Tag: Simulator User Group 2016

Server Deployment – Recap

As always, please refer to the server deployment thread for updates or changes.

• There was no deployment to the Main (SLS) channel On Tuesday, September 27th.
• On Wednesday September 28th, all three RC channels should receive the same new server maintenance package, which includes a fix for BUG-40565, introduced as a result of the deployment of the week #38 server maintenance package.

SL Viewer

The VLC Media plug-in viewer didn’t make the jump to release status as had been anticipated, but should remain the next in line for promotion.

A new Maintenance RC viewer did arrive, however. Version 4.0.9.320038, released on Wednesday, September 28th, focuses on assorted crash fixes and stability fixes, with over 70 updates and fixes included. This has the current official SL viewer list looking as follows:

• Current Release version: 4.0.8.319463 (dated September 9), promoted September 15 – formerly the Visual Outfit Browser RC viewer
• Release channel cohorts (please see my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
  • Maintenance RC viewer, version 4.0.9.320038, dated September 28th – 70+ fixes and updates
  • Project Bento (avatar skeleton extensions), version 5.0.0.319893, dated September 22nd
  • VLC Media Plug-in Viewer RC, version 4.1.1.319856, dated September 20th – replaces QuickTime in the Windows viewer with a media plug-in based on LibVLC
• Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

Render Cost Investigations

This was first raised at the TPV Developer meeting on Friday, September 23rd, and again at the Bento User Group Meeting on Thursday, September 29th (although it is not Bento specific.

Vir Linden is leading an investigation into rendering cost and land impact of items (worn and in-world). This is as a result of JIRAs filed on the LI cost of various items not being correctly assessed, etc. It is not clear if any changes will result of the investigations, particularly where legacy content is concerned, but equally, it might be that some adjustments can be made to the rendering cost formulae. In particular, the Lab is interesting in learning about problematic content and JIRAs filed on LI  / rendering calculation issues (such as BUG-37631). Speaking at the Bento meeting on the subject, Vir had this to say:

 

 

The Shire – blog post

It’s once again a light start to the week.

Server Deployment

As always, please refer to the server deployment thread for updates or changes.

• There was no deployment to the Main (SLS) channel On Tuesday, September 27th.
• On Wednesday September 28th, all three RC channels should receive the same new server maintenance package, which includes a fix for BUG-40565, introduced as a result of the deployment of the week #38 server maintenance package.

SL Viewer

Unless something untoward has happened with the latest RC version, it is anticipated the VLC Media Plug-in viewer will be promoted to de facto release status this week. A new maintenance RC is also anticipated. In the meantime, the current batch of official viewers remains unchanged from week #38:

• Current Release version: 4.0.8.319463 (dated September 9), promoted September 15 – formerly the Visual Outfit Browser RC viewer
• Release channel cohorts (please see my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
  • Project Bento (avatar skeleton extensions), version 5.0.0.319893, dated September 22nd
  • VLC Media Plugin Viewer RC, version 4.1.1.319856, dated September 20th – replaces QuickTime in the Windows viewer with a media plug-in based on LibVLC
• Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

Experience Scripted Sits

As per my blog post of September 23rd, Rider Linden is working on a new scripted sit capability for Experiences. The new LSL functions form Project Espeon (after the Pokémon character), and Rider has produced a proposal document on the new functionality, which can be read  in PDF format. The capability can also be tested on ADITI (the beta grid) in the following regions:  Leafeon or Umbreon or Sylveon, with test content is available on Leafeon. If anyone testing them has suggestions or feedback, please raise a JIRA against Project Espeon.

Yasminia – blog post

Server Deployment: Week 38

There was no update on the Main (SLS) channel on Tuesday, September 20th. On Wednesday, September 21st, all three RC channels should receive the same new server maintenance package, containing further “minor internal changes”.

SL Server

As noted in my article at the time, on Thursday, September 15th, the Lab promoted the Visual Outfits Browser viewer to de facto release status.

Also as similarly reported here in a separate article, the  Bento viewer reached release candidate status on Wednesday, September 14th. This leaves the current list of official viewers as follows:

• Current Release version: 4.0.8.319463, dated September 9th, promoted September 15th – formerly the Visual Outfit Browser RC viewer
• Release channel cohorts (please see my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
  • Project Bento (avatar skeleton extensions) RC version 5.0.0.319688 released on September 14th
  • VLC Media Plugin Viewer RC, version 4.1.1.319583, dated September 13th  – replaces the QuickTime media plugin in the Windows viewer with one based on LibVLC
• Project viewers:
  • None.
• Obsolete platform viewer, version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

Server Deployments

There was no main (SLS) channel deployment on Tuesday, September 6th.  On Wednesday, September 7th, all three RCs received the same new server maintenance package, defined as containing “minor internal logging changes”.

