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The basis of my MB3D automation framework was to allow people to program their own way of interacting with the MB3D windows (as different people have different ways to explore the fractal objects).
i.e. not embedding the process exploring fractals automatically into MB3D

Phase 1 was to provide an interface to operate the MB3D windows (which is challenging due to the nature of the windows and controls). This would be better handled by a XML interface.

Phase 2 (which people will really love or have fire-and-pitchfork hate of) is to create a scripting language that allow less technical people to create an AI that explores fractals.
A basic AI could do the following things - skips of images that are have no object showing; or shows too much interior color; or too few colors and then orientates the view to center the object and zooms in so it fills 90% of the window.
A more advance AI would also zoom into objects, find and and navigate into holes (and it is that bit that needs a more stable and informative interface than using windows API) ... all while pushing out images and m3p files so that people could manually explore as well.

Hi Folks,

With thargor6's very patient help, I have managed to get the Mandelbulb3D source to load and compile in the free version of Delphi 10.2.
I have now implemented a TCP Command interface to Mandelbulb3D (I call it Mandelbulb3D.TC)
This means any program connecting via address 127.0.0.1 port 9000 can send commands to Mandelbulb3D.TC to cause it to perform actions as it there is a user doing the action.

I have adjusted my Mandelbulb3D robot to send TCP commands.
This means it talks directly to Mandelbulb3D.TC via TCP, it is a lot faster as it no longer needs to use windows hooks.
Mandelbulb3D and the robot can now run in the background while generating the 600 or so images per hour.e.

The implemented actions are:


If you would like to use the new & improved robot with Mandelbulb3D.TC - please reply to this topic, or PM me.
(This is so I can gauge interest, anyone can have the source by asking!).

There is also a test program (testInput.exe + source testInput.au3) if you want to look into creating your own robot using Mandelbulb3D.TC. I have a set of helper C# classes that give easy access to Mandelbulb3D.TC if that is of interest. PM me if you would like these.

Note: Not being a Delphi developer - I had to degrade Mandelbulb3D back to it's vanilla flavor as I could not work out the special controls and feature that were not stock features of Delphi 10.2.
A bit later, I'll also pass the Mandelbulb3D.TC source to thargor6 so that he can fold it into his next version of Mandelbulb3D if that is what he wants to do.

The Original Post will be changed to reflect the new interface.

I really enjoy the look, feel and use of Mandelbulb3D.
Just wish it was faster at rendering ... there are trillions of interesting fractals in those formula ... and such a short life to find them.

I am still looking for ways to explore faster / better through automation.

FYI: I have added in an extra interface command to allow multiple MB3D sessions at once (i.e. each MB3D can be asked to listen to a different port and be automated separately).