What student software should I download to help JMonkey development?

General Discussion
1

Hello:

Since I’m a student, my college provides me with free microsoft software. The list of available software is below. Please ignore the fact that the name on the list appear twice, it is a raw copy and paste.

Anyways, is there any important software on the list that I should download and that it should be useful to me to contribute to JMonkeyEngine?

Right now I just downloaded Microsoft Windows 8.1 for obvious reasons. Is there any other software on this list that I should download while this is free to me? Please also explain why (in detail if you have time).

Microsoft Windows 8.1
Microsoft Windows
8.1
Microsoft Windows 8
Microsoft Windows 8
Microsoft Windows 7
Microsoft Windows 7
Microsoft Visual Studio 2013
Microsoft Visual
Studio 2013
Microsoft Visual Studio 2012
Microsoft Visual
Studio 2012
Microsoft Project 2013
Microsoft Project
2013
Microsoft Visio 2013
Microsoft Visio 2013
Microsoft Access 2013
Microsoft Access
2013
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010
Microsoft Visual
Studio 2010
Microsoft Project 2010
Microsoft Project
2010
Microsoft Visio 2010
Microsoft Visio 2010
Microsoft Access 2010
Microsoft Access
2010
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012
Microsoft Hyper-V
Server 2012
Microsoft Office Server Language Pack
Microsoft Office
Server Language Pack
Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Microsoft SQL Server
2012
Microsoft Windows 7 and Window Server 2008 R2 Service Pack
Microsoft Windows 7
and Window Server
2008 R2 Service Pack
Microsoft Windows 7 Language Pack
Microsoft Windows 7
Language Pack
Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft System Center 2012
Microsoft System
Center 2012
Microsoft Expression Studio 4
Microsoft Expression
Studio 4
Microsoft Office Suite 2007
Microsoft Office
Suite 2007
Autoroute 2010
Autoroute 2010
Autoroute 2013
Autoroute 2013
Microsoft ASP.NET MVC
Microsoft ASP.NET
MVC
Microsoft BizTalk Server 2013
Microsoft BizTalk
Server 2013
Microsoft BizTalk Server 2014
Microsoft BizTalk
Server 2014
Microsoft BizTalk Server 2016
Microsoft BizTalk
Server 2016
Microsoft Customer Care Framework 2009
Microsoft Customer
Care Framework 2009
Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2013
Microsoft Desktop
Optimization Pack
2013
Microsoft Duet
Microsoft Duet
Microsoft Exchange Server 2013
Microsoft Exchange
Server 2013
Microsoft Forefront EndPoint Protection 2010
Microsoft Forefront
EndPoint Protection
2010
Microsoft Forefront Protection for Exchange Server 2010
Microsoft Forefront
Protection for
Exchange Server 2010
Microsoft Forefront Protection for SharePoint 2010
Microsoft Forefront
Protection for
SharePoint 2010
Microsoft Host Integration Server 2013
Microsoft Host
Integration Server
2013
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2
Microsoft Hyper-V
Server 2012 R2
Microsoft InfoPath 2013
Microsoft InfoPath
2013
Microsoft ISA Server 2006 SDK
Microsoft ISA Server
2006 SDK
Microsoft Lync 2013
Microsoft Lync 2013
Microsoft Lync Server 2013
Microsoft Lync
Server 2013
Microsoft MapPoint Euro 2013
Microsoft MapPoint
Euro 2013
Microsoft MapPoint North America 2013
Microsoft MapPoint
North America 2013
Microsoft OneNote 2013
Microsoft OneNote
2013
Microsoft Project Server 2013
Microsoft Project
Server 2013
Microsoft Semblio
Microsoft Semblio
Microsoft Sharepoint Server 2013
Microsoft Sharepoint
Server 2013
Microsoft SQL Server 2014
Microsoft SQL Server
2014
Microsoft SQL Server Migration Assistant - Oracle V2.0
Microsoft SQL Server
Migration Assistant

