What are the plans for a complete documentation and working demos?
I like newton, but over the years (since newton 2.14/ newton 3) it has become increasingly difficult to even know, what Newton can do. It always seemed to me, that it is just expected from the user to know what the functions do or what the physics behind it are, even looking at the current documentation this is true. Most function doesn't have a documentation at all, and those that have don't explain anything. One example: "MaterialSetContactElasticity", the docs say this function changes the contact elasticity. But nothing is explained about what that is or what the results for the simulation are.
Sadly most demos are also not working (instant crash). When looking at the code, it is mostly extremely over complicated and doesn't focus on the thing it shows. Or there is so much other inactive code, that you don't even know what the demo should show.
An overview of the advanced features would also be nice (cloth, liquid, particles, body manipulation, fractures,...). Or what you can do with callbacks, how to manipulate bodies, what the player controller can do, etc.
Until now, I just needed simple dynamic body physics but I want to implemented more advanced stuff, but can't find any info about it. Also, focusing on these things would attract many more user to newton. Newton is known by many people (at least in my surroundings), but nobody wants to use it, because you would need months just to understand the engine a bit (and no, not because newton allegedly is the victim of some physics engine/personal things war).
Users expect to get an idea on how the engine is working, what it can do and how to use it.
It would be nice, if those things could get a bit more attention. It would help existing users of Newton as well as new users.
Greetings