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About Punt

(last content update: april-11-2006)

Punt is a Open Source multi-language Windows desktop application that allows the user to view the terrain of any world in 3D. Using open standards Punt can make use of data from the Internet combined with local data in common GIS-compatible formats.

Punt is compatible with NASA World Wind data servers, cached data, and AddOns. Plugins written for World Wind need some (minor) modifications to work with Punt.

The name Punt comes from the Land of Punt, a "fabled and exotic site in eastern Africa" and the location "to which the ancient Egyptians traced their origin".

If you are interested in helping out with Punt, please see the Support/Community page. There are opportunities to get involved in helping with coding, language translations, and administrative tasks.

As noted in the Release Notes, Punt started life as a fork of the NASA World Wind project, and was started by two members of the Open Source community who had made contributions to the World Wind project, Bjørn Reppen and Dave Patton. Punt is not supported, sponsored, or endorsed by NASA (although they have wished Punt good luck). While Punt was based on the code in World Wind 1.3.2, it's initial release has features not found in World Wind 1.3.2 or 1.3.3. Punt will continue to evolve, with subsequent releases incorporating features from World Wind 1.3.3 as well as a number of other ideas. Long term goals include a desire to move to a cross-platform solution.

Stay tuned - visit Punt's News Tracker at Sourceforge.

Features

3D view

Punt 3D view

Multi-language support

Punt has been internationalized, using GNU gettext, in order to support multiple languages. Punt always supports English. The initial release of Punt also includes German and Norwegian language files. Additional language files can be added to Punt with no changes to the program. Translators can make use of existing gettext catalog (PO file) editors such as poEdit to work on their translations, and then gettext tools are used to create the language files from the PO files.

Configurable

To make Punt easier to use for both users and system administrators, multiple configuration options are made available. Like other File System settings in Punt, the location of Punt's Cache can be selected, and the various options that control cleanup of Cache files are all available for the user to configure.

The Punt Advanced Options screens present various categories of Punt's options in a property browser interface. This screenshot shows Yards being selected as the units to use when displaying distances. Other distance units that are available are Metric, Metre, Kilometre, US International, Inch, Foot, International Mile, Land Survey, Link, Rod, Chain, Furlong, US Survey Mile, Nautical Mile, Sumarian Cubit, and Astronomical Units.

Addons

Addons are a method of adding additional datasources to Punt. Free addons can be obtained from dynagis, as well as other sources. World Wind Central maintains a list of addons.