  • Oracle V2.0
    Microsoft Streets and Trips 2013
    Microsoft Streets
    and Trips 2013
    Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
    Microsoft System
    Center 2012
    Configuration
    Manager
    Microsoft System Center 2012 R2
    Microsoft System
    Center 2012 R2
    Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Updates Publisher
    Microsoft System
    Center Configuration
    Manager Updates
    Publisher
    Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection 2012
    Microsoft System
    Center Endpoint
    Protection 2012
    Microsoft Virtual Earth
    Microsoft Virtual
    Earth
    Microsoft Virtual PC
    Microsoft Virtual PC
    Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac 6
    Microsoft Virtual PC
    for Mac 6
    Microsoft Visual C++ Browser Toolkit
    Microsoft Visual C++
    Browser Toolkit
    Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service v7.2 SDK
    Microsoft Volume
    Shadow Copy Service
    v7.2 SDK
    Microsoft Windows Azure
    Microsoft Windows
    Azure
    Microsoft Windows CE
    Microsoft Windows CE
    Microsoft Windows DNA XML
    Microsoft Windows
    DNA XML
    Microsoft Windows Embedded 2013
    Microsoft Windows
    Embedded 2013
    Microsoft Windows Embedded 8
    Microsoft Windows
    Embedded 8
    Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Test Kit
    Microsoft Windows
    Hardware
    Compatibility Test
    Kit
    Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
    Microsoft Windows
    HPC Server 2008 R2
    Microsoft Windows Mobile 6
    Microsoft Windows
    Mobile 6
    Microsoft Windows Point of Service
    Microsoft Windows
    Point of Service
    Microsoft Windows SDK
    Microsoft Windows
    SDK
    Microsoft XNA Game Studio 4
    Microsoft XNA Game
    Studio 4
    UI Strings Glossary
    UI Strings Glossary
    Windows Embedded Device Manager 2011
    Windows Embedded
    Device Manager 2011
    Windows Small Business Server 2008
    Windows Small
    Business Server 2008
    Microsoft Office Project 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Project 2007
    Microsoft Office OneNote 2010
    Microsoft Office
    OneNote 2010
    Microsoft Office Visio 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Visio 2007
    Microsoft Visual Basic 6
    Microsoft Visual
    Basic 6
    Microsoft Kinect for Windows SDK
    Microsoft Kinect for
    Windows SDK
    Microsoft Windows Vista
    Microsoft Windows
    Vista
    Microsoft Visual Basic 2005
    Microsoft Visual
    Basic 2005
    Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008
    Microsoft Robotics
    Developer Studio
    2008
    Microsoft .NET Framework 4
    Microsoft .NET
    Framework 4
    Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2
    Microsoft Windows
    Server 2008 R2
    Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
    Microsoft Windows
    Server 2012 R2
    Microsoft Windows Server 2012
    Microsoft Windows
    Server 2012
    Microsoft Lync 2010
    Microsoft Lync 2010
    Microsoft Windows Server 2008
    Microsoft Windows
    Server 2008
    Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
    Microsoft Exchange
    Server 2010
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008
    Microsoft SQL Server
    2008
    Microsoft Office Sharepoint Designer 2010
    Microsoft Office
    Sharepoint Designer
    2010
    Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
    Microsoft Virtual PC
    2007
    Microsoft Office OneNote 2007
    Microsoft Office
    OneNote 2007
    Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 4
    Microsoft Robotics
    Developer Studio 4
    Microsoft Forefront Client Security
    Microsoft Forefront
    Client Security
    Microsoft AutoCollage 2008
    Microsoft
    AutoCollage 2008
    Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
    Microsoft Visual
    Studio 2008
    Microsoft Windows Server 2003
    Microsoft Windows
    Server 2003
    Microsoft Kodu Game Lab
    Microsoft Kodu Game
    Lab
    Microsoft Small Basic
    Microsoft Small
    Basic
    Microsoft MS-DOS 6
    Microsoft MS-DOS 6
    Microsoft Academic Resource Kit
    Microsoft Academic
    Resource Kit
    Microsoft Office Groove 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Groove 2007
    Microsoft Streets and Trips 2011
