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Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 11:30
by REVENGE
Once again, why is this not done/being done. The earliest versions of TASClient had this feature, until it failed after the main server went down a few times. We now have many different mirrors to choose from when we download our mods and maps, not to mention a bt based system via CADownloader.

Why should this done? People are lazy and disinclined to download mods and maps they don't already have. This issue is more severe with regards to mods, as evidenced by BA's total dominance, and the refusal of many people to ever try other mods). Other than that, I'll just say that it's been done before, it was useful, and it was a loss when we lost its functionality.

In addition, you can also implement a download manager that visually displays your download progress and/or the progress of other people in your game.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 11:42
by Gnomre
Springlobby has had a built-in torrent system for some time now.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 11:43
by Hoi
then let everyone switch to springlobby?! no that wont work, add it to tasclient

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 12:05
by aegis
springdownloader (the new/future cadownloader) will be integrated with the new/future tasclient

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 17:08
by AF
springdownloader?

CADownloader would have been integrated into my lobby by now but licho has not implemented his lobby interface despite months of him saying 'its next on my todo list'

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 22:11
by REVENGE
Whatever, just get it done. Will this be a torrent only system, or can you choose to do direct downloads?

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 22:55
by Gnomre
Hoi wrote:then let everyone switch to springlobby?! no that wont work, add it to tasclient
Why not? TASClient wasn't the first lobby client, you know. It was just superior to those which preceeded it, and that status never lasts forever.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 23:12
by aegis
we need a few new ones!

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 27 Jul 2008, 23:49
by REVENGE
Gnome wrote:
Hoi wrote:then let everyone switch to springlobby?! no that wont work, add it to tasclient
Why not? TASClient wasn't the first lobby client, you know. It was just superior to those which preceeded it, and that status never lasts forever.
Because Springlobby continues to suck. How? I'm not sure. But it sucks.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 28 Jul 2008, 12:16
by Hoi
becaus almost everyone is using tasclient, it will be hard to let them all switch

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 28 Jul 2008, 12:40
by koshi
REVENGE wrote:Because Springlobby continues to suck. How? I'm not sure. But it sucks.
I'd like to hear your reasoning, even if you're not sure. When did you last try it?
Hoi wrote:becaus almost everyone is using tasclient, it will be hard to let them all switch
A steady 16% of logged in users are already using SpringLobby and it's not about "making" users switch, but providing an option.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 28 Jul 2008, 20:39
by REVENGE
koshi wrote:
REVENGE wrote:Because Springlobby continues to suck. How? I'm not sure. But it sucks.
I'd like to hear your reasoning, even if you're not sure. When did you last try it?
Hoi wrote:becaus almost everyone is using tasclient, it will be hard to let them all switch
A steady 16% of logged in users are already using SpringLobby and it's not about "making" users switch, but providing an option.
I used it for about 2 months when I ran Ubuntu on my desktop. I dislike its looks, and I find its interface has some quirks (player names not being sorted the way I like by default, maps and mods not being detected properly on reload, crashing, lack of useful context menus during hosting as opposed to tasclient, lack of color fix / working team balance / other useful hosting features, etc.).

That said, I'd like to see what percentage of those 16% of springlobby users are running Linux. True, you're providing an option, the default option, and the only option in fact, for Linux users (don't even talk about AFLobby).

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 28 Jul 2008, 20:53
by aegis
Three other options excepting AFLobby, one is mainstream (TASClient + WINE) and the others are private

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 28 Jul 2008, 21:19
by koshi
REVENGE wrote: I dislike its looks
almost entirely governed by your window manager theme (on both linux/windows)
REVENGE wrote:player names not being sorted the way I like by default
remembering the sort order would get rid of that, yes?
REVENGE wrote:maps and mods not being detected properly on reload
not currently an issue we know of
REVENGE wrote:crashing
we currently know of a crash bug that happens on forced disconnect and one uncaught unitsync assertion that happens once in a while, nothing more
REVENGE wrote:lack of useful context menus during hosting as opposed to tasclient, lack of color fix / working team balance / other useful hosting features, etc.)
color fix and balance have been in place for some time now, what else?
REVENGE wrote:That said, I'd like to see what percentage of those 16% of springlobby users are running Linux.
Guessing aside there's no way i could come by that number.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 30 Jul 2008, 11:14
by Licho
AF - springdownloader http://caspring.org/wiki/sd
It's basically cadownloader with modules that each mod maker can add. It also has lobby interface implemented now.

I plan to add module for updating/keeping multiple spring versions. (Updating to SVN spring)

I'm just releasing it gradually to fix bugs, first ca developers, now ca players, when there are no known bugs/crashes for a week it will be ready for everyone else.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 30 Jul 2008, 15:33
by LordMatt
licho is there a vanilla version of that with no mod preinstalled? Also, would it be able to add modules for mods you decide to install after the fact?

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 31 Jul 2008, 05:29
by Forboding Angel
BTW koshi, and satirik, I believe I offered this before, and I'll offer it again... THe files on my server are not protected from autolinking nor are they supposed to be, so if you want to have them autolink, be my guest.

I imagine that AF would offer this up as well considering that we are on the same host and have scads of bandwidth to piss away.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 31 Jul 2008, 05:44
by LordMatt
Perhaps something could be set up like we have for the installer where a central and reliably up site redirects to a number of mirrors the auto downloads. Mirrors could then be kept up to date with rsync scripts.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 31 Jul 2008, 09:47
by Licho
Perhaps such thing already exists!! Jobjol distributes its files to number of mirrors.

SpringDownlaoder does not download any mods/maps by default.
Modules are optional and it's open to add new modules (expecting evolution rts).

It uses 3x mirrored central coordinator site which directs it to 9+ existing web mirrors, including foreboding angel's one. It also talks with jobjol to ask for additional mirrors from there. (Used by springlobby too).

It uses multipart download to download file from multiple sites at once, thus balancing the load. If web copy of file is not availiable, it has torrent system for very rare maps/mods.

Its prepared for lobby integration.

Re: Map/Mod Autodownloading via Clients

Posted: 31 Jul 2008, 17:17
by Forboding Angel
Licho wrote:Perhaps such thing already exists!! Jobjol distributes its files to number of mirrors.

SpringDownlaoder does not download any mods/maps by default.
Modules are optional and it's open to add new modules (expecting evolution rts).

It uses 3x mirrored central coordinator site which directs it to 9+ existing web mirrors, including foreboding angel's one. It also talks with jobjol to ask for additional mirrors from there. (Used by springlobby too).

It uses multipart download to download file from multiple sites at once, thus balancing the load. If web copy of file is not availiable, it has torrent system for very rare maps/mods.

Its prepared for lobby integration.

You opened it up to modules? I'm interested :-)

Could you tell me more? Or is there documentation somewhere where I could read about it?

Thanks

Edit: O I See, I register a new mod and I assume it tells me what to do from there.

Edit2: Oops, it's set up a little differently I see. I looked for documentation on that particular feature and didn't find anything. COuld someone point me in the right direction?