Firestorm 6 Slow Down

Some see Firestorm 6 as slower then v5, others do not. But there is a design feature in FS that may bite you and have you thinking it is the viewer. It isn’t necessarily just your imagination. Seems if you alternate between 5.1.7 and 6.0.1 Beta and have them sharing cache, which seems like a smart idea, you may well see a slowdown.

Get your S__t Together… (2016)

The viewers apparently look for a cache they made and if they do not find it, they delete the contents of the cache folders and build a new cache. So, when you first run 6 and attempt to share 5’s cache it deletes the cache and begins reloading. If you switch back to 5 the process repeats and each time to switch between versions, at least according to one of the FS peeps I trust.

Looks like we need to use one or the other. I’ve been using 6 and I like it. I don’t see a reason to switch back and forth. But… if you feel the need to switch back and forth, I suggest you assign a separate cache to 6.

We also know the Lindens are looking at and possibly already working on revamping the viewer cache. I am expecting significant changes in 2019. I also suspect the FS Devs have their own ideas about improving the viewer cache. So hopefully, we will see a mix of cache improvements in this coming year. Continue reading

Second Life News   #51

Servers

The main grid was to get version #18.12.05.522294 on Tuesday 12/18. My region did not get a restart. The last restart was 12/4 and my home region is running this version. So… wasup?

The three RC channels updated to version #18.12.03.522210 Wednesday.

The RC Snack channel is said to be running an EEP version 18.12.14.522551.

At the Server-Scripting UG meeting, there was some discussion of how the coming ability to change avatar names might work. It quickly becomes obvious that third-party service providers need someway to ID avatars with changing names. Think ‘redelivery terminals’.

It was noted that the new LSL functions for Animesh are not included in the Wiki LSL documentation. Oops. The Lindens are looking to get that fixed.

One of the server updates seems to be causing people to disconnect. This is more of a problem in ADITI. If you are seeing the problem let the Lindens know which region and what date and time.

No UG meetings until January 8thContinue reading

Firestorm 6.0.1 Beta Released to Public

Firestorm Beta 6.0.1 is out in public beta form. This version adds support for animesh. If you don’t keep up with ‘in development projects’ and are wondering what animesh is, the Firestorm 6.0.1 announcement explains. It provides links to sample animesh, sandboxes, and the documentation.

Firestorm Beta 6.0.1 Dec 2018

The 6.0.1 download is fast, the install easy and in a sperate folder. This allows you to have 5.0.7 or 5.1.7 and 6.0.1 Beta installed. You can then use either.

This version has lots of bugs fixes including Vivox voice and some improvements to some user-tools. Continue reading

Content Creators’ UG Meeting 2018 w50

Interesting news came out of the CCUG meeting today. There is word on Firestorm’s release.

Here is the video of the meeting. I missed the first couple of minutes.

Word on Firestorm is at the start of the video. Beq Janus gave us an update in chat on where Firestorm is. Their Beta testing has moved to the larger group of Firestorm testers named the Preview Group. Next, it will go to public Beta before Christmas and the final release is expected for early January 2019.

In another article I pointed you toward Beq’s article on the changes to the Mesh Uploader in this next release of Firestorm. Continue reading

Second Life: Content Creation 2018-11/29

I’ve had problems with Adobe’s Premiere Pro 2019, as have a bunch of other people. As I use that software to edit these videos, I haven’t been posting. That and RL time availability.

The CCUG meetings have been mostly about Animesh. However, they have been covering the status of various projects in Second Life. In this video, we get information on Animesh, Bakes On Mesh, and EEP.

Oz Linden opens with the status of BoM. Using the Project Viewer, you can test BoM everywhere in SL. The feature is provided by a backend service, formerly known as Server-Side Baking (a 2012 thing). The service bakes the appearance of a classic avatar into three composite textures combining skin, tats, underwear, and clothes. This service has now been updated to handle classic and mesh avatars and we call it BoM to distinguish it from SSB.

The Lindens seem a bit nervous about how well the service is working. From their side of things all looks well. However, users have ways of breaking and overloading things in ways the Lindens did not anticipate. So, they are hoping users will use the BoM Project Viewer (alternate Viewers) to test the service. Continue reading

Second Life News 2018 w48

I hope your Thanksgiving was enjoyable. Love pumpkin pie…

Servers

This is the second week in a row that there has been no Deploys post. My home region in the main channel did not get a restart today.

What No

What No

According to Simon Linden there are no rolls to the RC’s coming this week. But he thinks there will be next week. So, we might get one more a main channel update before Christmas.

The Snack channel was updated with a new EEP version.

Viewers

The main viewer is version 6.0.0.520636. We changed to this version in week #46.

Second Life Bugsplat Viewer version 5.1.9.519462 – Last updated in week #37.

Second Life EAM Viewer version 5.2.0.520057 – Moved from Project Viewer to this RC in week #40.

Second Life Love Me Render Viewer version 6.0.1.521759 – New this week. A previous update in week #46.

Second Life Maintenance Viewer version 6.0.1.521757 – Updated last week, #47.

Second Life Project 360 Snapshot Viewer version 5.1.6.515934 – Last updated in week #10.

Second Life Project Bakes On Mesh Viewer version 5.1.10.520711 – Last updated in week #44.

Second Life Project EEP Viewer version 6.0.0.521947 – New this week. The previous update in week #47. This viewer branch has updated two weeks in a row.

We have not seen much change this past week. Because of the holiday, the Lab has held off changes and updates that could affect grid performance. This is referred to as ‘No Change Windows’. We should see changes pop again for the next couple of weeks. Then Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays will bring us another No Change Window.

Rider Linden is finishing up EEP script functions. Currently finishing llSetAgentEnvironment() on the server side. Next is doing the viewer side. Continue reading

Second Life News 2018 w45 Election Day

Busy with RL last week and looks like this week. The Adobe updates that screwed things are not helping.

Costa Bella 4: Fountain

Costa Bella 4: Fountain

Servers

The main channel is getting an update to version #18.10.25.521081. This version is apparently the same as last week’s version 18.10.19.520868, but with some fixes to the logging. That version was all Internal Changes.

Blue Steel and Le Tigre will update to version #18.11.01.521328, listed as about Land impact/streaming costs

Magnum gets version #18.11.01.521329, with Logging improvements and land impact/streaming costs

From the Server-Scripting UG I hear the Snack Channel will get an EEP update. Continue reading

Second Life Bits 2018 w/40

Uploading Mesh – Beq Janus has an article on her blog explaining some of the esoteric aspects of understanding mesh uploading to Second Life™. See: Shedding light on Mesh uploading.

🐼 718 🐼 Blueprint Event Uber Event

🐼 718 🐼 Blueprint Event Uber Event

Beq is working on the Firestorm Viewer’s mesh upload panel. So, now is a good time to be providing her feedback and ideas you think would make the uploaded easier to use or understand.

The article also defines some of the terms in use in the uploader that you may have misunderstood. Some of those ‘the word means… Y but here we are using it to mean X’ type of things. Continue reading