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BZFlag Launcher App 0.9

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:58 am
by [dmp]
Hi,

Im not sure if this is off-topic or not. If it is I apologize and please don't hesitate to delete it.

I've been working on a small app that lists available BZFlag servers and launches BZFlag if you want to play. Since its easier to show than describe with words, here is the screenshots for Linux and Windows.

ImageImage

The first version is ready for release, but Windows compiling is giving me a headache. I use VC++9 Express Edition. I've made a NSIS installer which also installs the msvcr90.dll - and that seems to works on some version of Windows. However, with strayers kind help I found that this isn't good enough as some gets an error saying:
This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.
I know there is a vc++ 9 redist package - which I could ask users to install, but if I can, I like to avoid this. (Would be nicer if this was installed without asking the user to do it). But is this is best (as in foolproof) approach?

My experience with Windows Development is very very limited so I hope someone can point me in the correct direction. I've been googling but I'm having a hard timing gaining an overview of what my options are. And since a lot of the guides I found begins with "For non-express editions [...]", I begin to wonder if there is any good solution to my problem.

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:50 am
by F687/s
Ooh...a Linux version as well. Do you have the source code available somewhere for download?

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:55 am
by JeffM
The solution is to not use the express edition. The EE versions do not allow redistribution and use different runtime systems.

You must build the binary with a full version of visual studio. We can help you with this if you'd like.

Getting the source..

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:31 am
by [dmp]
JeffM: If you got time time, feel free. I'm still waiting for university to grant me full access so I cannot get the full version yet.

The source can be downloaded from: http://github.com/dennis/bzlauncher/tree/master. It uses wxWidget (www.wxwidget.org) and requires 2.8.4 or better. Currently the vcproj (located in build/msw directory) assumes that wxwidgets is installed in c:\wx\.

F687/s: I've compiled it for debian: http://dennis.moellegaard.dk/projects/b ... /#binaries - remember to read the link. If you are not using Debian - you can get the source from github too.

Windows binary

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:39 pm
by [dmp]
JeffM was kind enough to provide a Windows binary (and some additional help - thanks!): http://dennis.moellegaard.dk/download/b ... _setup.exe

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:42 pm
by quantum dot
I've just tried the windows installer (Jeff's one), but the resulting executable gives me the error you mentioned
This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.
I am on WinXP, so maybe I need to install widgets before?

havent tried the linux version yet. I'll let you know if any problem when I reboot my laptop on Ubuntu.

Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:50 pm
by blast
You might need to install the Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86) to run the software. That specific download works with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Server 2003. For those running Windows 98, 98SE, and Me, you can try the one without SP1.

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 1:53 am
by quantum dot
blast wrote:You might need to install the Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86) to run the software. That specific download works with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Server 2003. For those running Windows 98, 98SE, and Me, you can try the one without SP1.
do i need visual c++ even if i am not compiling? what is the use of the self-installer for windows then?

ps: reading the info on the page you pointed, it seems so, i do need this even to be able to run c++ applications...

ps2: indeed, thx blast, now it works. I am more used to linux where I have all this libs handy. [dmp] this looks really nice and useful.

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:25 am
by Legolas_
I remember I made a similar applescript-application for mac users that did the same thing with the same name :-D. Glad to see progress being made from players.

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:06 am
by [dmp]
quantum dot wrote:do i need visual c++ even if i am not compiling? what is the use of the self-installer for windows then?
Nope, you don't need Visual C++ - "just" some of its runtime libraries.

I think I was a bit naive to think that installing my app on windows only required copying the .exe and a single dll. It seems that the world is more complicated, since a redistribution package is required too. So currently the installer only makes it easy to remove it again :)
quantum dot wrote:[dmp] this looks really nice and useful.
Thanks. If you got any ideas for future improvements, please tell :) The next feature I'm going to work on is probably going to be a search functionality.
legolas_ wrote:I remember I made a similar applescript-application for mac users
Yeah, and david_v also made one, (applet) and a french guy (le-something) made on in Python. I think both used the same name too. :) wxWidgets also supports OSX, so porting is "only" configuring a project. But I'm even more clueless when it comes to OSX :)

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:27 am
by quantum dot
[dmp] wrote: and a french guy (le-something) made on in Python.
"Le Poulpe" is his nickname :wink:

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:34 am
by [dmp]
Yeah that's the guy. Guess I won't win any prices for innovation or naming ;)

Webpage updated

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:37 pm
by [dmp]
I've updated the web-page, which describes (very briefly) the hidden features.

http://dennis.moellegaard.dk/projects/bzlauncher/#help

Comments are welcomed.

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:38 pm
by dango
[dmp]
It would be cool if you could download which servers are match servers, and when you join them you automatically switch to observer. Or you could right click on a server and click "join as"> "team name"

Very cool program, very useful, too.

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:58 pm
by [dmp]
me1

Thanks and nice idea - it's noted :) For the next release (1.0 probably) will get a "Join as $team" feature.

Without promising anything, I've been talking with strayer about fetching some of his data (like what league a server belongs to if any) for post-1.0 release. So joining as observer on league-servers would be possible and useful :)

Current planned 1.0 features are:
  • Search
  • Control what team you join as (via right clickmenu? "Join as Green", "Join as Red" ...)
  • Configuration dialog
  • Rename RH to RC
  • Protocol handlers
  • Add launch button from server-view

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:50 am
by io
nice i like it ^^

Cool tool

Edit:

Mabey add a "Minimize to tray" funktion

Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 6:02 pm
by io
is this project dead ? ^^ I like that app still use it

Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 8:53 pm
by strayer
no, it's not dead...
[dmp] is still working on it whenever he has time to. The current test build contains some very nice (and useful) features. I don't know if he wants to publish it before doing some structural improvements.
However...stay tuned...there will be a new release within the next...hm...year (o:?:o)

Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 10:10 pm
by [dmp]
Nope, it's not dead. Current dev-version looks like this.
Image

However, the ping measurements is often wrong, as its influenzed by the time it takes to update the various GUI elements, which makes it pretty much useless. I "just" need to fix that, before the next release.

But as strayer mentions this need some reworking of the code. And while I'm at it, I will try to do it properly to support some planned future features.

I have no ETA - but within a year is realistic :)

Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 5:59 pm
by Cruel dog
Cool app, worths being used with bzflag. :) Now I can ping, see server infos instantly, up to date, without using the bzflag client.

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:12 pm
by kc9foh
I know I am a little behind. I like it too maybe a link off the main BZflag web page could be done for those that don't use the forums to find easier for download. Keep up the great work.

Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:29 pm
by joevano
kc9foh wrote:I know I am a little behind. I like it too maybe a link off the main BZflag web page could be done for those that don't use the forums to find easier for download. Keep up the great work.
This is not an official BZFlag project. It is the work of a community member, so it won't be featured as an official download on our site.