prop with the tool out and it'll stack off that side, maybe some circle calculation or something, I dunno.

Pictures (May need to fullsize them to see some details, mainly applies to the last two):

[SatansSimon]

In my opinion it's truely epic!

I think it's absolutely worth to get released and I would absolutely download it (and if it's only to make something else I got inspired from yours^^).

Good job!!

[Rybec]

If no one can think of any useful features to add, I'll just release it.

[turck3]

Looks neat. Gave me an idea as well, to create a 3DS Max-like interface for moving holograms in my holotheater.... Danke.

[ryland]

Cool, i wanna use it.

[Rybec]

Looks neat. Gave me an idea as well, to create a 3DS Max-like interface for moving holograms in my holotheater.... Danke.

Lol, I've got something like that planned too. I'm going to work my way up to a space station designer with it. It'll start off just holos, then simple single-prop forts, and just keep working up until you can design and construct SBMP stations. =D

[Unsmart]

Looks cool and useful, good job!

[Nikita]

No! This is useful! BAD! You did something that has a point in Gmod! What have you done?

[Zantier]

are the axis holos attachment parented, or positions just calculated?

[Rybec]

Both, actually. Sort of.
There's a master holo that sits at your shootPos, the cube of the axis is parented to it, the arrows are parented to the cube. The cube constantly rotates to a null angle, or to the angles of the reference prop if in offset mode. The master holo rotates with your eye angles, to keep the axises at the same point in your view.

The little origin pointer gets parented to you, but it's position is also calculated, rather than parenting to the "master" holo. The parent is so it won't lag behind, of course.

The only problem with parenting is that when you turn, they rotate with you, and don't always re-set their positions right away. Sometimes, they'll move back after a second, sometimes they don't move back until you move.


But seriously. Can anyone think of anything to add to this? Anything at all?