06-12-2015, 07:17 PM
Hi all,
Motivation
I added a new feature to let users edit their own server list, called Private Server List, as opposed to the "Public" ones provided by Xonotic master. I added this function to avoid having to enter the same addresses again and again. I imagine this would also be useful in pickup games.
The original customizeable address bar has some bug such as this one, as well as some problems such as:
Features
This new feature allows users to add private servers by their addresses, and they can be assigned a name for easier identification.
This is done in the Private tab under Server. (The Public Server tab looks the same as the current Server tab.) Users can sort by the nickname or the address.
[attachment=1407]
There is an easy filter, too.
[attachment=1408]
Sometimes you want to see just the servers on your same dorm floor.
[attachment=1410]
Of course you can add/update/remove the servers.
[attachment=1409]
Feedback
Right now I'm asking for feedback, review, and testing from the devs and the community.
These are some decisions I made:
1. Remove customizeable address bar from the Public Server Tab
I disabled the address bar editing capability in Public Server tab, to avoid duplicated function in adding custom address. If users want to add their own servers, they go to Private Server.
2. No game info for Private Servers
Unlike the public servers tab which provides rich information about gametype, players, etc., it's rather difficult to do so without modifying Darkplaces, which I think we should refrain from doing.
(I really hope I'm wrong here. Devs? Can I give Darkplaces an address and get the current game info back?)
It's a shame. On the other hand, some private servers don't respond to queries (it's a server setting), and most of the time, private game players have another way of communication.
3. Sacrificing a current feature potentially useful
From 1 and 2, note that currently, users can provide an address, add as Favorite (though there's a bug), and if the server is set to respond with game info, it will show in the server list. So this is a function taken taken out.
4. System-assisted duplication detection
This one sounds more complicated than it is. In Private Server list, each address (or domain name) must be unique. Users cannot add two entries with the same address. When user enters an address that exists, it enters the Update mode, in which the user can edit the nickname of the address. To edit the address of an existing server, the user can click on the server, give it a new address (system automatically switches to the Add mode), add it as a new server, and then remove the old server.
This makes managing the server list much easier.
Please help test it and provide feedback here. Thank you very much!
Motivation
I added a new feature to let users edit their own server list, called Private Server List, as opposed to the "Public" ones provided by Xonotic master. I added this function to avoid having to enter the same addresses again and again. I imagine this would also be useful in pickup games.
The original customizeable address bar has some bug such as this one, as well as some problems such as:
- the servers don't appear if they don't answer to direct query
- the servers cannot be seen by the users when they are offline
- there is no way to edit those servers
- It's very confusing to mix private and public servers
Features
This new feature allows users to add private servers by their addresses, and they can be assigned a name for easier identification.
This is done in the Private tab under Server. (The Public Server tab looks the same as the current Server tab.) Users can sort by the nickname or the address.
[attachment=1407]
There is an easy filter, too.
[attachment=1408]
Sometimes you want to see just the servers on your same dorm floor.
[attachment=1410]
Of course you can add/update/remove the servers.
[attachment=1409]
Feedback
Right now I'm asking for feedback, review, and testing from the devs and the community.
These are some decisions I made:
1. Remove customizeable address bar from the Public Server Tab
I disabled the address bar editing capability in Public Server tab, to avoid duplicated function in adding custom address. If users want to add their own servers, they go to Private Server.
2. No game info for Private Servers
Unlike the public servers tab which provides rich information about gametype, players, etc., it's rather difficult to do so without modifying Darkplaces, which I think we should refrain from doing.
(I really hope I'm wrong here. Devs? Can I give Darkplaces an address and get the current game info back?)
It's a shame. On the other hand, some private servers don't respond to queries (it's a server setting), and most of the time, private game players have another way of communication.
3. Sacrificing a current feature potentially useful
From 1 and 2, note that currently, users can provide an address, add as Favorite (though there's a bug), and if the server is set to respond with game info, it will show in the server list. So this is a function taken taken out.
4. System-assisted duplication detection
This one sounds more complicated than it is. In Private Server list, each address (or domain name) must be unique. Users cannot add two entries with the same address. When user enters an address that exists, it enters the Update mode, in which the user can edit the nickname of the address. To edit the address of an existing server, the user can click on the server, give it a new address (system automatically switches to the Add mode), add it as a new server, and then remove the old server.
This makes managing the server list much easier.
Please help test it and provide feedback here. Thank you very much!