[CLOSED] support rotation="lookAt(0, 0, 0)"

[ngokevin]

Issue by ngokevin Monday Nov 16, 2015 at 18:42 GMT Originally opened as https://github.com/aframevr/aframe-core/issues/447

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Would be nice to be able to have an object face a point without having to do calculations. For example, if we wanted things aligned in a circle, we could tell each object to look at the center of the circle.

[ngokevin]

Comment by dmarcos Monday Nov 16, 2015 at 19:06 GMT

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What happens if the circle moves? It would be better to have a look-at component where you pass a selector:

<vr-object look-at="#circle"></vr-object>

[ngokevin]

Comment by ngokevin Monday Nov 16, 2015 at 19:10 GMT

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i like passing in a selector. might cause problems if someone specifies both look-at + rotation? since look-at modifies rotation, it makes sense that the rotation component handle both

[ngokevin]

Comment by dmarcos Monday Nov 16, 2015 at 19:15 GMT

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We already have this problem with controls. Controls modify rotation and position and can collide with other changes. You can isolate changes by wrapping elements in other elements.

[ngokevin]

Comment by dmarcos Monday Nov 16, 2015 at 19:16 GMT

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This is going to happen with components that apply behaviours on entities.

[ngokevin]

Comment by ngokevin Monday Nov 16, 2015 at 19:22 GMT

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yeah though there's not much we can do with controls. but it might be good API design to put look-at functionality in rotation component. it:

1. reinforces to the user that look-at affects rotation
2. adds a constraint so the user cannot specify both on the same entity
3. decreases api surface area

but i do see the case for code modularity.

[ngokevin]

Comment by jcarpenter Wednesday Nov 18, 2015 at 10:45 GMT

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Dupe of #317, I think.

Enables devs to tell objects to "look at" another object. This is common and extremely useful. Implementation could be via component, with something like: <a-kitten lookat="target: bird"> Example from Cinema 4D's implementation is as follows: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/667711/mockups/target-example.mov

In C4D Look At tag takes priority over (ignores) standard object transforms.

[ngokevin]

Comment by jcarpenter Wednesday Nov 18, 2015 at 10:46 GMT

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Primary use case for this is UI design, IMO.

[ngokevin]

Comment by ngokevin Wednesday Nov 18, 2015 at 18:05 GMT

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Dupe https://github.com/MozVR/aframe-core/issues/317

Changed my mind, I'm okay with lookat separate component