    Microsoft Streets
    and Trips 2011
    Microsoft Windows Web Server 2008
    Microsoft Windows
    Web Server 2008
    Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0
    Microsoft Windows
    Embedded CE 6.0
    Microsoft Sharepoint Server 2010
    Microsoft Sharepoint
    Server 2010
    Microsoft SQL Server 2005
    Microsoft SQL Server
    2005
    Microsoft Surface 1 SDK
    Microsoft Surface 1
    SDK
    Microsoft Songsmith
    Microsoft Songsmith
    Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac 7
    Microsoft Virtual PC
    for Mac 7
    Autoroute 2011
    Autoroute 2011
    Microsoft Access 2007
    Microsoft Access
    2007
    Powerpivot for Excel 2010
    Powerpivot for Excel
    2010
    Windows Small Business Server 2011
    Windows Small
    Business Server 2011
    Microsoft Visual Studio 2005
    Microsoft Visual
    Studio 2005
    Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2008
    Microsoft Office
    Accounting
    Professional 2008
    Microsoft Expression Studio 3
    Microsoft Expression
    Studio 3
    Microsoft office Groove Server 2010
    Microsoft office
    Groove Server 2010
    Microsoft Search Server 2010
    Microsoft Search
    Server 2010
    Microsoft BizTalk Server 2010
    Microsoft BizTalk
    Server 2010
    Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008
    Microsoft Visual
    Studio Team System
    2008
    Microsoft Office MapPoint 2010
    Microsoft Office
    MapPoint 2010
    Microsoft Office Mappoint 2011
    Microsoft Office
    Mappoint 2011
    Microsoft Solver Foundation 2
    Microsoft Solver
    Foundation 2
    Microsoft Mathematics 4.0
    Microsoft
    Mathematics 4.0
    Microsoft Streets and Trips 2010
    Microsoft Streets
    and Trips 2010
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2005
    Microsoft Visual C++
    2005
    Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
    Microsoft Exchange
    Server 2007
    Microsoft Visual C# 2005
    Microsoft Visual C#
    2005
    Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2010
    Microsoft Desktop
    Optimization Pack
    2010
    Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2011
    Microsoft Desktop
    Optimization Pack
    2011
    Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2012
    Microsoft Desktop
    Optimization Pack
    2012
    Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008
    Microsoft Visual Web
    Developer 2008
    Microsoft Visual Studio LightSwitch 2011
    Microsoft Visual
    Studio LightSwitch
    2011
    Microsoft Office Project Server 2010
    Microsoft Office
    Project Server 2010
    Microsoft Office Accounting Professional 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Accounting
    Professional 2007
    Microsoft Windows Automated Installation Kit
    Microsoft Windows
    Automated
    Installation Kit
    Microsoft Lync Server 2010
    Microsoft Lync
    Server 2010
    Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005
    Microsoft Visual Web
    Developer 2005
    Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX 3.5
    Microsoft Windows
    Services for UNIX
    3.5
    Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Project Server 2007
    Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 Driver Kit
    Microsoft Windows 7
    and Windows Server
    2008 Driver Kit
    Microsoft Windows 7 Debug Symbols
    Microsoft Windows 7
    Debug Symbols
    Microsoft XNA Game Studio 3
    Microsoft XNA Game
    Studio 3
    Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 Debug Symbols
    Microsoft Windows 7
    and Windows Server
    2008 Debug Symbols
    Microsoft Macro Assembler 6.11
    Microsoft Macro
    Assembler 6.11
    Microsoft MSDN Library for Visual Studio
    Microsoft MSDN
    Library for Visual
    Studio
    Microsoft Visual FoxPro 9
    Microsoft Visual
    FoxPro 9
    Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010
    Microsoft Forefront
    Threat Management
    Gateway 2010
    Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack 2009
    Microsoft Desktop
    Optimization Pack
    2009
    Microsoft .NET Micro Framework 3
    Microsoft .NET Micro
    Framework 3
    Microsoft Office Communicator 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Communicator 2007
