Spark Texture Compression 1.2 introduces significant performance enhancements, particularly for mobile GPUs. The update features improved ETC1S encoding speed by up to 4x, along with a new, faster ASTC encoder optimized for ARM CPUs. Other additions include improved Basis Universal support, allowing for supercompression using both UASTC and ETC1S, and experimental support for generating KTX2 files. These improvements aim to reduce texture processing time and improve overall performance, especially beneficial for mobile game developers.
AdaCore has announced the winners of its "Ada/SPARK Crate of the Year 2024" competition. The gold award went to Libadalang-TV, a library providing a tree view for Libadalang, simplifying Ada and SPARK code analysis. Silver was awarded to Ada-Scintilla, a binding for the Scintilla editing component, enhancing Ada and SPARK development environments. Finally, Florist, a tool for static analysis of formal verification results, took home the bronze. These crates demonstrate community contributions to improving the Ada and SPARK ecosystem, providing valuable tools for development, analysis, and verification.
Hacker News users discussed the winning Ada/SPARK crates, expressing interest in Creatif's accessibility features for blind programmers and praising its maintainers' dedication. Some questioned the term "crate" in the Ada context, suggesting "package" or "library" as more fitting. A few comments highlighted Ada's strengths in safety-critical systems, contrasting its niche status with the broader popularity of Rust, while also acknowledging Rust's growing presence in similar domains. One commenter pondered the reasons behind Ada's limited adoption despite its technical merits.
Summary of Comments ( 4 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43284399
Several commenters on Hacker News expressed excitement about the improvements in Spark 1.2, particularly the smaller texture sizes and faster loading times. Some discussed the cleverness of the ETC1S encoding method and its potential benefits for mobile game development. One commenter, familiar with the author's previous work, praised the consistent quality of their compression tools. Others questioned the licensing terms, specifically regarding commercial use and potential costs associated with incorporating the technology into their projects. A few users requested more technical details about the compression algorithm and how it compares to other texture compression formats like ASTC and Basis Universal. Finally, there was a brief discussion comparing Spark to other texture compression tools and the different use cases each excels in.
The Hacker News post titled "Spark Texture Compression 1.2" discussing the blog post about the updated texture compression library has a modest number of comments, leading to a focused discussion rather than a sprawling debate. Several commenters express appreciation for the tool and its improvements.
One commenter highlights the significance of texture compression, especially in mobile game development, emphasizing the constant struggle to balance visual quality with performance. They point out that tools like Spark can make a notable difference in achieving this balance.
Another commenter dives a bit into technical details, questioning the choice of using BCn formats as the basis for comparison. They suggest that using ASTC would provide a more relevant benchmark given its increasing prevalence and superior quality, particularly on mobile platforms. This comment sparks a brief exchange about the reasons behind the choice of BCn, with a possible explanation being the wider hardware support for BCn at the time of the tool's development.
Further discussion revolves around the benefits of using Spark, with some users attesting to its ease of use and the quality of the compressed textures it produces. One user specifically mentions the clear documentation as a positive aspect, making the tool accessible even for those less experienced with texture compression techniques.
There's also a brief mention of other texture compression tools, suggesting alternatives and highlighting the diversity of available options within this niche area. However, the conversation primarily stays focused on Spark and its latest update. Notably, the author of the blog post and the Spark tool actively participates in the comments section, responding to queries and providing further insights into the development process and future plans. This direct interaction adds value to the discussion and reinforces the positive reception of the tool within the community.