What is missing from alpha 20 that you want most?
As far as I can tell AFLobby already does a hefty chunk of what a linux lobby would need todo, its not that you need a lobby, you already have basic lobby functionality for the most part.
I have recieved no feedback on alpha 20a, so I assume nobody has any issues with it, and I've seen alpha20a reporting in #af (when you login AFLobby pms cookiebot saying hello so I know that AFLobby is being ran, I was worried people where downloading it and then not running it, and I wanted to make sure an idea of mine for AFLobby only features would work), so I know people are running it, but I dont know what they think of it, what they use it for, how its being used, is it being used satisfactorily? are there any problems?
There's also the current interface once logged in due to be entirely replaced now I know how everything works and have a much better idea of howto do things in java, what sort of UI layout would you want? Are there any ideas on howto do certain things? Any requests for improvements over the existing lobbies?
AFLobby requests Q&A
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clericvash
- Posts: 1394
- Joined: 05 Oct 2004, 01:05
First of all Mac users cant comment as nobodies compiled a unitsync for Mac OS X with the alpha 20 bindings so untill thats done any reports they give are unreliable.
And nobody has given me anything clearer than "the *insert large general field* doesn't work"
Give screenshots!
The only issue I've become aware of myself is when opening channels and some of the channel tab is drawn over the channel listing which is solved by changing tabs again, which I'll have to fix, and battle window doesnt draw as fast as I'd like, both issues found running under Xubuntu on my 400mhz laptop with 128 MB ram.
What dissapoints me is that people are so unwilling to contribute feedback, would it help if there was a feedback button that allowed people to file reports?
Also what would be necessary to create a .deb package and have it add AFLobby as a launcher/to the menus?
And nobody has given me anything clearer than "the *insert large general field* doesn't work"
Give screenshots!
The only issue I've become aware of myself is when opening channels and some of the channel tab is drawn over the channel listing which is solved by changing tabs again, which I'll have to fix, and battle window doesnt draw as fast as I'd like, both issues found running under Xubuntu on my 400mhz laptop with 128 MB ram.
What dissapoints me is that people are so unwilling to contribute feedback, would it help if there was a feedback button that allowed people to file reports?
Also what would be necessary to create a .deb package and have it add AFLobby as a launcher/to the menus?
The screen updates fine here.
I tested it on ubuntu feisty fawn (upgraded from edgy, upgraded from dapper, messed up a few times, etc.) i386 architecture using java 6 to run aflobby using trunk unitsync.so copied in the same directory as where aflobby.jar lives.
I found some bugs:
If you Exit while it's "writing minimap ..." and you start it again, it starts again writing minimaps instead of continuing where it left. (see next bug too)
When closing it and restarting it even after letting it finish this sequence it hadn't cached the minimaps so it had to go through all 413 maps again (which takes a while). (Using strace -e trace=file it seemed like it didn't even attempt to write anything, but I only took a few sec to examine).
If you click on "Click here to view pages" while it's doing that, the screen just becomes blue and it's not clear what the lobby is doing / how to get back to the screen with "writing minimap..." on it.
When logged in, on the maps tab, if I click on a map it gives this error on the console:
When joining a channel from channel list the forms go all wonky with the background (channel list) updating when scrolling it and channel form redrawing when someone says something.
http://www.osrts.info/~tvo/spring/aflobby_bug1.png
http://www.osrts.info/~tvo/spring/aflobby_bug2.png
After I had clicked on all tabs on the right to see what they were linked to the previous bug seemed curiously cured, but then I clicked "Exit channel" in #main and I got this in console. It didn't leave the channel.
It's impossible to close PM windows without resorting to the keyboard (ALT+F4) atm, or if it is possible the button is hidden too well 
Also it seemed like the user list wasn't properly synced with the server, it only contained like 20 users while about 170 were online when I tested it.
I don't really like the battle list as it is atm, is it a temporary solution? (For one, the ID field should be removed in a non debug version, also it flickers, I think when someone modifies a battle detail?)
For the rest it's really starting to look nice now I see it the first time without messed up GUI (as JC describes, though I forgot on which exact OSes/Java VMs that was). I didn't test more important features like hosting and joining battles yet though.
EDIT: lots of spelling/ambiguity fixes
I tested it on ubuntu feisty fawn (upgraded from edgy, upgraded from dapper, messed up a few times, etc.) i386 architecture using java 6 to run aflobby using trunk unitsync.so copied in the same directory as where aflobby.jar lives.
I found some bugs:
If you Exit while it's "writing minimap ..." and you start it again, it starts again writing minimaps instead of continuing where it left. (see next bug too)
When closing it and restarting it even after letting it finish this sequence it hadn't cached the minimaps so it had to go through all 413 maps again (which takes a while). (Using strace -e trace=file it seemed like it didn't even attempt to write anything, but I only took a few sec to examine).
If you click on "Click here to view pages" while it's doing that, the screen just becomes blue and it's not clear what the lobby is doing / how to get back to the screen with "writing minimap..." on it.
