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Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 28 Mar 2016, 21:07
by Xello
I don't know if this is the right place to ask this. But I am looking for a program like Spring Lobby that has none of the IRC or battle list functions. This program would allow you to select a game and a map, select settings, add bots, players (with passwords), and set their colors/teams, and select host properties (IP/port). This program would then spit out a script.txt file for the host to run spring.

The host could then give out Name/Password/IP/Port to the client players and they would connect manualy with
spring "spring://$USERNAME:$PASSWORD@$IP:$PORT"

Does this program exists? Is there anything close to it?


Thanks

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 29 Mar 2016, 19:56
by Beherith
Well, springlobby does create a _script.txt ...

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 29 Mar 2016, 21:06
by Xello
Beherith wrote:Well, springlobby does create a _script.txt ...
So I have heard. But is there a way to add other players with out using the network side of springlobby?

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 12:19
by abma
no it doesn't exist & springlobby is closest to it.

again: whats the issue with springlobby which prevents you to using it?

(yes, springlobby has a lot of flaws, but for most users it seems to work well enough)

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 18:38
by Xello
abma wrote:again: whats the issue with springlobby which prevents you to using it?
Sorry I couldn't give you a better answer earlier. I didn't understand what was bugging me.

It's not that I don't like springlobby, I just don't like the idea of a large lobby program. Springlobby like all lobbies need a connection to the irc like chat (username, password, lobby server), has built in tools to download maps and games, runs some sort of checksum against the map and game. There are points of possible failures for each of these features.

I am looking for the smallest possible tool to get spring to run the way I want it. As someone who mostly plays LAN games with a small group of friends most lobbies are massively overkill for what I need. And I have to support the issues that come up with everyone.

Ideally I would just like to manually distribute map and game files. Have everyone download the spring release of their choice (linux/windows/64/32). Create a script.txt locally. And distribute parameters for the other clients to join, or batch file.

As for springlobby, I think an advanced battle room tab where one can add players (with passwords) as well as AI would satisfy me. Of course there would be no need user name/password/chat in this tab. Chat, usernames, color picking, I think can be outsourced to other separate programs. I am still thinking if I can do this change in springlobby on my own... Not sure yet.

A side thought: I feel that while spring it's self is really well bounded by scope. The lobbies are basically "Everything else". This seems to cause massive scope creep with lobbies. But I am still thinking on this.

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 19:11
by Silentwings
So - SL works for you and your objections to it are entirely ideological?
Ideally I would just like to manually distribute map and game files. Have everyone download the spring release of their choice (linux/windows/64/32). Create a script.txt locally. And distribute parameters for the other clients to join, or batch file.
Had you arrived here 10 years ago, you might have actually been forced to do (some of) this. Today we have infrastructure to automate it all. I'm afraid I think you're a casualty in the unstoppable march of progress.

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 20:02
by Xello
Silentwings wrote:So - SL works for you and your objections to it are entirely ideological?
Yes. But it is sooooooo much more than I need. Don't get me wrong. I think it is a good program, and obviously many people are happily using it.
Silentwings wrote:Had you arrived here 10 years ago, you might have actually been forced to do (some of) this. Today we have infrastructure to automate it all. I'm afraid I think you're a casualty in the unstoppable march of progress.
I joined a year after you did. I use to do it this way and I liked it better :D

And yes I am a casualty.



I seem to have gotten off topic. My intent was not to criticize or change springlobby or other lobbies. I was simply wondering if there was an alternative for old timers like me.

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 20:26
by PicassoCT
And its a completely valid approach.
The god emperor will still smash you for your heresy. But until then, its a valid approach ;)

Fun aside, spring lobbys could use a web-Rest-Api approach, where you post a url to the game, and everything is downloaded.

Gajop posted something into that direction. Spring as a game is more user centric, thus many here will not follow your approach.

And yet.

Also - you will write a lobby. It always starts this way ;)

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 20:44
by Xello
PicassoCT wrote:Also - you will write a lobby. It always starts this way ;)

I'm trying not to. Really, if I was smart I would just steal spring lobby and pair it down. Why am I opening documentation on Unitsync? Help me...........


