Spring RTS Engine

Gentlemen,

I am currently running a virtual server hosting some private and also some spring related services. I am having that server since almost 10 years now. Since I nearly dont need it for my private stuff anymore nowadays and the spring stuff is nearly not used either I would like to cancel the server in the next six months.

The server hosts this spring related services:

• Widget Database
• Widget Database web interface
• Gadget Database
• Gadget Database web interface
• Springinfo's web interfaces for both databases
• Experimental user based ranking system (idea by BD)
• Springfiles mirror (30 GBs)
• BA Autohost [x]TheHost

I would like to ask if somone would be willing to take over hosting of some of these services. I would still maintain the stuff of course.
What do you guys think is worth to continue? I personally would shutdown the gadget database (unused I guess) and also the springfiles mirror (traffic decreased to a half within the last year. Also there are enough other mirrors these days).
I would like to keep the widget database, the ranking system and the BA Autohost.
The websites would just need PHP5 and some MySql-DBs. The traffic consumption is negligible. So if anyone out there able to offer hosting of this I would be very thankful.

What do you guys think is worth to continue?

imo gadget db has no use, there are ~4 entries? Most "interessting" games have an svn from where new modders can get tons of gadgets.
I do not really see the use of the widget db either (anymore), I think players do not look for "third party" widgets as much as maybe some years ago. Games are quick to absorb recent widget advances and generally have the more up-to-date version of the widget already included. (ie it only took some days and the enemy avoidance thing was in zeroK)
Thanks for hosting it though

Which requirements are optimal for this server?
How much monthly bandwidth and how much space on hard drive needed?

We can offer you the main server springrts.com.

If you prefer virtual machine its also possible, we have 24gb ram now on next server (now being installed).

SF mirror is not needed though because springrts.com already runs it

For web related things you are free to use the SF server.
It is optimized for webservices and has an average load of 0.05

It's actively maintained and monitored by me and Abma.

Just kill that shitty widget DB it is just an unmaintained wasteland of outdated widgets.
Problems:
-it isn't based on decent version control
-poor management doesn't delete or fix broken or outdated widgets
-at least springlobby doesn't automatically update user widgets

This widget DB or lack of any good way to release and update widgets for users is the main reason I don't release my widgets.

Solutions:
-hook the widget DB to an external version control system like GitHub
-make an automatic widget updater for users
-but easiest would be just to upload all shitty widgets to springfiles and decent widgets will find their ways into games

but easiest would be just to upload all shitty widgets to springfiles and decent widgets will find their ways into games

yup. I think players should never have to manually download a widget, ideally they would not even need to know what that is. So I would not even upload to springfiles, just attach to the thread where it is discussed.

Pako wrote: -hook the widget DB to an external version control system like GitHub

Its a simple http interface, so no one is stopping you from hooking it up to your favorite vcs.

Pako wrote:Just kill that shitty widget DB it is just an unmaintained wasteland of outdated widgets.
-poor management doesn't delete or fix broken or outdated widgets

Well, to be fair: You say you stopped maintaining/releasing your widgets and the DB is shit now because so many widgets are unmaintained? You are wrong if you think I am responsible for maintaining all the widgets their creators stopped maintaining themselfs. Thats their creators fault then.

Pako wrote: -make an automatic widget updater for users

It seems you are using the wrong client.

knorke wrote: I think players should never have to manually download a widget, ideally they would not even need to know what that is. So I would not even upload to springfiles, just attach to the thread where it is discussed.

I would agree with you: User widgets should not be allowed and the mod should contain the ones that are needed/allowed. But as you said: "ideally". Too bad spring and its games are not yet in that ideal state, and it does not seem they will be getting there anytime soon. Not every mod is ZK.
Analogy: Ideally people should not have to download and install spring. People should not even have to know what spring is. So should we take down all spring download links for players because ideally every game should offer an all-in-one installer?

But either way, I am fine with that. I have no problem with just shutting my server down because it saves me alot of work in migrating. As it seems I am the only person anyway using it then there is actually no point in continuing it. I agree with that.
Big thanks to Licho and jj for the offer anyway!

I don't agree with locking a user from widgets..

if they want to cheat, they will..

why make it harder for people to make things to enhance your game?
why exert that control over the player's game?

I believe in options. that is why I moved the gundam widgets to /games/gundam/widgets...

I think players should have the option but be aware their choice will effect only that game.

smoth wrote:I don't agree with locking a user from widgets..

if they want to cheat, they will..

Expressing it in a positive way: Users should not have to install widgets themselfs to have a better game experience (as knorke said). Those widgets should be included in the game withouth the users having to read 30 forum threads, download widgets from them and copying them manually to their spring installation.
Also the game creator should have the possibility to lock out widgets he dont want users to use in his game, no?.
Cheating is ofc possible, but there are lots of ways to cheat in spring anyway if you really want to (lion?), but that should not hinder game creators to implement their games in a way they want.
Thats just my opinion ofc. Since I am not developing a game it is quite meaningless anyway

eh, I looked at that tango. you cannot really stop a widget from being used. the spec cheating isn't a big deal compared to "how does he have the lua that plays his game and I do not." yes, I do feel that providing a comprehensive set of compatible(important imo) widgets with the games is important. However, holding up the pretense that we can actually block user widgets, no the pandora's box is opened. Even if they restructure the engine to block external widgets, someone can make a custom build.

this has nothing to do with spec cheating or blocking widgets.

Apologies, I though the discussion had headed that way.

So is this a final no wrt the widget database now? As in I can the code out of SL since by next release there won't be anything to connect to?

If there's a need I can host it and provide somewhere for it to sit until a better solution is found, but I am not maintaining it.

Thanks AF, but I really think theres no point in putting more work into it if people dont think its useful. And yes koshi, thats final. But I will let you know when it will really goes offline. When I cancel the server it will run for at least 3 more months so it wont go away suddenly.

I've just removed the code in question: http://goo.gl/jimF4
I'd say let the db run until your server lease is up? That gives ample time for the next SL release to get to users and is no additional work for you.

At the moment this database is the only way of acquiring widgets enmasse outside of ripping them from games and spending hours trawling the lua forum.

+1
i also see use for this DB.

When I have needed widgets in the past, I have had to hunt the maker down or pull it from the game/mod which included it...

I never used wdb because it was dated copies.

wut about adding widgets to spring git?