[0.4.14] LinuxGaming2 - A Server for Builders

[LazyJ]

Update

I've been receiving reports from players that they are unable to connect to our server if they are using MT 0.4.12 clients. Our server uses strict protocol version checking so Minetest doesn't have to do more processing to try to accommodate older versions. When this protocol check was implemented, it would allow versions of Minetest as far back as two versions older (ie. MT 0.4.10 client could connect to an MT 0.4.12 server but an MT 0.4.9 client couldn't).

Apparently that changed with MT 0.4.13.

I asked one of the devs, "est31", and they confirmed that with MT 0.4.13's protocol check, the client's *must be* 0.4.13 themselves to be able to connect.

So going forward, when the server is upgraded to MT 0.4.14 on up, player's clients will also have to upgrade to be able to connect.

Since I prefer to wait a while before upgrading the server's engine, each version upgrade has been out long enough for pre-compiled Mintest clients for Windows and PPAs to have been made available for players to upgrade with. So it won't be like the server's engine will be upgraded before any client upgrades will be available.

[LazyJ]

Update

Lag and particularly lag spikes, have been an issue for our world since ever since the world was created. Now that Miner and I have more access to the VPS itself, we have been trying to learn more about what is going on to try to figure out how to reduce the lag and stop the lag spikes.

Over the past couple nights I've been monitoring the MT server and the VPS, comparing htop to the VPS's system monitor when players were active on the MT server. While everyone is busily mining and building, the virtual cpu cores, RAM, and hard disk of the VPS are *not* being stressed. Less than half of the RAM is being used, less than half of the hard disk is being used, and the eight cpus barely twitch except for the one cpu that is handling Minetest at the time (and even then it only fluctuated between <10 and 33%).

That eliminated the possibility the lag and lag spikes are caused by insufficient (virtual) hardware specs.

The connection to and from the VPS was then the remaining component to investigate.

Last night, I worked through the night trying to reduce the lag. Several restarts of the MT server and the VPS itself were involved; each time trying out different combinations of settings on the MT server and the VPS.

I made sure all the applications were up-to-date on the VPS, studied more about firewalls and reviewed the VPS's firewall settings. Then I chatted with one of the hosting company's tech support people about the lag and lag spikes we have been experiencing over the years. They said they would investigate the matter. With that, pretty much all that can be done about the lag, from the server side of things, has been looked into.

[Kpenguin]

Thanks for all your hard work LazyJ and Miner_48er! We all appreciate you hard work to make the server better!

Would it be possible to increase the output of the lava buckets for furnace fuel? They aren't stackable, so you have to constantly be re-fueling your furnaces, and they only smelt 20 blocks compared to 100 blocks in MC. Just a thought if you have time....

I really enjoy playing on this server! Great builds, nice people, great admins, well maintained, what more can you ask for?

Kpenguin

[LazyJ]

Update

Last night I ran the world database through SQLite3's integrity check and the results came back "ok", meaning the world database is *not* corrupted. I'll take that as a good sign considering the database's age and size.

I'm getting reports of thrown items not going into the other person's inventory. I'm not able to reproduce the problem on my home computer's version of our world. It may be a new bug introduced by MT0413 or it may be an old bug that is being aggravated by the higher levels of lag now or it may be something else still unknown; I can only make educated guesses at this point. So for the time being, don't pass stuff to other players by throwing it at them, use an unlocked chest or a barter table.

[wilkgr76]

Update

Last night I ran the world database through SQLite3's integrity check and the results came back "ok", meaning the world database is *not* corrupted. I'll take that as a good sign considering the database's age and size.

I'm getting reports of thrown items not going into the other person's inventory. I'm not able to reproduce the problem on my home computer's version of our world. It may be a new bug introduced by MT0413 or it may be an old bug that is being aggravated by the higher levels of lag now or it may be something else still unknown; I can only make educated guesses at this point. So for the time being, don't pass stuff to other players by throwing it at them, use an unlocked chest or a barter table.

That's precisely what caused me to lose my evil pick. :( (Of course, it fell out of an item frame, not from another person, but same diff)

EDIT: Thanks for the new one! (I just logged in and dicovered I had one!!)

[wilkgr76]

G'day Miner_48er and LazyJ,

Despite what LazyJ said, I'm still making a website for linuxgaming2.com, after I saw what it looks like now. This isn't the best one I've made, but here's how far I am.

[LazyJ]

G'day Miner_48er and LazyJ,

Despite what LazyJ said, I'm still making a website for linuxgaming2.com, after I saw what it looks like now. This isn't the best one I've made, but here's how far I am.

Howdy, wilkgr ;)

Thanks for the concept proof idea for the LinuxGaming2 web site. When the time comes, LG2's website will not look so much like Minetest.net's website.

As I said earlier, the web site is a low priority for now. I base that decision on the experience of the past 3 years when LinuxGaming .us had its own web site, its own dedicated forums (independent of Minetest's forums) and its own dedicated wiki. Through the years, those three web portals proved to be of little to no benefit and, occasionally, more trouble to maintain than they were worth.

