Plot area nearest graphics method

[kushalkolar]

A method on plot area that returns the nearest n graphics could be useful. Just get world bounding sphere of all graphics and return closest in order.. Will need to see if this is fast enough. We could cache the world bounding spheres and update them whenever graphic data, offset or rotation changes.

[kushalkolar]

If it's slow, we could store the bounding sphere of a graphic when it's added to a PlotArea and update it whenever data, offset, or rotation changes. We could have a config option on each graphic to enable/disable this because updating all these could be slow if for example the data of a line collection is being constantly changed in a live data stream.

[clewis7]

the nearest graphics relative to what?

[clewis7]

I think we should provide option for "edge" vs "center" and choose one as the default (prob "center" imo)

[kushalkolar]

the nearest graphics relative to what?

to a passed point in world space

idea of current signature:

    def get_nearest_graphics(
        self,
        pos: tuple[float, float, float],
        n_graphics: int = None,
        method: str = "center",
        subset: tuple[Graphic] = None,
    ) -> tuple[Graphic]:
        """
        Returns the nearest ``n_graphics`` to the passed position ``pos`` in world space

        Parameters
        ----------
        pos: (x, y, z)
            position in world space, not data space

        n_graphics: int | None
            nearest number of graphics to return, if ``None`` returns all graphics

        method: "center" | "edge"
            determine the nearest objects using the "center" of graphics or the "edge"

        Returns
        -------
        tuple[Graphic]
            nearest graphics to ``pos`` in order

        """

        pass