I commented out all of the invocations of the "TestDamage...()" functions throughout all of the test missions, correcting an omission from my plans for the prior version.
I went into MissionNetworkBattle06.cpp and commented out some temporary, test-related code lines to disable two types of run-time cockpit messages that were useful during development of that mission but which are no longer important.
Those two types of messages had been displayed quite frequently. Now that they are supressed, they no longer dominate the cockpit's SystemMessage panel, restoring much of its tactical usefulness.
In mid July 2020 I compiled LAC on the Raspberry Pi 4b with good success! Experience on that tiny, inexpensive, underpowered computer revealed surprisingly good performance, with frame-rates easily sustained at or near 60FPS. All test cases worked splendidly except for these three situations:
1 of 3: When near the aircraft carrier, the frame rate dropped below acceptable levels. Accordingly, I edited and simplified the "Carrier.3ds" model with much simpler shapes, based on our current battleship, for faster rendering.
2 of 3: When in "Map Mode" if view distance is greater than about 90, frame rate drops below acceptable levels. Accordingly, I re-worked map mode to optimize the "fog distance" handling.
3 of 3: After each successful online mission, the ".com" suffix of the "RemoteDnsIpAddressTopLevelDomain" field within the LacConfig.txt file was corrupted to "aircombat.com". To fix that, I went into conf.cpp and changed logic within the "load_config()" function so that it always sets the top-level domain to the hard-coded value ".com" .
As a consequence, this version of Linux Air Combat runs notably faster (especially when "fog distance" is diminished to low levels) and sustains high frame rates even on inexpensive Raspberry Pi 4b microcomputers.
A new subfolder named "Raspberry Pi Versions of LAC" has been created in the popular, main "FILES" area of our SourceForge download facility. Precompiled versions of LAC for Raspberry Pi are published there.
No changes were made that affect flight. When used in any of the three classic online, multi-user, server-based missions, this version remains operationally compatible with all prior versions since Lac07p92.
Changes in Version Lac08p28 include:
Improvements in the seven new missions from version 8.21. All of the online, multi-player, server-based missions are now ready for serious use. The first three "classic" missions remain unchanged and interoperable with all LAC versions since 7.92.
MissionNetworkBattle06, advertised as "Peabody's Mission", takes place in a mountainous and heavily forested terrain, populated entirely with fixed strategic resources including artillery batteries fortifying the two primary airfields. I consider this mission to be complete at this point. It can serve as an excellent example for development of future "static" missions (whose strategic assets DON'T move around).
All six of the remaining new missions are functionally identical, taking place in the beautiful island terrain. Each of these new missions features FOUR self-defending, strategic airfields, and each is further enhanced with two mobile aircraft carriers. At this point, the aircraft carriers simply cruise around in a big, circular loop, visible to the North of each team's main airfield. Players can land on the aircraft carriers, receive fuel, ammo, and repairs as might be expected, and take off again. All six of these new Island Terrain missions are now ready for serious beta testing and for subsequent adoption and enhancement by future Mission Developers.
In all of our current missions, victory always requires destruction of all opposing strategic assets (but new Mission Developers could change those victory requirements as they customize future missions).
No changes were made that affect flight. When used in any of the three classic online, multi-user, server-based missions, this version remains operationally compatible with all prior versions since Lac07p92.
Last edit: bbosen 2020-07-21
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Changes in Version Lac08p29 include:
I commented out all of the invocations of the "TestDamage...()" functions throughout all of the test missions, correcting an omission from my plans for the prior version.
I went into MissionNetworkBattle06.cpp and commented out some temporary, test-related code lines to disable two types of run-time cockpit messages that were useful during development of that mission but which are no longer important.
Those two types of messages had been displayed quite frequently. Now that they are supressed, they no longer dominate the cockpit's SystemMessage panel, restoring much of its tactical usefulness.
In mid July 2020 I compiled LAC on the Raspberry Pi 4b with good success! Experience on that tiny, inexpensive, underpowered computer revealed surprisingly good performance, with frame-rates easily sustained at or near 60FPS. All test cases worked splendidly except for these three situations:
1 of 3: When near the aircraft carrier, the frame rate dropped below acceptable levels. Accordingly, I edited and simplified the "Carrier.3ds" model with much simpler shapes, based on our current battleship, for faster rendering.
2 of 3: When in "Map Mode" if view distance is greater than about 90, frame rate drops below acceptable levels. Accordingly, I re-worked map mode to optimize the "fog distance" handling.
3 of 3: After each successful online mission, the ".com" suffix of the "RemoteDnsIpAddressTopLevelDomain" field within the LacConfig.txt file was corrupted to "aircombat.com". To fix that, I went into conf.cpp and changed logic within the "load_config()" function so that it always sets the top-level domain to the hard-coded value ".com" .
As a consequence, this version of Linux Air Combat runs notably faster (especially when "fog distance" is diminished to low levels) and sustains high frame rates even on inexpensive Raspberry Pi 4b microcomputers.
A new subfolder named "Raspberry Pi Versions of LAC" has been created in the popular, main "FILES" area of our SourceForge download facility. Precompiled versions of LAC for Raspberry Pi are published there.
No changes were made that affect flight. When used in any of the three classic online, multi-user, server-based missions, this version remains operationally compatible with all prior versions since Lac07p92.
Changes in Version Lac08p28 include:
Improvements in the seven new missions from version 8.21. All of the online, multi-player, server-based missions are now ready for serious use. The first three "classic" missions remain unchanged and interoperable with all LAC versions since 7.92.
MissionNetworkBattle06, advertised as "Peabody's Mission", takes place in a mountainous and heavily forested terrain, populated entirely with fixed strategic resources including artillery batteries fortifying the two primary airfields. I consider this mission to be complete at this point. It can serve as an excellent example for development of future "static" missions (whose strategic assets DON'T move around).
All six of the remaining new missions are functionally identical, taking place in the beautiful island terrain. Each of these new missions features FOUR self-defending, strategic airfields, and each is further enhanced with two mobile aircraft carriers. At this point, the aircraft carriers simply cruise around in a big, circular loop, visible to the North of each team's main airfield. Players can land on the aircraft carriers, receive fuel, ammo, and repairs as might be expected, and take off again. All six of these new Island Terrain missions are now ready for serious beta testing and for subsequent adoption and enhancement by future Mission Developers.
In all of our current missions, victory always requires destruction of all opposing strategic assets (but new Mission Developers could change those victory requirements as they customize future missions).
No changes were made that affect flight. When used in any of the three classic online, multi-user, server-based missions, this version remains operationally compatible with all prior versions since Lac07p92.
Last edit: bbosen 2020-07-21