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Ubuntu
We now have a maintained and up to date APT repository for Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty), 8.10 (Intrepid), and 8.04 (Hardy). If you have some older version of ubuntu, you can easily upgrade with these instructions: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/upgrading.
The components necessary for a fully playable spring game are the spring engine, a lobby client (already installed in Ubuntu), a mod and at least one map. Currently the repository contains everything except mods.
Installation
To install the engine, lobby client and maps follow the instructions for either the GUI or CLI installation method below.
Graphical Interface
Go to System -> Administration -> Software Sources, and click on the Third-Party Software tab. Then, click the Add button, and paste one of the two lines corresponding to your Ubuntu release (9.04, 8.10, or 8.04).
Ubuntu 9.04 "Jaunty Jackalope":
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu jaunty main
Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex":
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu intrepid main
Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron":
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu hardy main
Then click Close, and Reload. After that's done, you can just CLICK HERE TO INSTALL EVERYTHING. Alternatively, you can head to System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager, and search for spring. For the bare essentials, you'll need to install the spring-engine, spring-maps-default, and spring-lobby-springlobby packages. Other maps are available there, so check them off if you'd like to get them. After you're done, click on Apply, and Spring will be downloaded & installed.
Springlobby can be found in Applications -> Games. (Please note that you also need mods to play, and they aren't yet available in the repository. Scroll down to the Mods section of this page on how to get those).
At this time, only the Intrepid version of Springlobby supports automatic downloading of maps and mods.
Or in the terminal CLI
Press alt-F2 to run a command. Enter:
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/springproject.list
Copy and paste the following into the file:
Ubuntu 9.04:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu jaunty main
Ubuntu 8.10:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu intrepid main
Ubuntu 8.04:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu hardy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/spring/ubuntu hardy main
Save the file. You can then either use the graphical package manager Synaptic (System->Administration->Synaptic Package Manager) and search for spring related packages, or just install spring from a terminal using:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install spring spring-maps-default
Many other map packages are also available in the repository. To add them in a terminal enter.
sudo apt-get install spring-maps-1v1 spring-maps-deltasiege spring-maps-hunterw
spring-maps-kernelpanic spring-maps-smallsupreme and spring-maps-teamplay
or go to www.jobjol.com and download them from there
Other information
The webpage for the repository is here - you can browse other spring packages there as well: https://edge.launchpad.net/~spring/+archive
For configuring the lobbies, you can note that the package installs the Spring executable at /usr/games/spring and
read-only data in /usr/share/games/spring.
Now you have Spring installed.
Depending on your distribution/package you still need a Multiplayer Lobby, for Linux the most common one is SpringLobby, you can get it here.
Maps & Mods
Since Spring is only an engine, you need to download games/mods for it, and the maps that go with those games.
Springlobby will automatically do this for you using bittorrent when you attempt to join a game with a map or mod that you don't currently have.
If you want to download it manually or browse existing maps, there are several easy to use websites - here are some:
Pick any of those sites, download a map or mod, and then double click it. This will move it to your Spring folder using the spring map/mod installer program. If you wish to move maps/mods by hand, they are located under ~/.spring/maps/ or ~/.spring/mods/ (if the folder doesn't exist - create it). Don't unpack the file in any way though, just download and save it. Reload your maps/mods in Springlobby, (Tools -> Reload maps/mods) and they will be ready to use.
These sites also may provide other neat things like lua widgets, epic replays, AI bots (for playing offline or to team up on with a freind). Generally the installation requires you to download the file and place it in the appropriate folder in your ~/.spring directory. (you may have to create the folder)
Hint: If you know the map name you want, there is a Search function provided in those websites. Just write a part of the name, like one word, and you'll easily find the map you were looking for - this is helpful later on.
BA (Balanced Annihilation)
A popular mod to get started with is Balanced Annihilation (BA) 6.21. Please note that before you can run it though, you'll need to download the OTA content - read the section below on how to get that.
CA (Complete Annihilation)
A new mod with better models, graphical effects, and a different take on gameplay is the CA mod - get it here.
