3D Model Viewer for Nextcloud

Visualise and explore 3D models

Currently the only functionality is basic controls (orbit, pan, zoom), few options for view, camera, environment and model display. See Development notes.

Installation

Nextcloud App Store

3D Model Viewer

Manually

Prebuilt

• Visit releases
• Download latest and unzip
• Place files_3dmodelviewer directory in <nextcloud-root>/apps or <your_custom_apps_dir>
• Enable
  • through CLI php occ app:enable files_3dmodelviewer
  • or WEB GUI.

Build

• Clone this repo in <nextcloud-root>/apps or <your_custom_apps_dir> and cd files_3dmodelviewer
• Build
  • See Building
• Enable
  • through CLI php occ app:enable files_3dmodelviewer
  • or WEB GUI.

Development notes

• The skeleton of this project was created accordingly to Generate app.
• A partial effort was made to follow Coding style & general guidelines.
• Node dependency versions are managed through npx ncu as Nextcloud uses Vue2 and we need to hold back, see .ncurc.js
• Currently building of the project is left to Nextcloud proposed make. Given that the project is frontend centric it is subject to change - especially because of hot reload, see notes below.

Design

Why? v1r0x/files_3d was used before, however it lacked file support that was necessary for inhouse needs. After evaluating status quo it made more sense to make a new app and rely on well maintained and active engine under the hood.

Nextcloud docs on app building exists, however one can truly start to understand what & how after diving into Nextcloud source. Ain't got time for that, therefore shortcuts were made by inspecting these great existing apps and how they have tackled it (especially Nextcloud offical and featured apps)

• nextcloud/files
• nextcloud/viewer
• nextcloud/files_pdfviewer
• pawelrojek/nextcloud-drawio
• Loydl/nc-bpm-app
• v1r0x/files_3d

Currently this app taps directly in nextcloud/viewer modal, as it was less code lines to mock it up. However after getting to understand how apps tap into Nextcloud the idea is to use the same approach as nextcloud/files_pdfviewer, which is good ol iframe.

• Allows to clearly separate the viewport and its logic from Nextcloud, only bridging what's necessary.
• Nextcloud global CSS space bites, app CSS injection order is unspecified etc. Pain, that can be avoided.
• Ability to develop outside actual running Nextcloud instance.
• No need to stick to Vue 2 if FE engine is to be used. React camp here, but if Vue was chosen, then at least Vue 3.
• Easier management for hot reloading without which feature full GUI development would be a nightmare.

Test models

No test files in repo. This loader has been tested by exports provided by various types Blender, Fusion 360, Solidworks, ArchiCAD. There are issues that needs to be addressed in engine.

Additionally browse through these reference files:

• KhronosGroup/glTF-Sample-Models GLTF/GLB up to spec
• google/draco GLTF/GLB up to spec
• FreeCAD/Examples FCSTD up to spec
• Sketchfab/glTF
• Voron
• kovacsv/Online3DViewer

Todo

• Evaluate engine, dependencies that are used to convert each viewable file type to GL buffers. Current engine is online-3d-viewer as a fast drop in to handle multiple types. Props to the author!
• Make a decision on whether iframe is used or not, as that affects lot of things, including backend (routes, controller).
• App settings in settings/admin.
• Implement object convert/export, albeit in Nextcloud context one would do that in a full fledged desktop app.
• Animated models
• Create control GUI and features by borrowing ideas from online HTML5 viewers, especially CAD centric features
  • Autodesk Viewer
  • Autodesk Fusion 360 View
  • Online 3D Viewer

Building

Dependencies

• POSIX preferred
• make
• whichcd
• php
• composer
• node (preferred via nvm)
• npm
• tar
• curl

Prefligth

nvm use
npm install

Building for prod

make

Building for dev static

make dev

Building for dev w/ hotreload

Currently NA, see dev notes above.