When logged in, on the maps tab, if I click on a map it gives this error on the console:
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javax.imageio.IIOException: Can't read input file!http://www.osrts.info/~tvo/spring/aflobby_bug1.png
http://www.osrts.info/~tvo/spring/aflobby_bug2.png
After I had clicked on all tabs on the right to see what they were linked to the previous bug seemed curiously cured, but then I clicked "Exit channel" in #main and I got this in console. It didn't leave the channel.
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Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NoSuchFieldError: joined
at aflobby.CChannel.ExitChannel(CChannel.java:91)
at aflobby.CChannel.jButton1MouseReleased(CChannel.java:478)
at aflobby.CChannel.access$400(CChannel.java:37)
at aflobby.CChannel$5.mouseReleased(CChannel.java:422)
at java.awt.AWTEventMulticaster.mouseReleased(AWTEventMulticaster.java:273)
at java.awt.Component.processMouseEvent(Component.java:6038)
at javax.swing.JComponent.processMouseEvent(JComponent.java:3260)
at java.awt.Component.processEvent(Component.java:5803)
at java.awt.Container.processEvent(Container.java:2058)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEventImpl(Component.java:4410)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2116)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4240)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.retargetMouseEvent(Container.java:4322)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.processMouseEvent(Container.java:3986)
at java.awt.LightweightDispatcher.dispatchEvent(Container.java:3916)
at java.awt.Container.dispatchEventImpl(Container.java:2102)
at java.awt.Window.dispatchEventImpl(Window.java:2429)
at java.awt.Component.dispatchEvent(Component.java:4240)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:599)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:273)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:183)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:173)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:168)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:160)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:121)
Also it seemed like the user list wasn't properly synced with the server, it only contained like 20 users while about 170 were online when I tested it.
I don't really like the battle list as it is atm, is it a temporary solution? (For one, the ID field should be removed in a non debug version, also it flickers, I think when someone modifies a battle detail?)
For the rest it's really starting to look nice now I see it the first time without messed up GUI (as JC describes, though I forgot on which exact OSes/Java VMs that was). I didn't test more important features like hosting and joining battles yet though.
EDIT: lots of spelling/ambiguity fixes
Extract to your spring folder (not a subfolder), and create an aflobby folder in your home directory, I'm not sure I remember on the capitalisation of that foldername, or wether it would be /home/aflobby/ or /home/af/aflobby/, I dont have any maps on my laptop (or spring) to check with.
I'm running alpha 21 rc1 here to check things are working correctly. If you could try it if you have issues and report back that'd be great. You can find it here. You'll have to rename to lowercase for the aflobby.sh script to work correctly(minor mistake on my behalf uploading 21rc1). I'm also aware it tells you that there's a new update alpha 20 on the alpha 21 builds.
If there are no major issues with alpha 21 rc1 I'll package everything together and rerelease. There are one or two changes to the UI in alpha 21, namely the JNI error message, and the player listings, and the battle listings.
Anyways, aside from stability issues, what do you want to see in a lobby in terms fo layout and features? Perhaps stability issues should be consigned to the main AFLobby thread.
I'm running alpha 21 rc1 here to check things are working correctly. If you could try it if you have issues and report back that'd be great. You can find it here. You'll have to rename to lowercase for the aflobby.sh script to work correctly(minor mistake on my behalf uploading 21rc1). I'm also aware it tells you that there's a new update alpha 20 on the alpha 21 builds.
If there are no major issues with alpha 21 rc1 I'll package everything together and rerelease. There are one or two changes to the UI in alpha 21, namely the JNI error message, and the player listings, and the battle listings.
Anyways, aside from stability issues, what do you want to see in a lobby in terms fo layout and features? Perhaps stability issues should be consigned to the main AFLobby thread.
i will try on friday/saturday, cause i only have winxp on my laptop here and ubuntu is on my desktop at home.
Features?
Hmmm, good question.
As long as AFlobby supports all things TASclient does, i have no wishes (i couldnt really test it, because of my not really working installation of the client)
Just polish the whole interface up.
If you wish, I could make some nice, steel like buttons. (i just learned, how to do that with gimp *proud* :D )
Features?
Hmmm, good question.
As long as AFlobby supports all things TASclient does, i have no wishes (i couldnt really test it, because of my not really working installation of the client)
Just polish the whole interface up.
If you wish, I could make some nice, steel like buttons. (i just learned, how to do that with gimp *proud* :D )
getting
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$ sh aflobby.sh
make sure AFLobby and libunitsync.so is in your current working folder
Null peer?!
Null peer?!