Trying to figure out how to resolve the lag problem and getting the main game and mods updated and tailored are a much higher priority to be taken care of at present.

I know our current web site is very, very plain but it has links to this thread, to these forums, to Minetest's official web site, loads very quickly even on small devices and is good for search engines to crawl to better help folks find our server. For now it will do till the more pressing matters above have been tended to.

[wilkgr76]

G'day Miner_48er and LazyJ,

Despite what LazyJ said, I'm still making a website for linuxgaming2.com, after I saw what it looks like now. This isn't the best one I've made, but here's how far I am.

Howdy, wilkgr ;)

Thanks for the concept proof idea for the LinuxGaming2 web site. When the time comes, LG2's website will not look so much like Minetest.net's website.

As I said earlier, the web site is a low priority for now. I base that decision on the experience of the past 3 years when LinuxGaming .us had its own web site, its own dedicated forums (independent of Minetest's forums) and its own dedicated wiki. Through the years, those three web portals proved to be of little to no benefit and, occasionally, more trouble to maintain than they were worth.

Trying to figure out how to resolve the lag problem and getting the main game and mods updated and tailored are a much higher priority to be taken care of at present.

I know our current web site is very, very plain but it has links to this thread, to these forums, to Minetest's official web site, loads very quickly even on small devices and is good for search engines to crawl to better help folks find our server. For now it will do till the more pressing matters above have been tended to.

I found this one loads quickly too (only one extra file, the background). CSS is currently in the same file as the main HTML file. The reason why it looks so similar to the minetest.net site is simple: I used the same background image! I'll be logging on later to get a better screenie, but this is the best I had when I made this.

Here as an updated image.

As of now, only two things remain to be fixed:

• Fixing the layout
• Finding a better background image.

EDIT: I made a better picture, added a webchat client, but still need to fix the formatting.
Here's the (third) screenie:

[Kpenguin]

I like the second website concept. I think the background should definitely be a screenshot of some high-quality builds. Maybe in the future we can implement a slideshow for the background.

I was wondering why you can't quick-move items to and from chests by shift+clicking like you can on most other servers and on a local world? Is it because the minetest game isn't fully updated?

[wilkgr76]

I like the second website concept. I think the background should definitely be a screenshot of some high-quality builds. Maybe in the future we can implement a slideshow for the background.

The first one was just a placeholder, before I found a better one. I prefer the new one too, also because it's not as dark. An animated GIF would work for slideshow, but that would balloon the download times.

I was wondering why you can't quick-move items to and from chests by shift+clicking like you can on most other servers and on a local world? Is it because the minetest game isn't fully updated?

Yep. That hasn't been ported yet I believe.

[wilkgr76]

The website is now done! (Unless you have any requests!)
I've PM'd you it.

[wilkgr76]

UPDATE:

I have a temporary version online here.

Tell me: What do you think? I have removed email addresses, and added forum account links. Also, comment on loading times. While I did choose a free hosting site (it is temporary, I will be removing the site), it shouldn't take too long. Is there anything I should add, do you think?

[HeavyTruth]

nice server
-ThesilentBang

[wilkgr76]

NYAN CAT EDITION:

Too early for April Fools, but still:

[Kpenguin]

Is the new website up? I'm still seeing the original.

[wilkgr76]

Is the new website up? I'm still seeing the original.

Nope, only on my site, the prototype. I'm still making changes based off what your feedback (catch me in IRC!), and will send the finished version in ~1 week to LazyJ.

[LazyJ]

Howdy, folks ;)

Real life has been keeping me busy and tired. I'll have a day off on Sunday to work on LG stuff.

Kpenguin, I've made a note to check the lava bucket code and will give your suggestion some thought. The concern I have is players clicking wrong on the furnace with a lava bucket and creating a lava spill. Over eager players may attempt to load several furnaces next to each other and flood their workshop with a renewing lava pool. The listrings are a feature in the newer minetest_game default mods. One of my current projects is updating the minetest_game and sorting out the mess created by MoreTrees' changes to default pine, jungle, and acacia trees, leaves, planks, their spawning, and the related saw-made stuff. Again, the listrings are in the default mods. The Money mod (shop chests) and the Currency mod (barter tables) won't be able to shift-click items back and forth. I'm not sure about the HomeDecor containers or the saw.

wilkgr, thanks for your work on the website. This weekend I'll have time to review the updated revision's html.

[wilkgr76]

Howdy, folks ;)

Real life has been keeping me busy and tired. I'll have a day off on Sunday to work on LG stuff.

Kpenguin, I've made a note to check the lava bucket code and will give your suggestion some thought. The concern I have is players clicking wrong on the furnace with a lava bucket and creating a lava spill. Over eager players may attempt to load several furnaces next to each other and flood their workshop with a renewing lava pool. The listrings are a feature in the newer minetest_game default mods. One of my current projects is updating the minetest_game and sorting out the mess created by MoreTrees' changes to default pine, jungle, and acacia trees, leaves, planks, their spawning, and the related saw-made stuff. Again, the listrings are in the default mods. The Money mod (shop chests) and the Currency mod (barter tables) won't be able to shift-click items back and forth. I'm not sure about the HomeDecor containers or the saw.

wilkgr, thanks for your work on the website. This weekend I'll have time to review the updated revision's html.

