NYC Buildings
Creative
data visualization
SHOW HN2018
151points
42comments
#271of 2,155 in 2018
Top 13%of 2018 by points
How HN took it
RoastedHalf or more of the comments are critical
2 positive, 9 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 15 critical, out of 28 comments about the project. Thread score -0.42.
Design: 2 for, 5 againstExecution: 0 for, 6 againstPerformance: 0 for, 4 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Visualization is cool and impressive
From 3 comments
I really appreciate the confirmation modal in the beginning. This is _very_ cool
gandreani on HNBoth scrolling and panning (dragging) feels inverted to me! Specifically, it behaves the opposite way to for example Google Maps. (Scrolling away from the computer, towards me,…
htgb on HNThat was really cool. I zoomed in until I was essentially at ground level and looked around. I have to say that to me, it was depressing. I can't imagine living in a place where…
DougN7 on HN
Confirmation modal appreciated
From 1 comment
I really appreciate the confirmation modal in the beginning. This is _very_ cool
gandreani on HN
Objections
Camera controls feel inverted and too sensitive
From 3 comments
Both scrolling and panning (dragging) feels inverted to me! Specifically, it behaves the opposite way to for example Google Maps. (Scrolling away from the computer, towards me,…
htgb on HNI second this. I'd also add that the inputs are way too sensitive. Moving my mouse only a couple of pixels completely inverts the visualization! It's basically impossible to…
dbatten on HNI was unable to control it properly and gave up.
laythea on HN
Runs slowly, high GPU load and fan noise
From 3 comments
Hmm, this actually runs surprisingly slow (I have a top of the line 15" MBP with discrete graphics and it's not hitting 30fps). What's the deal with that? Is WebGL just so…
izacus on HNYes that's still the case with most WebGL demos I click. I clicked this one, and played around for 10 seconds. Then I heard the fans of my Macbook Pro spinning up.
sgt on HNThe geometry in this demo already is static. The app is vertex bound since the geometry has 11 million vertices, which is not trivial for any GPU to render.
mattdesl on HN
Crashes or fails to load in several browsers
From 3 comments
Crashed my browser (but on mobile, so maybe expected for intensive webgl). Chrome Mobile Version: 65.0.3325.109 Second launch didn't crash but gave the error: webgl hit a snag…
daveguy on HNCrashed mine on desktop too, on 66.0.3359.117. Locks up for a few seconds, slowly reaches ~75% loading progress, then "Aw, Snap!"
hughes on HNDoesn't seem to work in Chromium 62 or Chrome 63. Occasionally the browser says "Rats! WebGL hit a snag. [Ignore] [Reload]", and neither action helps. Occasionally WebGL doesn't…
doughj3 on HN
Height colormap seems meaningless or wrong
From 2 comments
Is it just me? The colormap doesn't seem correct for the height. Other than that it's nice.
noobermin on HNAm I misinterpreting something or are the height colors meaningless?
nwsm on HN
Mostly white, hard to see
From 1 comment
It's all white and light grey, very hard to see anything :/
aap_ on HN
Requests
Keyboard movement with WASD or arrow keys
From 1 comment
Very cool, small quality of life suggestion is allow movement with WASD or the arrow keys.
rhcom2 on HN
Zoom should center on cursor target
From 1 comment
The camera should move when zooming in, for example if I'm pointing at the Empire State and I zoom in, the zoom should center on the building.
iooi on HN
Questions
Why not use three.js
From 1 comment
Very cool data visualization. Are there any particular reasons you chose not to a library like THREE? Bundle size perhaps?
2474 on HN
Why is it slow compared to native OpenGL or Google Maps
From 2 comments
Hmm, this actually runs surprisingly slow (I have a top of the line 15" MBP with discrete graphics and it's not hitting 30fps). What's the deal with that? Is WebGL just so…
izacus on HNYou can compare this with Google Maps, since IIRC Google Maps also uses WebGL, and renders all of Manhattan with far more detail and without a snag.
ucaetano on HN
Alternatives named
Google Maps
From 1 comment
You can compare this with Google Maps, since IIRC Google Maps also uses WebGL, and renders all of Manhattan with far more detail and without a snag.
ucaetano on HN
Cities: Skylines
From 1 comment
How does that number compare to for example Cities: Skylines which renders cityscapes smoothly on the same hardware?
izacus on HN