OTA Content
Certain mods require content from the Total Annihilation game, you need to download the following file to play them:
wget http://ipxserver.dyndns.org/games/spring/mods/xta/base-ota-content.zip -P ~/spring/base
unzip ~/spring/base/base-ota-content.zip -d ~/.spring/base/
Note that you need to own a copy of Total Annihilation, to download this file legally. Mods that do not require this file are at least NanoBlobs, Kernel Panic, Expand & Exterminate, S44, BA and CA.
Tips
- If spring hangs/crashes while in full screen mode, you can press ctrl+alt+backspace to restart X, so no need for a reboot.
- If you really can't figure out how to get spring compiled, or you think there's a bug in the code or the buildsystem...
- Just poke any developer on IRC:
- Post it on the forum
- or file a bug in our bug tracking system.
Compiletime
hpiutil2 error with cmake
make[1]: *** [rts/lib/CMakeFiles/hpiutil2.dir/all] Error 2 make: *** [all] Error 2
Run cmake TWICE. It doesn't always work properly on the first run.
invalid use of ILvoid / ALCvoid
During compiling, if you get a lot of the following errors:
/usr/include/IL/il.h:497: error: '<anonymous>' has incomplete type
/usr/include/IL/il.h:497: error: invalid use of 'ILvoid'
This happens because the version of libdevil-dev you have installed is not compatible with gcc version 4.2 and newer. Update it.
Ingame
Slow Mouse
Run:
echo '# Slow fullscreen cursor fix for Spring' >> ~/.xsessionrc
echo 'SDL_MOUSE_RELATIVE=0' >> ~/.xsessionrc
echo 'export SDL_MOUSE_RELATIVE' >> ~/.xsessionrc
And log out and log in again.
The mouse should now be as fast as in windowed mode.
Rotating Buildings
You can rotate a building before you give the build order, but the keys that do this don't work in linux by default for some users. Issue the following commands in the beginning of the game:
/bind keycodex buildfacing inc
/bind keycodey buildfacing dec
Keycodex and keycodey above are just placeholders. What you want to write depends on which key you want to use. To see what keycodes any keys have, do:
/keydebug yes
And then hit the keys you want to use, and spring prints the keycodes in the message buffer.
If you want to save these keys you have to edit the uikeys.txt.
Sound is Choppy
If the engine sound is very broken or choppy sounding, and you hear some noise or crackling, you need to update OpenAL. Spring needs at least OpenAL Soft with version 1.6 to sound good, by this time all major distribution have it in their repository, so installing it should be easy (if it isn't installed by default).
OpenAL Segfault
See -> Sound is Choppy.
Desync in game
Spring only send the commands and not the result over the network, so it needs to run all math in a repeatable manner, so all other clients in a multiplayer match get the same results. So some CPU specific features have to enabled/disabled. If you desync you either have a CPU that isn't SSE capable or you set the wrong -march /-mtune compiler flags. If you compile Spring via scons you should try:
scons configure arch=i686
Cmake users should try:
cmake -DMARCH_FLAG="i686"
If You Still Have Problems
Join either IRC chat in #taspring on Freenode or #sy on QuakeNet, or ask for help in the lobby channels #sy or #springlobby.
However, generic linux problems not really related to installing this should be asked elsewhere.
Prepare to list your distribution, which installation method you used, and what exactly is the error. Don't ask if people are around or not, just go straight to business and tell all details, for maximizing your chances of getting help.
FAQ
here
IRC
- #taspring @ FreeNode
- #sy @ QuakeNet
Asking For Help
Okay, so you need human help. This is how NOT to do it:
15:54 -!- **** [n=****@*] has joined #taspring
15:54 < ****> Hi, i have a problem with compiling spring on debian
15:54 < ****> can anyone help me?
15:57 -!- **** [n=****@*] has quit [Client Quit]
Don't ask to ask, instead go straight to business by stating the exact problem you have, and giving all necessary information. What you were trying to achieve, how did you try to do it, what happened and what did you expect to happen.
Then WAIT for someone to notice you.