Day: April 30, 2024

2024 SL SUG meetings week #18 summary

Posted on by Inara Pey
Still, April 2024 – blog post †

The following notes were taken from the Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 Simulator User Group (SUG) meeting. They form a summary of the items discussed, and are not intended to be a full transcript, and were taken from my chat log and the video by Pantera – my thanks to her as always for providing it.

Meeting Overview

  • The Simulator User Group (also referred to by its older name of Server User Group) exists to provide an opportunity for discussion about simulator technology, bugs, and feature ideas.
  • These meetings are conducted (as a rule):
  • They are open to anyone with a concern / interest in the above topics, and form one of a series of regular / semi-regular User Group meetings conducted by Linden Lab.
  • Dates and times of all current meetings can be found on the Second Life Public Calendar, and descriptions of meetings are defined on the SL wiki.

Simulator Deployments

  • The Main channel was restarted on Tuesday, April 30th with no update.
  • On Wednesday, May 1st, the back-end support for the the glTF updates available in the Graphics Featurettes viewer (e.g. PBR terrain textures and mirrors) will be deployed to all RC channels.
    • Note that these updates require the use of the Graphics Featurettes RC viewer (available from the Alternate Viewers page), or a TPV that has merged with this code.
    • Note also that attempts to upload 2K textures on regions without the back-end support will result in an error message being displayed.

SL Viewer Updates

  • The Maintenance B RC viewer, version 7.1.7.8820696922, was issued on Monday, April 29th.

The rest of the official viewers in a pipeline remain as:

  • Release viewer: 7.1.6.8745209917, formerly the Maintenance Y/Z RC ( My Outfits folder improvements; ability to remove entries from landmark history), dated April 19 and promoted April 23rd.
  • Release channel cohorts (please see my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself).
  • Project viewers:

In Brief

  • Monty Linden is reported to have noted improvements in region crossings during test – however, he is doubtful that this is the case and is leaning towards the belief his work in trying to improve things isn’t far enough along to be seeing the kind of improvements he has witnessed.
    • Monty further noted that the changes he is making to region crossings are about reducing impact on avatars already in the region as a result of another avatar physically entering it or arriving via teleport – they are not about improving matters for the avatar entering a region – although he is checking this behaviour for possible regressions as a result of his changes.
  • Those wishing to test Leviathan Linden’s new VEHICLE_FLAG_BLOCK_INTERFERENCE  flag to optionally prevent attachments on passengers from pushing the vehicle around (so as to prevent cheating in racing, for example) can do so on the Aditi (Beta) grid regions Mauve and Jigglypuff.
  • Leviathan Linden hopes to update his Game Control regions on the beta grid (LeviathanLove and LeviathanLost) with the upcoming Spring Break simulator update, which contains the latest version of his Game Controller event.
  • The LL server team is now using Gitflow for tracking simulator releases, and it is hoped this might make it easier for providing a web page reporting on the different server update versions.
  • There were further comments on raising the current Mono script cap (64 Kb) and whether LL are going to do so. The reply was:
We have discussed increasing the memory cap but I don’t have anything to report on that at this time.

– Rider Linden

  • Rider added that in the meantime, he would like to have some way for a script to auto recover from a stack heap collision without the need for additional scripts monitoring and attempting to correct.
    • The problem here is that, potential causes of s S/H collision cannot necessarily be predicted (e.g.  if a listen or an HTTP response comes in that is larger than your available memory then you are going to hit the S/H issue – and you can’t predict how much data is coming in), ergo, resolution tends to be re-active rather than via avoidance.
    • In order to help with the identification of S/H collisions, he suggested a llSetScriptFlags function where one of the flags was something like SCRIPT_FLAG_AUTO_RESET_STACKHEAP. This could help reduce reliance on having other script perform “heartbeat” operations on scripts that may trigger a stack heap collision.
  • The above lead to an extended discussion on scripting and script management through the latter portion of the meeting – please refer to the video below for details.

† The header images included in these summaries are not intended to represent anything discussed at the meetings; they are simply here to avoid a repeated image of a rooftop of people every week. They are taken from my list of region visits, with a link to the post for those interested.

A Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow, April 2024 – click and image for full size

It was off back to the Full private region held by Dianna Fluffington for me recently, and a visit to her creation of Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow.

This actually marked my third time at the region in the past 12 months, having previously visited in April 2023 and again in November of that year (see: A Blue Finch Spring in Second Life and A Blue Finch Frosty Hollow in Second Life). However, both of those iterations of the region design were collaborative works between Dianna and her former partner Grant Wade (GMi7); so the occasion of this visit marked my first time to an iteration of the region that is solely Dianna’s design – and it remains as eye-catching and photogenic as ever.

Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow, April 2024

As with the two past iterations of the region, this version for Spring 2024 offers a pleasing mix of themes and influences. The subtle touches of fantasy (such as via the elven-like lanterns lighting the many paths through the setting) are present, there is much to appreciate in terms of natural flora and fauna, superb use is made of landscaping elements to give the setting a unique, rugged look and beauty which is softened through the use of grasses, trees, water, shrubs and paths.

Whilst not strictly enforced, the landing point sits to the east of the region, tucked quietly between the north-east and south-east quadrants and within the single paved street of a small gathering of places of businesses, all neatly framed by a mix of walls and water channels, flowerbeds and trees. Within the area, the little shops are open to visitors, whilst outdoor spaces offer plenty of space for sitting down and passing the time.

Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow, April 2024

It is here as well, towards the southern end of the street, that visitors can find information on the region and its in-world Group, an invitation to hop up to a sky platform to visit an art exhibition by Cammie Carver and hosted by The Wanderers Relay for Life team (all donations, etc., to RFL of SL via the team), and directions to a horse rezzer where visitors can take a tour of the region on horseback. Unfortunately, the rezzer refused to work for me, so I’m unable to mention the nature or extent of the tour.

For those opting to explore on foot, there are a variety of paths leading away from the landing point and the little hamlet of shops and on through the region. So many in fact, that I’m not going to even attempt to chart a route for you to follow from here; the best thing to do is just step through the gates or over the little bridges from the town space and start wandering – whichever way you go, you will be richly rewarded with things to see and do.

Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow, April 2024

In terms of the latter, as well as the horse ride, the immediate surrounding to the town offer mini golf to one side and on the other, on the shores of the central lake, the opportunity to rez one or more (if you are in a group) inflatable tubes. These will whisk you around the waterways (at a pretty brisk pace!), complete with your personal supply of beer / drinks. There are also zip lines awaiting discovery and use by the adventurous.

One of the latter sits between a elevated events area tucked into the north-west corner of the setting, on a terrace covering a table hill. Given the other path up to this region is long and winding (but well worth the effort of finding and following given it does take one on a tour of a good part of the region and offers so excellent views from some of the higher aspects of the landscape), this zip line offers a quick and easy ride back down to the lower-lying elements of the setting for those who do not wish to retrace steps.

Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow, April 2024

But to return to the tube ride: this deposits riders in the shallows of a cove directly below the events terrace noted above, which is home to one of two stretches of beach making up the setting. A rocky arch from here provides the means to return of the region’s grasslands and gardens. Once through the arch, it is possible to spot another of the region’s zip lines and also appreciate another touch of the fantasy elements found throughout, this one in the form of ruins and a quiet swing waiting for romantics.

Places to sit can also be found through the region – from converted rowing boats through decks built out over the waters, parasoled tables on terraces and squares or rafts on the water, through to the region’s little cafés and bars or the open-air cinema (complete with offerings of pizza and buckets of nibbles.

Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow, April 2024

Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow is one of those places where just as you convince yourself you’ve seen everything there is, something else pops up in the form of an unexpected turn of a path or a hither-to unseen passage between trees or under rocky heights, and so brings you to something else to enjoy.

Such a discovery might be a little vignette of animals or a place to sit, a romantic corner, the unexpected sight of water flowing upslope (such is the magic of the region!) or another such unexpected view. As such, it is genuinely a place where the more time taken in exploring, the greater the rewards to be reaped.

Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow, April 2024

Those seeking an immersive location bringing together assorted themes and ideas and which offer huge scope for photography, relaxing, having a little fun or romantic interlude – or indeed, a combination of all of these  –  will undoubtedly find Blue Finch Blossoms Hollow an ideal destination in their Second Life travels.

SLurl Details

The Kondor Art Museum in Second Life

Posted on by Inara Pey
The Kondor Art Museum, April 2024: Maghda

The Kondor Art Centre, operated and curated by Hermes Kondor, is an exceptional and engaging hub for the arts in Second Life; one that is frequently evolving  / changing in order to offer visitors multiple opportunities to appreciate artistic expression through the platform. An example of this came in February 2024, with the opening of the Kondor Art Museum.

Located in one half of the Kondor Art Garden, the museum presents a modern building with multiple halls for individual exhibitions of art spread across two floors. At the time of my visit, these offered displays on behalf of several  Second Life artists I particularly admire: Maghda, Caly (Calypso) Applewhyte, Bamboo Barnes, Milena Carbone (who, at the time of writing, also had an exhibition entitled Whispering Waves in the neighbouring Art Garden), and Hermes himself.

The Kondor Art Museum, April 2024: Caly Applewhyte

Now, to be honest, I’ve no idea if these are permanent exhibitions or if they will be rotated with other artists over time. The artists here have been on display at the museum since it opened in February; something for which I’m actually grateful, giving it has given me the opportunity to catch-up with the work of these artists – notably Caly, Maghda and Bamboo, three incredibly expressive artists through (respectively) their avatar-centric photography (Caly and Maghda) and digital media art (Bamboo).

The lobby for the gallery features additional 2D and 3D art by ArtemisGreece, Scylla Rhiadra, Lalie Sorbet and Thus Yootz (with a remarkable collage entitled Real Life, Pictures within a Picture) and a further untitled piece by Hermes himself. These are all displayed within the museum’s lobby, from where it is possible to easily access each of the individual halls within the building, with the artists on display clearly labelled at the entrance point of each hall.

The Kondor Art Museum, April 2024: Bamboo Barnes

It is here that I have my one – minor – critique: it would be nice if the museum provided biographical information on the artists for those who might not be familiar with their work; or if not biographies, then perhaps an introduction to their displays within the halls. Doing so helps to encourage those engaging in the Second Life art environment to perhaps seek out and learn more about the artists they might be encountering for the first time. But again, this is a very minor critique.

This point aside, these are nevertheless thoroughly engaging displays of art, with Hermes’ physical world photography and Milena’s AI-generated (I believe) pieces nicely counterpointing the work of Caly, Maghda and Bamboo. Hermes’ presentation of his work from The Museum, his photo essay focused on the art of, and visitors to, Lisbon’s Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (home to one of the world’s most highly regarded art collections) provides a further nice counterpoint the idea of a gallery museum.

The Kondor Art Museum, April 2024: Milena Carbone

As noted, I’ve no idea if / when the individual art displays available at the Kondor Museum might be changing; as such, for those keen to catch the artists there at the time this piece was written – then it might be better to hop over and explore sooner rather than later, just in case. And while there, do take a walk around the Art Garden as well and appreciate the art displayed there.

SLurl Details