WILL SDK for ink v3

Differences between WILL 2.0 and 3.0

What are the differences between WILL 2.0 and 3.0 and do you have any guidance for migrating?

Answer

WILL 2 for Windows is based on asm.js (http://asmjs.org/faq.html).
The underlying technology used for inking is WebGL.
Module.js is a wrapper whose purpose is to adopt asm.js and to extend its functionality with pure JavaScript code.
The latest version of WILL 2 is v.2.1.0.

WILL 3 for Windows is a pure JavaScript library based on ECMA6.
The underlying technology used for inking is 2D.
WebGL is also available for complex tools used in sketching apps.
WILL 3 significantly reduces the complexity of canvas interaction and works as an extension of 2D context - it just adds inking functionality.

There is no migration guide between WILL 2 and 3 because WILL 3 provides completely new concepts of path building and technology.
Rendering primitives is almost the same but data format is completely different.
A converter from a WILL 2 to a WILL 3 data file is available if needed.

WILL 3 has several distributions:

  • wacom-digital-ink.js - UMD distribution - This is used for CDN imports or for bundling.
    For bundles additional configuration is required - there are native dependencies which should be excluded from the bundle.

  • wacom-digital-ink-esm.js - ECMA6 distribution This is used with import/export statements (the next version name will be updated to wacom-digital-ink.mjs)

  • wacom-digital-ink-cjs.js - CommonJS build This is compatible with NodeJS env (the next version name will be updated to wacom-digital-ink.cjs)

  • wacom-digital-ink.cjs.mjs
    Provides ECMA6 for NodeJS

The package should be available in npm repository one day (depending on legal authorisation).

WILL 3 does not have tutorials or samples yet, but a demo app (based on CDN syntax) and API documentation have been provided.
The demo app provides the basic concepts of Vector and Raster inking. The source is available here: https://github.com/Wacom-Developer/sdk-for-ink-web

You can access the demo app here: https://will3-web-ink-demo.azurewebsites.net

Tool Configurator app:

For WILL 2 see https://developer-demos.wacom.com/ToolConfigurator

For WILL 3 see http://ink-designer.trafficmanager.net/

This provides many new features. Path building is much more powerful and path point geometry configuration is handled much more precisely.

WILL 3 comes with tilt support and control on everything related to path building.
WILL 2 has support for variable size and alpha color channel only - many properties can be varied in WILL 3.

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