[log] SoundRTS 1.0 beta 10 p released (test version)

Available at:
http://jlpo.free.fr/soundrts

This is a maintenance release with some bug fixes, new maps, and very few changes. About multiplayer games, this version is not compatible with the previous ones.

This version might become the feature-frozen, stable, 1.0 branch. New features would be added in the development 1.1 branch only.

The main changes since beta 10 o are:
- added maps CW1 SWK2A SWK2B SWK2C;
- bug fixed: in some maps (CE2 for example) some units were located at the same place and couldn't move;
- added the map making guide;
- added the files for a metaserver (just in case the current one disappeared for good);
- if a server fails to get its IP address from a what-is-my-ip website (no Internet, or what-is-my-ip website down), it won't stop anymore: it will just log a warning and send an empty address to the metaserver, letting the metaserver guess the IP address;
- the URL of the what-is-my-ip website is now stored in a text file;
- the URL of the metaserver is now stored in a text file;
- if, on startup, a server fails to register to the metaserver (no Internet, or metaserver down), it won't stop anymore: it will just log a warning and try again later;
- if a client fails to get the servers list from the metaserver (metaserver down), it will fall back on a static list stored in a text file provided with the client; this list will contain the public servers
- if the main folder contains a folder called "tmp", this folder will be used for temporary files (logs for example) instead of the user's temporary folder;
- if the main folder contains a folder called "user", this folder will be used for user-specific files (user configuration, custom maps...) instead of the user's "application data" folder.

The last 2 changes allow having all the game files in one folder, useful for a USB flash drive configuration, for example. Just copy the SoundRTS folder from the "Program files" and create 2 folders in the SoundRTS folder: "tmp" and "user". "user" can be a copy of an existing "application data\SoundRTS test" folder.

01/26/09 (working on the future beta 10 p, test version)

Done:
- automatically include the map making guide into the packages;
- if the main folder contains a folder called "tmp", this folder will be used for temporary files (logs for example) instead of the user's temporary folder;
- if the main folder contains a folder called "user", this folder will be used for user-specific files (user configuration, custom maps...) instead of the user's "application data" folder;

The last 2 changes will allow having all the game files in one folder, useful for a USB flash drive configuration, for example. Just copy the SoundRTS folder from the "Program files" and create 2 folders: "tmp" and "user". "user" can be a copy of an existing "application data\SoundRTS test" folder.

01/23/09 (working on the future beta 10 p, test version)

Done:
- if, on startup, a server fails to register to the metaserver (no Internet or metaserver down), it won't stop anymore: it will just log a warning and try again later;
- if a client fails to get the servers list from the metaserver (metaserver down), it will fall back on a static list stored in a text file provided with the client; this list will contain the public servers

To do:
- automatically include the map making guide into the packages
- update the map making guide
- fix some bugs or warnings

Possibly:
- rename folders "SoundRTS test" to "SoundRTS 1.0"; "SoundRTS unstable" would become "SoundRTS 1.1"; not sure yet

01/22/09 (working on the future beta 10 p, test version)

Done:
- added the files for a metaserver
- if a server fails to get its IP address from a what-is-my-ip website (no Internet or what-is-my-ip website down), it won't stop anymore: it will just log a warning and send an empty address to the metaserver, letting the metaserver guess the IP address
- the URL of the what-is-my-ip website is stored in a text file
- the URL of the metaserver is stored in a text file

To do:
- if, on startup, a server fails to register to the metaserver (no Internet or metaserver down), it won't stop anymore: it will just log a warning and try again later;
- if a client fails to get the servers list from the metaserver (metaserver down), it will fall back on a static list stored in a text file provided with the client; this list will contain the public servers;
- add the map making guide

01/21/09 (working on the future beta 10 p, test version)

Here is a summary of some of the changes planned for the next test release, concerning the servers.

A public server should require less maintenance:
- if a server fails to get its IP address from a what-is-my-ip website (no Internet or what-is-my-ip website down), it won't stop anymore: it will just log a warning and send an empty address to the metaserver, letting the metaserver guess the IP address;
- if, on startup, a server fails to register to the metaserver (no Internet or metaserver down), it won't stop anymore: it will just log a warning and try again later;
This way, the server will have the priority to stay up. The admin will be informed by the log or by users anyway.

In the long term, the system should be maintainable without me if something breaks, by repackaging the client and providing a new metaserver:
- the URL of the what-is-my-ip website and the URL of the metaserver will be stored in a text file;
- the files for a metaserver will be provided (at least a simple metaserver)

The system should be up as often as possible (avoid downtime):
- if a client fails to get the servers list from the metaserver (metaserver down), it will fall back on a static list stored in a text file provided with the client; this list will contain the public servers;

These changes should be small enough to keep the stability of the previous release.