    Microsoft Solver Foundation 3
    Microsoft Solver
    Foundation 3
    Microsoft System Center Essentials 2010
    Microsoft System
    Center Essentials
    2010
    Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer 2007
    Microsoft Office
    SharePoint Designer
    2007
    Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007
    Microsoft Office
    InfoPath 2007
    Microsoft Windows XP DDK
    Microsoft Windows XP
    DDK
    Microsoft ISA Server 2006
    Microsoft ISA Server
    2006
    Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
    Microsoft Office
    SharePoint Server
    2007
    Microsoft Windows Phone
    Microsoft Windows
    Phone
    Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0
    Microsoft Windows
    Mobile 5.0
    Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server
    Microsoft Forefront
    Security for
    Exchange Server
    Microsoft MSDN Subscriptions Library
    Microsoft MSDN
    Subscriptions
    Library
    Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2010
    Microsoft System
    Center Data
    Protection Manager
    2010
    Microsoft System Center Service Manager 2010
    Microsoft System
    Center Service
    Manager 2010
    Microsoft Live Communications Server 2005
    Microsoft Live
    Communications
    Server 2005
    Microsoft Speech Application 1 SDK
    Microsoft Speech
    Application 1 SDK
    Microsoft Forefront Server Security Management Console
    Microsoft Forefront
    Server Security
    Management Console
    Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010
    Microsoft Forefront
    Unified Access
    Gateway 2010
    Microsoft Windows Services for UNIX 3.0
    Microsoft Windows
    Services for UNIX
    3.0
    Microsoft Forefront Security for SharePoint
    Microsoft Forefront
    Security for
    SharePoint
    Microsoft Streets and Trips 2009
    Microsoft Streets
    and Trips 2009
    Microsoft Operations Manager 2007
    Microsoft Operations
    Manager 2007
    Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007
    Microsoft System
    Center Configuration
    Manager 2007
    Microsoft Office Groove Server 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Groove Server 2007
    Microsoft Visual J# 2005
    Microsoft Visual J#
    2005
    Microsoft Visual J# .NET
    Microsoft Visual J#
    .NET
    Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Test Kit 11
    Microsoft Windows
    Hardware
    Compatibility Test
    Kit 11
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2008
    Microsoft Visual C++
    2008
    Microsoft CCR and DSS Toolkit 2008
    Microsoft CCR and
    DSS Toolkit 2008
    Microsoft .NET Micro Framework SDK
    Microsoft .NET Micro
    Framework SDK
    Microsoft Customer Care Framework 2008
    Microsoft Customer
    Care Framework 2008
    Microsoft Host Integration Server 2010
    Microsoft Host
    Integration Server
    2010
    Microsoft Office MapPoint 2006
    Microsoft Office
    MapPoint 2006
    Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Communications
    Server 2007
    Microsoft Windows Real-Time Communications Client API SDK 1.3
    Microsoft Windows
    Real-Time
    Communications
    Client API SDK 1.3
    Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5
    Microsoft .NET
    Framework 4.5
    Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Mouse SDK
    Microsoft Windows
    MultiPoint Mouse SDK
    Microsoft Office MapPoint 2009
    Microsoft Office
    MapPoint 2009
    Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008
    Microsoft System
    Center Mobile Device
    Manager 2008
    Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007
    Microsoft System
    Center Data
    Protection Manager
    2007
    Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005
    Microsoft Office
    Live Communications
    Server 2005
    Microsoft Host Integration Server 2006
    Microsoft Host
    Integration Server
    2006
    Microsoft BizTalk Server 2009
    Microsoft BizTalk
    Server 2009
    Microsoft Visual C# 2008
    Microsoft Visual C#
    2008
    Microsoft Windows Embedded
    Microsoft Windows
    Embedded
    Microsoft Windows MultiPoint Server 2011
    Microsoft Windows
    MultiPoint Server
    2011
    Microsoft Office Servers 2007
    Microsoft Office
    Servers 2007
2

