RufasSlider

What's new:

ver 3.2.2 -- ddmmmyy * Refined libs, scripts.

ver 3.2.1 -- 22nov20 * Improved sound code for robustness; * Threads now created as "joinable".

ver 3.2.0 -- 19nov20 * All new sound system using Pthreads and OpenAL. * Completely elliminated SFML-audio. * Updated SDL2 to v2.0.12

See full revision history at end of this file

---

RufasSlider Introduction

RufaSlider is a collection of 16 different block slider puzzles for kids and casual puzzlers that works on laptops and PCs running Windows, OSX or most Linux distros.

It includes a Klotski-style family, a DirtyDozen family, and a Traffic-Rush family. And now these puzzle families come with AutoSolvers to help you.

The Klotski family uses rectangles of 4 sizes: 1x1, 2x2, 1x2, 2x1. The objective in each game is stated near the window top, but usually involves moving a large block to a specified location within the window.

The DirtyDozen family is similar except there are L-shaped puzzle pieces.

The Traffic-Rush family uses cars or trucks that can only move [roll] lengthwise...the goal being to move the red car toward the shaded "exit door".

Note that a game description files are simple text files that allows users to define additional puzzles.

Several other classic block slider games are included: Fifteen, Eight, Nine, Panama, MaBoy, GetMyGoat, 2-versions of HoleInOne, Suits, and 2-versions of LinkRings.

To move a block, use the arrow keys. If the automatic block selector chooses the wrong block, simply click the cursor on the desired block before using the arrow key. Thusly, the games are laptop friendly.

Rush & maboy allow mouse drags to initiate the moves.

Finally, there are autosolvers embedded into the TrafficRush, Klotski, DirtyDozen, LinkRings and Maboy games to be used interactively, using the (=)-key. This provides an amazing tool to learn to solve seemingly hopeless problems.

---

Features

• Works on PCs or laptops running Windows, OSX(>=10.13) or GNU/Linux. And if GNAT is installed you can build it yourself! But first try the delivered, prebuilt binaries.
• Windows, GNU/Linux and OSX binaries provided, as well as full source.
• Laptop friendly controls; can support Mac Retina displays.
• Uses SDL2;
• Uses OpenAL-audio for sound.
• all runtime files are in ./data/
• all game data files are in ./puzzles/

---

Setup and Running:

Windows users see also "windows-setup.txt". Mac users see "osx-setup.txt".

Unzip the archive. On Windows, 7z [www.7-zip.org] works well for this. Open a command line terminal, then cd to the install directory.

---

Windows users type "winslid.bat" to begin puzzling. You may also cd ./bin/win/, and then type any individual puzzle name, eg: rush.exe.

---

Linux users should type "gnuslid.sh" to access any game. You may also ce ./bin/gnu/, and then type any individual puzzle name, eg: rush.

Also, if you have wine installed on your linux system, you can run the windows EXE thusly:

* cd bin/w32/
* wine rufaslid.exe

---

Mac users may open a terminal, navigate to the install directory, and type "macslid.sh" on the command line. Alternatively, Mac users may initiate the game in the usual way by navigating to the installation directory in Finder and clicking the "rufaslider.app" icon named "rufaslider".

In many puzzles, a mouse drag can initiate a block move. However, the preferred method to move a block is to select it using a mouse click, then use the arrow keys (up),(dn),(lf),(rt). The block selection is not necessary when only one block can move in the indicated direction.

At any time, hit the letter (r) to reset/restart, or (esc) to quit.

For Rush, Bslider and DirtyDozen, you use the (n) key to go to the next puzzle, which in general is more difficult. The (p) key takes you to the previous puzzle.

And for those times when a solution seems impossible, the more difficult puzzle families have an AutoSolver function using the (=)-key to step closer towards the solution: rush, bslider, dirty12, maboy, and linkRings. Remember that you can stop using the autosolver at any time and try to manually solve the puzzle.

Note that there are two "external" solvers available: 1) fbfsr for traffic rush puzzles (writes to rpath.txt); 2) fbfsl (writes to lpath.txt) for a) MaBoy; b) dirtyDozen; c) bslider puzzles. Simply type the executable name followed by the puzzle file name. For example to solve the second DirtyDozen puzzle type "fbfsl ../../puzzles/dd02.blk". The solution is written to a file in the current directory, in this case, named lpath.txt. Then, to follow the output instructions, start the puzzle and reveal the letters by hitting the (a)-key.

Please send questions, comments or corrections to

fastrgv@gmail.com

---

Build Requirements:

• a recent g++ compiler that supports -std=c++11, OR a GNAT-GPL Ada compiler from libre.adacore.com/download/ [that includes a nice g++ compiler]
• graphics card that supports OpenGL version 3.3 or later;
• Xcode g++ compiler, if using OSX;

---

Build Instructions:

---

Windows => winAll.bat

build script that requires [32-bit] libraries included in ./libs/w32ming/.