Exception during event dispatch:
java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.util.Hashtable.put(libgcj.so.70)
at javax.swing.plaf.basic.BasicToolBarUI.setBorderToRollover(libgcj.so.70)
at javax.swing.plaf.basic.BasicToolBarUI$ToolBarContListener.componentAdded(libgcj.so.70)
at java.awt.Container.addImpl(libgcj.so.70)
at javax.swing.JToolBar.addImpl(libgcj.so.70)
at java.awt.Container.add(libgcj.so.70)
at aflobby.JBattle.initComponents(JBattle.java:951)
at aflobby.JBattle.<init>(JBattle.java:118)
at aflobby.LMain.<init>(LMain.java:81)
at aflobby.Main.CreateGUI(Main.java:41)
at aflobby.Main$1.run(Main.java:51)
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(libgcj.so.70)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(libgcj.so.70)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(libgcj.so.70)Ah, right. Works fine so far with Sun.AF wrote:Install Sun java 5 or 6. I have no means with which to develop or test with gcj.
edit:
Clicking the maps in the maplist gives
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Image loading error for /home/user/.aflobby/Mars.smf.jpg: ERRORED
Image loading error for /home/user/.aflobby/Mars.smf.jpg: ERROREDCode: Select all
OPENBATTLEFAILED Invalid command format or bad argumentsedit2:
Logging out and in again (without quitting) always gives this:
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Unsatisfied link error
Make sure you have a JNI aware UnitSync library in the same folder as AFLobby, and that it is compiled correctly using the latest java bindings.
AFlobby needs the unitsync library to be able to use spring.
Linux users need libjavaunitsync.so
Windows users need javaunitsync.dll
Apple Mac users need libjavaunitsync.dylib (Mac is not entirely supported and upto date mac builds of unitsync arent included due to time restrictions)
path variable = /home/user/games/spring/aflobby
library path = .edit4: Same with the channel list.
Be sure to fill out all the fields in the host tab before trying to host.
I cant reproduce the logging in and out issue, and playerlist listing palyers twic was fixed a logn time ago, if not its fixed in alpha 22.
As for channel listings, thats my fault, and it isnt a bug. TASServer channel names are case sensitive. Rather than make theem insensitive, betalord just forced all /join commands to lowercase. That way tasclient cant enter #AF or #Af or #aF, only #af. AFLobby and Unity Lobby(IIRC), dont bother with lowercase forcing, allowing these users to join channels tasclient cant.
There's also a password box next to the join button.
I cant reproduce the logging in and out issue, and playerlist listing palyers twic was fixed a logn time ago, if not its fixed in alpha 22.
As for channel listings, thats my fault, and it isnt a bug. TASServer channel names are case sensitive. Rather than make theem insensitive, betalord just forced all /join commands to lowercase. That way tasclient cant enter #AF or #Af or #aF, only #af. AFLobby and Unity Lobby(IIRC), dont bother with lowercase forcing, allowing these users to join channels tasclient cant.
There's also a password box next to the join button.
It appears that AFlobby can't find any mods when I attempt to host. AFlobby is being run from the spring folder, and spring itself can find the mods with no problem.AF wrote:Be sure to fill out all the fields in the host tab before trying to host.
Well, it still occurs when logging out/in, with 22a here.AF wrote:I cant reproduce the logging in and out issue, and playerlist listing palyers twic was fixed a logn time ago, if not its fixed in alpha 22.
Where?AF wrote:There's also a password box next to the join button.
There also seem to be random problems listing players. The list will simply be blank.
I'm aware of the list being blank in channels, it fills up if someone joins or leaves. The lists are being torn out soon and replaced with something prettier so I can add flags, status',and ranks anyway.
I thought you meant battles not channels too, for the moment just use /j in another channel..
exactly the same folder? no /spring/aflobby/? you've extracted all the necessary files and not left anything behind?
I thought you meant battles not channels too, for the moment just use /j in another channel..
exactly the same folder? no /spring/aflobby/? you've extracted all the necessary files and not left anything behind?
Allright. I expect things will change, break, or be missing until you reach 1.0 :)AF wrote:I'm aware of the list being blank in channels, it fills up if someone joins or leaves. The lists are being torn out soon and replaced with something prettier so I can add flags, status',and ranks anyway.
I thought you meant battles not channels too, for the moment just use /j in another channel..
Yep. Everything that's in your archive is in /spring/, along with the spring executable and the data folders.AF wrote:exactly the same folder? no /spring/aflobby/? you've extracted all the necessary files and not left anything behind?
i have some sort of request or idea.
ATM we nomally have always more player than open battles.
So the lobby could have some sort of blackboard, where player can show what they want.
For example:
Looking for: 8v8 | BA4.7 | Tangerine
And as a more advanced version, the client of the searching player can automatically compare the features of some open battles with the requirements, the player defined.
So the player says, if 2 or more requirements are fulfilled, the lobby makes *beep" with a popup message notifying "6v6 BA4.7 on Tangerine. Join Battle?"
Very costly feature, but would be nice.
ATM we nomally have always more player than open battles.
So the lobby could have some sort of blackboard, where player can show what they want.
For example:
Looking for: 8v8 | BA4.7 | Tangerine
And as a more advanced version, the client of the searching player can automatically compare the features of some open battles with the requirements, the player defined.
So the player says, if 2 or more requirements are fulfilled, the lobby makes *beep" with a popup message notifying "6v6 BA4.7 on Tangerine. Join Battle?"
Very costly feature, but would be nice.