Its not simpler any why have they started their own slicer project then.
Your a dyed in the wool sheepol.
You want to test stuff and play you use Linux. You want to be led like a sheep to slaughter you used closed products. We are an open source community and dont need our ideas and freedom interfered with by big corps after big bucks by telling us how its their vision. Why do we need an API the packages are already linked. Explain how easy it is to restrict people by using a closed source API. Really look around and tell me why what we already have doesn’t work?
I want to see 3d printing used by taggers, teachers generally are not very “tech savvy”. The ability to print manipulative educational materials is invaluable. Manipulative items typically cost 40-80 dollars per student power lesson. With a printer it becomes pennies. I want a solution for teachers that is as easy as possible.
This doesn’t restrict anything. You can run normal open-source tools along side this api. It is just making it easier to integrate.
But seriously. Why is making things easier bad? I know you don’t like closed source. But answer the question please don’t attack me, calling me a sheep doesn’t make your case. Yes what we have works, but this gives us a way to make 3d printing mainstream, and they plan on giving that to the rep rap community, not just the big companies.
Its already in schools.
Microsoft are giving their products away for free as more schools go over to open source. So what’s Microsoft doing running in muddying the water when it sees it a free market eating into its share.
No api is needed from them. And teachers here in the UK are learning JAVA coding so where does Microsoft come into that equation when teachers can code their own APIs that are kid friendly.
Not every school is so fortunate to have teachers that know how to program. I am talking about primary school. Teachers that are teaching addition, subtraction, multiplication. If you remember the cubes for teaching decimal.(1 cube, 10 cubes,100 cubes) Those are one of the simplest manipulative for teaching primary school. They are 15 USD each.
My dad is not going to learn java. He may learn how to so some light cad. But if there was an easy way to print he may be interested.He is a hobbyist, but does not do well with computers. The people are the people these changes are meant for. If it all it does is ADD to the community, why do you care? You still have not answered the question of why is it bad. The closest argument you have made is because it is closed source, but that is week.
To parallel your argument with that excellent teachers are able to use it so why is it necessary. Cars work really well, why do we need public transit, I cannot do my own maintenance on the bus to make sure it works? Well some people are not willing or able to keep a car. Easy solutions are necessary if this community is to grow.
@Nigel_Dickinson Even if other solutions are better in your opinion. Tell me why this is bad.If you cannot give me a good reason that isn’t a conspiracy theory then please stop. Please don’t speculate about intentions of people you have never met or interacted with. This is a good thing, the only arguments against is are sensationalist and speculative. I don’t care to here why other solutions are probably better, I want to here why this is bad. If it is not bad, then we should allow them to help grow the community of makers
Business is business and Microsoft think they are the standard end of argument UK schools are starting to teach primary children Java. And when has Microsoft ever improved anything. And the solution to easy is it already is without a big money making cow telling us how to do stuff.
And how do you know if I have ever dealt with the big M.
The truth is they dont care about community only profit. Otherwise windows would be free to all.
If the programs are already talking to each other why do we need another layer that takes away processing speed. Why do we need to integrate the programs when that already are you have not listen nor have you any interest in listening.
You believe that by doing this it makes it easier but it already is.
No conspiracy here just the truth and that is Microsoft want to claim a corner of the market that has been filled by Linux already having 3d printing as standard in builds…see your the one thats out of touch and living in sheepol land.
@Nigel_Dickinson How do you know what microsoft thinks?
@Nigel_Dickinson I can tell you what i see, i can tell you what it is, but i cannot tell you why they are doing it or how they will make money off of it. It is clear to me that you do not have an argument against this particular project, but dislike microsoft and there by didnt event look into this, you simply make up arguments as you go because you dislike the company. If linux offered the same solution you would love it, because your a linux fan boy. In any case if you can could argue about the API that would be great. Insulting me and attacking microsoft isn’t addressing the issue.
@Nigel_Dickinson I did look into the linux options (i do run linux along with windows) The linux “comparable package” isn’t even close to the same thing. It is all of the install scripts cascaded into one installer. The MS API allows for integration, the printer is not treated as a COM port that just accepts commands, it is integrated into the document processor and print manager. It is considered an actual printer by the OS and is treated just like a 2d printer.
@Camerin_hahn your talking crap which version did you use of Linux did you use .
Second I do know what Microsoft want and thats a slice of pie.
You are a sheepol and you forget that PDF is the document standard for files yet Microsoft let people think otherwise.
Their server software is the standard… It is not…can you see where I’m going here now I understand you couldn’t compile the windows packages but you claim to use Linux. So either windows is to hard for you or Linux is to easy. Go lie down and think about the corner you painted yourself in. 
@Nigel_Dickinson I use several versions of linux. My favorite is debian squeeze. i like to build it up from scratch, i prefer the LXDE environment because it is light and fast. I have build of gentoo but that is more work then i like. I use linux for experimental projects and hobby work. I run windows on most of my things i admit it, the media integration is much better in my opinion. I do not know where you are going with this. And i do not know how this relates to the API.
I have never used visual studios. I have never built projects in that framework before. If you have i would like your help figuring out why it wont compile. When you resort to insulting people you have already lost the argument.
You said its easier you lost my respect end of. Why do we need an API you just dont answer it. If it needs fixing the open source community will fix it, windows software works in windows without the API so what does it bring other than another layer of code. And you say about insults but you say its good but have not come up with any reasons why. And only see what you want to see and end up in tunnel vision mode. Look around look how many things have a windows compatible sticker. Thats what the big M wants from 3d printing. Nothing more nothing less. API controls only the stuff it likes and blocks the stuff it doesn’t… Thanks for your lack foresight and I’ll leave this item alone as it now bores me.
This allows direct from cad printing. That is why we want it.
You cannot print direct from CAD it still has slice so Mr Hahn youve proved you total lack of understanding of how it works. Now I was right in my name calling. Thanks for making me laugh so hard!!!
@Nigel_Dickinson clearly you have no idea what the api does then.
Let me break it down.
The api has an integrated slicer and mesh repair tool.
Because stls suck(no color actual size info or material properties exist in an stl) Microsoft made a new file type that allows you to export these parameters. The xml based file is what the api reads then repairs then slices then prints. You send this file from cad. It his the printer.
That is what we are debating. That is why we want it.
@Nigel_Dickinson make sure you actually know what you are taking about. An api is an application programming interface. The api is a method for a program to communicate with the printer. I have read through the docs for the api and that is how it works.
See. New file type I win you got there in the end sheepol.
And you still need to direct it to the colour and nozzle. Lol you lose again.
@Nigel_Dickinson It is built in to the driver package. I am telling you that is how it works. Do you research before you make stupid comments.