Edit:
Technically I already did :/ https://github.com/hansonry/SpringScript

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 21:25
by abma
whats the issue with springlobby?

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 21:51
by Xello
abma wrote:whats the issue with springlobby?
Too many unneeded features (I think).

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 21:58
by abma
Xello wrote:Too many unneeded features (I think).
depends on the usecase. still interesting that you write your own cli lobby-like program in c which basicly converts a json file into a script.txt file. very likely a script could do the same in 1/100 of lines of code, so i see bloat there, too ;-)

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 22:19
by Xello
abma wrote:depends on the usecase. still interesting that you write your own cli lobby-like program in c which basicly converts a json file into a script.txt file. very likely a script could do the same in 1/100 of lines of code, so i see bloat there, too ;-)
Yea totally! That is why I said above that I think lots of people really like springlobby. And when I want to play an internet game of springs, I will probably use it.

As for my CLI lobby. That was a first pass. There are a lot of things I don't like about it. For example in spring lobby you can place people on a mini map. You cant do that with my CLI program. Also in springlobby, it gives you a list of map/game settings in gui form. I think it is better to be able to explore these options visually than have to memorize them.

I think the only thing I like about my CLI program is how it handles teams

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 22:23
by abma
Xello wrote:And when I want to play an internet game of springs, I will probably use it.
is the need to play without internet connection? FYI: the lobby server can be run locally, too.

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 22:41
by Xello
abma wrote:is the need to play without internet connection? FYI: the lobby server can be run locally, too.
Yes it can. I have tired it. I had to ask the admin to open more ports. Players could also not use rapid to grab maps/mods. That was solved by a usb stick.

As I said above. Each feature adds requirements.

You want to play on a LAN, you need to grab the lobby server, configure ports for that. You also need to have everyone create a username and a password.
If you want to download a map, you need rapid, it's ports, and it's server working. Same thing with a game.
This adds the need for checksuming the maps and the games and spring engine version check. (I thought this was also done in spring itself, not sure)

So this stuff builds up quickly is what I am trying to say. And you know what, it should work like this for most players. I just feel like there is an easier way. And maybe I am the only one who would use such a thing.

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 22:49
by abma
Xello wrote:You want to play on a LAN, you need to grab the lobby server, configure ports for that. You also need to have everyone create a username and a password.
that should be a single line of code change in uberserver, not sure if this page is up to date: https://springrts.com/wiki/Uberserver#O ... LAN_server
Xello wrote: If you want to download a map, you need rapid, it's ports, and it's server working. Same thing with a game.
This adds the need for checksuming the maps and the games and spring engine version check. (I thought this was also done in spring itself, not sure)
as you already did: an usb stick would solve this.
Xello wrote: So this stuff builds up quickly is what I am trying to say. And you know what, it should work like this for most players. I just feel like there is an easier way. And maybe I am the only one who would use such a thing.
depends a bit on your needs: when you have distributed content via usb, there is no need to setup file hosting services. biggest issue seems for me opening the port for hosting / running the lobby server, but this is afaik required for hosting with script.txt, too. only thing is that you need a second port opened for the lobby server.

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 22:56
by Xello
abma wrote:only thing is that you need a second port opened for the lobby server.
I can't disagree. I still think it's too much.

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 30 Mar 2016, 23:05
by abma
Xello wrote: only thing is that you need a second port opened for the lobby server.

I can't disagree. I still think it's too much.

i can only agree that there is no solution for that. thanks for your explanation / your efforts to run spring! :-)

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 31 Mar 2016, 00:36
by PicassoCT
Dreadfull future is dreadfull- i see the minimal, do it yourself with packet manager lobby emerging.. and if its broken just dont install that package..

inb4 API Definitions for all future generations to uphold

i want it written down i had no part in this :D

Re: Is there a "lobby like" application for creating script.txt files?

Posted: 31 Mar 2016, 00:48
by Xello
PicassoCT wrote:i want it written down i had no part in this :D
Except you totally encouraged me earlier :D

But honestly. I can't imagine that happening with what I am thinking of. Maybe springlobby will do packages. The rapid thing kinda smells like a package manager already.