Library renaming: discussions and suggestions

[jcarpent]

Dear all users and core developers,

Several potential end-users mention that the current name of the library makes people think that hpp-fcl is nothing more than a simple fork of the original FCL. After some internal discussions with @nim65s @florent-lamiraux @jmirabel @lmontaut @jorisv @jcarpent, and external users, we think important to change the name of this library. Although we recognize the significant impact and core value of FCL, we do think that hpp-fcl today offers unique added values that go beyond this seminal work. In particular, over the past ten years, we have implemented important new features such as:

• Python bindings
• flexible broadphase
• accelerated GJK
• accelerated EPA
• hfield support
• serialization
• contact patches
• flexible packaging

and will provide soon new features, among them:

• compound models
• deformable shapes
• convex decompositions.

We are thinking to rename this library to coal, as it is a simple name, and to move it to a dedicated organization to manage the project while gaining visibility.

In terms of modifications, @lmontaut and @jcarpent are willing to contribute. We are open to further discussions if any.

Best, The hpp-fcl core dev team.

[traversaro]

The name is free on repology https://repology.org/project/coal/versions (great!), while it is taken on pypi: https://pypi.org/project/coal, but I guess it is kind of impossible to find a real four letter word still available on pypi.