An operating system is important: probably Windows 7 Professional, though some prefer Linux.

A web browser, perhaps Internet Explorer, though there are others just as good available free from other vendors.

For historical reasons Microsoft doesn’t provide much help for Java programming, so I don’t see the programming tools being much use.

3

Microsoft is pretty invested in their .NET stuff, but operating system and maybe office.

Though you could use libreoffice or openoffice, I think there is a linux port and, fir the average user, it can do most if not all requirements you have of a word/presentation/other processing software.

4

Things you need to develop on or for JME:
-an operating system
-the JDK
-the JME SDK
-coding skill

That’s pretty much it.

5

@pspeed What about developing for LWJGL or JOGL don’t you need the FULL .net sdk. Or for adding kinect functionality, isn’t the kinect sdk useful? Or adding database functionality, isn’t Microsoft Access useful?

6
@Pixelapp said: @pspeed What about developing for LWJGL or JOGL don't you need the FULL .net sdk. Or for adding kinect functionality, isn't the kinect sdk useful? Or adding database functionality, isn't Microsoft Access useful?

I was answering the question asked. I can provide a nice recipe for peppersteak if we are answering questions not asked. :slight_smile:

And technically, Microsoft Access is probably more relevant to my recipes than to JME development… so now I wonder if you were just trolling. :wink:

7

@pspeed No, really, this stuff is real. No trolling from my part.

I just don’t want to pass on all of these expensive software, that are being given to me for free. But I certainly won’t download them all.

Edit:

That’s why I said CONTRIBUTE to JMonkeyEngine.

8

Get yourself visual studio 2013. Examples online for OpenGL/GLSL are mostly written in C/C++ and a few come with Visual studio solutions (main project), so you can easily test them out and then port them if you want

9

@wezrule Now that’s more like it!!

10

Plus, with Visual Studio you can use nvidia opengl debugger, which might the only option left to see what is happening inside graphic card. All free tools are not working anymore and nvidia tools work only with full version of VS…

11

gDebugger works, but you have to select java as run target and add the -jar ‘yourApplication.jar’ as parameter

12
@zzuegg said: gDebugger works, but you have to select java as run target and add the -jar 'yourApplication.jar' as parameter

It worked for me on laptop ATI card, doesn’t work on nvidia desktop. I tried a lot of tricks - it is just not compatible with nvidia drivers after some version. I don’t think that it is a priority to fix it, given it was taken over by ATI…

13

Hm, don’t know, i have a nvidia card too and most of the stuff seems to work for me.

At least i can inspect Textures/Buffers and see the open gl function calls.

14

You don’t really need anything from that tl;dr list.
You could use Windows. Maybe you should use Linux instead; it keeps you away from Microsoft’s lock-in strategies. (Apple would be worse lock-in and higher prices, but generally better quality.)

I’d stay away from shader debugging just for Nvidia; the results can be misleading because you’ll never know whether your findings are transferrable to ATI, Intel, Mac, or any of the numerous Android platforms (plus things might be slightly different inside a browser, too, though I guess the whole idea of applets is being slowly killed off by security issues).
Of course, sometimes a debugger is still helpful :slight_smile:

… but you don’t need to do shader stuff to contribute to JME. There’s tons of other things that could be done.

15

I’m a HUGE fan of peppersteak … @pspeed, please do share ?!?