Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!rutgers!topaz.rutgers.edu!ron
From: ron@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ron Natalie)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.wanted
Subject: Re: Ray Tracing software
Message-ID: <17831@topaz.rutgers.edu>
Date: 5 Feb 88 16:52:08 GMT
References: <2197@chinet.UUCP>
Organization: The Office of Mismanagement and Bean Counting
Lines: 68
Keywords: Yet Again.

One of the finest ray tracers available anywhere is available free
from the U.S.Army.  It is part of the "BRL CAD Package" which also
includes some graphics editors and other miscellaneous stuff for
dealing with frame buffers and such.

To get it:

Send 
    1.  Enough mag tape for 15MBytes of data.  For 9-track mag
	tape specify density.  SGI or Sun streamer cartridges
	can also be done.  Specify blocksize and whether you want
	TAR or CPIO.

    2.  A letter indicating:
	a.  Who you are.
	b.  What the BRL CAD package will be used for
	c.  What equipment you plan on using
	d.  Agreement with the following condition.

	    1.  That you will not pass the source code to third
		parties.  Send them to BRL.

	    2.  BRL should be credited should the software be used
		in a product or written about in a publication.

	    3.  BRL assumes no responsibility for the code.  No
		Warrenty is expressed or implied.

	    4.  If you find any bugs or problems, report them back
		to BRL.

---Aside from a former BRL employee:

Mostly, all the above requirements are done to protect the ability of
BRL to give this code away with the absolute minimum of government hassle.
Especially important is that they know who gets the code.  This allows them
to demonstrate how much of the technology developped by the lab is used by
people other than the Army itself, and allows them the justification to
continue developing fine software such as this.

It's pretty free other than that.  Anything you make out of the package
(images, geometry database files) are yours.

------

Mail all this to:

	Director
	Ballistic Research Laboratory
	ATTN:  SLCBR-SE-C/M. Muuss
	APG, MD 21005-5066

If you are from outside the US, things have one more problem.  As with all
government papers shipped to outside-US sites, you have to forward the
request through your country's embassy in Washington.  Have the Ambassidor
forward the request through official channels to
	Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence
	Army Headquarters
	ATTN: DAM-CIT
	Washington, DC  20310

-------


Also, there is a mailing list maintained at BRL for discussion of
new features and problems with the package.

-Ron