---

MacOSX => osxAll.sh:

...assumes presence of the Xcode g++ compiler... script for OSX that references [delivered] local copies of all nonstandard libraries in ./osxlibs/. The intent is to allow anyone with the Xcode g++ compiler on their Mac to build without having to install these nonstandard libraries.

---

GNU/Linux => gnuAll.sh:

utilizes shared libraries that are delivered in this bundle under ./libs/gnu/. These were used to build the executable, which should run in the presence of ./libs/gnu/, whether or not your system already has those libraries. The runtime loader will prefer system libraries if they are present.

If the delivered linux binary does not run, rebuild all using gnuAll.sh. In case of problems, try installing the free Ada compiler from AdaCore because the g++ compiler that comes with it works fine.

Fixable Link Problems during linux build:

On a linux build machine, you might have minor link errors, depending on its configuration. If "libGL" cannot be found, this literally means "libGL.so" was absent. But you might have "libGL.so.1" present. In this case, simply create a softlink by changing to the libGL directory, then type the line:

sudo ln -s libGL.so.1 libGL.so (and enter the admin password)

whence the linker should now be able to find what it wants. But if there is more than one file libGL.so present on your system, make sure you use the best one; i.e. the one that corresponds to your accelerated graphics.

---

bfscmp.sh: is a script that compiles any of the stand-alone solvers: bfs, bfsr, bfsl, bfsLR on any platform.

---

what is special about this project?

Uses the C++ programming language and fully modern OpenGL methods, with textures, shaders and uniforms. Achieves [at least] version 3.3 core profile contexts. Compiles and runs on Windows, GNU/Linux and Mac OSX systems.

Focusing on portability and open source freedom, this project relies on SDL2, a PNG-loader by Lode Vandevenne, and OpenAL-Audio.

Legal Mumbo Jumbo:

RufasSlider itself is covered by the GNU GPL v3 as indicated in the sources:

Copyright (C) 2020 fastrgv@gmail.com

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You may read the full text of the GNU General Public License at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.

---

Media Files for RufasSlider:

General Note

The particular choice of sound file delivered is not essential to the function of the game and is easily replaced. This software is primarily intended as a tutorial example of modern OpenGL methods. The only requirements are that sounds be in WAV format.

SoundFile (small-applause.wav)

...are from freesound.org and is covered by the Creative Commons CC0 license documented in the accompanying file creativeCommons.txt. See "small-applause.txt" for details and URL.

ImageFiles (x.png)

...for text-textures were created using gimp and are also covered by the GNU GPL v3 license. Thanks to unluckystudio.com [Sujit Kumar Yadav] for car sprites, whose colors I modified slightly with GIMP, and to OpenGameArt.org for the playing card symbols under a cc-by-3.0 license (see http://creativecommons.org/) uploaded there by IronStarMedia.co.uk

LodePNG (png loader module: lodepng.cpp lodepng.h)

are files copyrighted by Lode Vandevenne and so marked with all the details of their permitted uses near the tops of those two files.

Other Credits and Thanks:

Serhiy Grabarchuk and Peter Grabarchuk for their "Hole in One", "Hole in One plus 4", "Nine", and "Four Suits" puzzles.

---

tags: kids, puzzle, rush-hour, klotski, slider

---

Download Site for all my games:

https://github.com/fastrgv?tab=repositories https://www.indiedb.com/members/fastrgv/games https://fastrgv.itch.io https://sourceforge.net/u/fastrgv/profile/ https://gamejolt.com/@fastrgv/games

====================================================

Older Revision History

ver 3.1.1 -- 16oct20 * Made further improvements in linux sound coding. * Improved sound effects; now all stereo, and not too loud. * Improved texture handling.

ver 3.1.0 -- 23jan20 * Fixed linux failure on RedHat using new sound system. Now runs on RedHat-S.L.7.8, Debian-Mint, & OpenSuse. * OSX & Windows still using SFML libs.

ver 3.0.0 -- 22jan20 * Put codes into ./src/. * Quantum improvement in Linux portability by removing sfml (linux only).

ver 2.9.3 -- 27nov19 * Removed bad library files from GNU/Linux build that prevented execution.

ver 2.9.2 -- 25aug19 * Updated to SDL2 v209; * Solvers now ignore "="-key AFTER win (as they should); * Added debug output of object selection to terminal window; * Object selections can, in most cases, now be made using either left or right mouse button; * Fixed error in using p-key/n-key (Previous/Next) in dirty12;

ver 2.9.1 -- 7mar19 * Generalized EXEs to allow calling from "home" directory, as well as the directory that contains them.

ver 2.9.0 -- 7jan19 * Repaired block selection errors; * Added mouse drag as initiator of block moves; * Improved "rush" exit animation;