Thank you. :D In a week or so, I'll download it from the online web host, zip it up, and send it to you. I have done the things you mentioned before. (I had no idea with Orby; but decided to be on the safe side since his name was on the old site). Until then, I'll be doing bug fixing and adding stuff, depending on what people (read: users) say. I have changed things already, such as xyz4's suggestion with the font (changing it to sans-serif). JohnnyComeL8ly suggested adding a logo, but I don't have one. If you'd like to have one, would you be able to send me one?

UPDATE:

The website is nearly done. The quick links bar on the left is now fixed (it doesn't scroll down with the rest of the page). I have also added a custom favicon, which might take up to 24 hrs unti you see it.

As with the shift-clicking, est31 wrote here that mods have to specifically support it.
Here's the basic stuff:

The basic setup is as follows: with formspec declarations, you build a list ring, by either naming formspec inventory lists, one after another, or using the shorthand listring[]. In fact, in most of the cases (in all with only two inventory lists you want to shift transport between), you will only need the shorthand. That means it can be used for a chest together with an inventory, or a crafting menu.

With the shorthand, a chest would look like this:

"list[current_name;main;0,0;8,4;]"..
"list[current_player;main;0,5;8,4;]" ..
"listring[]"

[wilkgr76]

One day left...

Catch me in IRC, the forums, or send me a PM if you have a suggestion for the website. Tomorrow, Sunday, I'll be sending LazyJ the finished product!

(EDIT: 111th post!)

[LazyJ]

Update:

• The overview maps have been updated to 2015_11_14.
• I've added a bit more to the IRC connection info. If you want to use the IRC's SSL connection, use port 6697. If you don't want to use the SSL connection, use port 6667. Both work but the SSL, port 6697 will require a bit more fiddling with your IRC client's settings.

[Kpenguin]

A new build by me:

+ Spoiler

The front of the house:
Interior:

The Bedroom:
The Lounge:

My goal was to create a cool looking house that was only made of very simple materials: cobble, wood, and glass. It's located in my sky island.

[wilkgr76]

I crafted a world globe the other day, placed it down, but I can't pick it up with my diamond pickaxe anymore... What tool do I need to be able to mine it?

[LazyJ]

I crafted a world globe the other day, placed it down, but I can't pick it up with my diamond pickaxe anymore... What tool do I need to be able to mine it?

An axe.

As for the copy to grid function of Unified Inventory, it's broke. I see there is an update to UI; maybe that will solve the bug.

[wilkgr76]

I crafted a world globe the other day, placed it down, but I can't pick it up with my diamond pickaxe anymore... What tool do I need to be able to mine it?

An axe.

As for the copy to grid function of Unified Inventory, it's broke. I see there is an update to UI; maybe that will solve the bug.

Thanks. I posted this before I logged in.

[wilkgr76]

The new website isn't up yet. I haven't sent it to LazyJ yet. I'm still working on getting a 100% validation (if that's possible with those forum links).

[LazyJ]

Update: Overview maps updated to 2015_11_22.

[24/7minetester]

LOADS of screenshots...

I'm working on a storeroom right now. Phew!
I'l let the screenshots do the rest.

screenshot_20151124_181055.png (697.94 KiB) Viewed 4394 times

screenshot_20151124_181751.png (555.82 KiB) Viewed 4394 times

screenshot_20151124_181800.png (529.76 KiB) Viewed 4394 times

[Worldblender]

Here is the permanmet link for my experiments with this server (of my own copy, from before the VPS switch): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4mkwcjdyukwl ... 7iSJa?dl=0

This is a testbed for testing out some more mods, and exploration of new terrain and biomes. Screenshots are what's produced fron this testing.

• There are two folders, one for each world I tested. The main difference between them is that one of them runs on the Ethereal mod, while the other uses only the default biomes.
• Both share the same mods other than Ethereal, and both use map generation v7.
• Initially, the two worlds were based on the default Minetest game, but I converted them into Dreambuilder games, so that I could gain more mods at once without individual downloads.
• That subgames's 'default' mod has been tweaked to generate nyan cats at any height, just like in the Carbone-NG subgame.
• Some mods from Carbone-NG appear here as well.

More details will come in later; for now, the screenshots should give you an idea of what's inside. (Sorry that there's a lack of screenshots in the 'vanilla' folder, I focused more on the 'ethereal' world. I will come back to it when desirable.)

[JohnnyComeL8ly]

...adding a logo...

UPDATE:

...added a custom favicon...

I like the favicon... definitely custom - though in a good way. ;-) A good approach, is what it is.

[Kpenguin]

I was wondering if a mod could be installed that lets you see what other players are holding in their hand. The 3D armor mod has a "wield view" configuration option that enables you to do that. I would like to be able to see this.
Let me know what you think of this.
Thanks! :)
Kpenguin

I recently found this mod that does the same thing: https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6407