Saturday, September 17, 2016

2016 HG: OSHG: Modular programming, or how to fork without forking everything. HGProjects

Modular programming, or how to fork software 
without forking everything
Some considerations about what we need to attend to in further development of OpenSimulator: How modular programming fits in.
  • If you know modular programming, don't read this oversimplified article.
  • Modular programming (Wikipedia).
  • Why only the old timers remember update Wednesday.
  • Why third party viewers only forked the viewers and not the users.
  • Why Kitely users can use either of 2 physics engines.
  • Why we need to know about the modules of OpenSimulator. 
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  • (More after the break)
  • Where is Arcadia?
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Metaverse events, current and upcoming
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Why only the old timers in SL remember update Wednesday

  • In the olden days (2005) the LL viewer was not an independent module.  
  • When they updated the simulator, they also had to update the viewer.
  • So they brought down the whole system on Wednesdays.  
  • Of course, they gave us a time when the system was going to come back up.
  • (Pause here for laughter and remarks about flying pigs and "Waiting for Godot.")

Why third party viewers only forked the viewers and not the users

  • Eventually LL converted the viewer to a module.  
  • The viewer and the server talk to each other in a standard message.  
  • That allowed the viewer to fork without bothering anyone.
  • So now we casually use several different viewers.
  • Without even noticing the value of modular programming.

Why Kitely users can use either of 2 physics engines

  • Yeah.  You guessed it.  The physics engine is a separate module.  
  • OpenSimulator can use either Bullet Sim or ODE as the physics engine.
  • The standard used to be ODE; now it is Bullet Sim. 
  • A kind of fork that does not fork everything up.

Why we need to know about the modules of OpenSimulator

  • Modules communicate through a standard interface.
  • Modules can be modified without affecting the rest of the software.
  • Improvement projects can be per module rather than on the whole program.
  • Alternative modules can support particular needs through customization.  
  • Beta versions can be tested by patient souls rather than by all of us.
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News and Notes

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    The Hypergrid WIP Show

    The Hypergrid WIP is a one hour "show & tell" of works in progress or recently completed. All builders from beginner to pro are invited.  Presentations are in voice and text.  For text presentations, best bring the text in a notecard and paste it into chat.  Voice presentations may be captured in video.  Stills and videos from the show may appear in this blog and elsewhere.

    Next WIP show 

    • Next WIP show: Sun. Sept 25, Noon SLT 
    • Cookie II location (fourth Sunday of the month)
    • HG address below: paste into the World Map next to Find. Click Find, TP
    • grid.kitely.com:8002:Cookie II 
    • in Kitely: paste into Nav (top) bar of Firestorm, Enter.
    • hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Cookie II/68/369/22
    • Narasnook  location (second Sunday of the month)
    • Pandora allows presenters to run high threat OSSL functions.
    • world.narasnook.com:8900
    • Put the line above in your World Map next to Find.  Click Find. TP
    • At Narasnook, use World Map to search for Pandora
    • Cookie II location (fourth Sunday of the month)
    • HG address below: paste into the World Map next to Find. Click Find, TP
    • grid.kitely.com:8002:Cookie II 
    • in Kitely: paste into Nav (top) bar of Firestorm, Enter.
    • hop://grid.kitely.com:8002/Cookie II/68/369/22

      Previous Articles from the WIP show 

      HG links-- depending on your interests 

      Radio in the virtual world

      Metaverse beginner help

      Schools in virtual worlds

      • I publish 5 or 6 days a week, skipping 1 or 2 days in midweek
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      • Annotated screen shots made with Jing
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