Commenting on the update at the Simulator User Group meeting on Tuesday, September 6th, Simon Linden indicated the updates might help with some of the problems occasionally seen with estate bans; at a minimum the Lab will be able to gather more information on them.

SL Viewer

There have been no significant changes to the SL viewer channels since the end of week #35. A further RC update to the VLC viewer had been expected following comments at the August 27th TPV Developer meeting, but has yet to materialise. As such, this leasing the viewer channels as follows:

• Current Release version: 4.0.7.318301 (dated August 8), promoted August 11 – formerly the Maintenance RC viewer download page, release notes
• Release channel cohorts (please see my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
  • Visual Outfit Browser viewer,  version 4.0.8.319143, dated August 30 – ability to preview images of outfits in the Appearance floater
  • VLC Media Plugin Viewer RC, version 4.1.1.318504, dated August 15 – replaces the QuickTime media plugin for the Windows viewer with one based on LibVLC
• Project viewers:
  • Project Bento (avatar skeleton extensions), version 5.0.0.318969, dated August 25 – avatar vertical position update; SLM files are by default not created or used; show bones display uses colours differently; animation of collision volumes fixed
• Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847 dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

Other Items

Windows 10 Performance Issues Due to KB3176938

As noted in BUG-37795 and my related article, some windows 10 users are experiencing issues after installing the Microsoft Windows 10 Cumulative Update KB3176938, with reduced FPS after tabbing between other applications they may be running and a Second Life viewer. The issue appears to be related to how Windows 10 handles OpenGL. Linden Lab are apparently going to (/already have) contact(ed) Microsoft on the problem, which also affects a number of PC games. Please refer to the JIRA for further information.

SL Wiki

The SL wiki remains closed for user editing.

Crystal Gardens – blog post

Server Deployments

There are no scheduled deployment for week #35. If you have a region you believe is experiencing issues, the advice is to contact support and request a restart or, for specific issues, file a bug report.

It is expected that the current dearth of simulator deployments will be coming to an end in the near future, as the current round of infrastructure / operating system updates comes to an end and the summer vacation season winds down.

SL Viewer

As expected, the Visual Outfits browser RC viewer was updated to version 4.0.8.319143 on Tuesday, August 30th, largely to correct an elevated crashed rate, as reported in my last TPV Developer meeting update. The VLC Media plugin view is also expected to receive a further RC update for the same reason. Until it does, the current list of the remaining official viewers remains as:

• Current Release version 4.0.7.318301, dated August 8th promoted August 11th – formerly the Maintenance RC viewer
• Release Candidate viewers (refer to my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
  • VLC Media Plugin RC viewer, version 4.1.1.318504, dated August 15th – replaces the QuickTime media plugin for the Windows version of the viewer with one based on LibVLC
• Project viewers:
  • Project Bento (avatar skeleton extensions), version 5.0.0.318969, dated August 25th – final updates and tweaks prior to a move to RC status
• Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

SL Wiki

As noted under a separate article, the SL wiki remains locked for general editing by users.

Binemust – blog post

Things are still a little quiet, so not a lot to report at the start of the week.

Server Deployments

There are no scheduled deployment for week #34.

SL Viewer

No changes since my last SL project update, leaving the current official viewer list as:

• Current Release version 4.0.7.318301, dated August 8th promoted August 11th – formerly the Maintenance RC viewer
• Release Candidate viewers (refer to my notes on manually installing RC viewer versions if you wish to install any release candidate(s) yourself):
  • Visual Outfit Browser RC viewer, version 4.0.8.318686, dated August 17th – ability to preview images of outfits in the Appearance floater
  • VLC Media Plugin RC viewer, version 4.1.1.318504, dated August 15th – replaces the QuickTime media plugin for the Windows version of the viewer with one based on LibVLC
• Project viewers:
  • Project Bento (avatar skeleton extensions), version 5.0.0.317597, dated July 14th – incorporation of final skeleton and slider updates from the test viewer
• Obsolete platform viewer version 3.7.28.300847, dated May 8, 2015 – provided for users on Windows XP and OS X versions below 10.7.

SL Wiki

As noted under a separate article, the SL wiki is currently locked from public editing due to spamming issues. There is currently no ETA on when it will be made generally available for access. Those with a definite need to have edit rights should raise a support ticket requesting access.