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#1 Report | QuoteMultilingual 

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RyZtart becomes the default installer for Windows and Linux

For a few months now, RyZtart, our new Ryzom installer, patcher and launcher, has been in beta testing on Linux and Windows and in development on MacOS.
We are happy to announce that it is now the default installer on the Ryzom website ( www.ryzom.com) for Windows and Linux platforms!
Installing RyZtart does not require you to uninstall the old Ryzom installer. The two can cohabit without any problem.

RyZtart makes your life easier

RyZtart offers a connection option to your Ryzom account. Once connected, you won't have to enter the password for the next sessions. Moreover, RyZtart allows you to connect directly with a character without going through the selection window.

Versatile, RyZtart will also provide utility modules

With a totally modular design, RyZtart is meant to provide utility modules to add new possibilities.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of modules that we think are interesting to develop and for which we call on all players who have some knowledge of Python programming and wish to help:
  • Module to replace textures by their high-definition version.
  • Module to automatically backup save/ folders to an external folder (Dropbox folder, USB key, etc.).
  • Module to automatically backup save/ folders to the Ryzom Cloud for subscribed accounts (even every account if resources are sufficient).
  • Forge module allowing players who want to contribute to the improvement of Ryzom to automatically install the necessary tools for development, graphics, wiki, etc.

RyZtart using the pywebview GUI ( https://pywebview.flowrl.com), it would also be possible to integrate web applications.

RyZtart source code

The source code of RyZtart can be found here : https://gitlab.com/ryzom/ryztart

We remain at your disposal for any further information.

The Ryzom team

Edited 2 times | Last edited by Maupas (3 years ago) | Reason: EN typos

#2 Report | Quote[en] 

Margote
[*]Module to automatically backup save/ folders to the Ryzom Cloud for subscribed accounts (even every account if resources are sufficient).
If i have enabled /chatLog (creates a chatlog in the save folder) - it will also went to cloud?

#3 Report | Quote[fr] 

Any chat log will be sent to cloud by default.

If it's a requested feature, we can add an option to send chat logs to cloud but will be disabled by default.

#4 Report | Quote[en] 

when i install RyzTart, will it detect my current installation and jorgensen, altonio etc? Or will i need to copy over the save folder to a new place?

#5 Report | Quote[en] 

Jorgensen
when i install RyzTart, will it detect my current installation and jorgensen, altonio etc? Or will i need to copy over the save folder to a new place?

Ryztart use the same folder than ryzom_installer, so you don't need move the save folder (but made a copy are always a good idea)

Ryztart will try to found all your profiles and import them, if not, you can add it yourself.

#6 Report | Quote[en] 

cool :) thanks

#7 Report | Quote[en] 

I'm quite concerned about this new tool. I'm sorry to say that, but it does not seems to match the code quality I expected.

So, I downloaded it from the Ryzom website and got an archive which contains 2 files : "Install Ryztart" which is a dynamically linked x86-64 executable which doesn't have the executable bit set and "package.bin" which is a shell script followed by a blob of data. No documentation of any kind, we are expected to guess what to do with those files. Since "package.bin" is the only file with the executable bit set, I try to start it :



Please note that, despite the critical failure, the soft doesn't exit. Instead, it stalls until you kill it.

Starting it without X installed has the self-update to fail, which is quite strange but still ok. However, the missing dependency on the Python humanize module is unacceptable: it fails even if the "python-humanize" package is installed on the system and therefore it looks like an issue with a virtualenv. Such failure makes me feel like this soft has never been tested before live deployment.

Before judging this soft too harshly because of this mistake, I had a look at the source code. Let's have a look at the start.sh script, which is 7 lines long and should be the first thing to start :

#!/bin/bash
REVISION=$(git rev-list HEAD --count)
sed -i "s/version_minor = .*/version_minor = $REVISION/" data/app.ini
rsync -a --exclude build --exclude __pycache__ --exclude builds/RyZtart --exclude dist --exclude env --exclude .git --exclude app.ini --exclude t.py ../ryztart-dev/ .

source env/bin/activate
python -X pycache_prefix=cache ryztart.py $*


Line 1 (the shebang): not portable
Line 2 (define $REVISION): Why am I supposed to be in a git repository? Why am I even supposed to run git in order to play a game? Why is the number of commit considered as some king of software version? This is just all wrong.
Line 3 (sed) : Why does the program overrides a configuration file at each startup? Where the hell is this "data" directory where this configuration file is supposed to be since it's not in the git repository?
Line 4 (rsync) : Why using rsync to start a game? Why having such an external dependency (just like git)? By the way, where is the list of those external dependencies? What is this "../ryztart-dev/" directory supposed to be and when is it created and populated?
Line 5 : The only correct line since it's empty.
Line 6 (virtualenv) : So, here we activate a python virtualenv which has never been created…
Line 7 (python) : Using $* is quite dangerous, "$@" (with the double quotes) would be a much safer choice.

The sources are obviously not meant to be used by anyone else than Ryzom's devs. With absolutely zero documentation on how to use those sources to get the distributed executable, it's not that useful.

In fact, because the executable stalls instead of exiting, we can inspect what is happening : package.bin extracts some compressed files into a temporary directory (the path is visible on the error log). Theses files are:
  • The "app" directory (visible in the sources) with all of its junk.
  • A cache directory.
  • A "python" directory which looks like a virtualenv.
  • An executable shell script named "install" and visibly generated during the creation of the final executables. Note that its purpose is to start "ryztart.py", just like "start.sh" does but.
  • Various files like logs, a shared library, a desktop entry and so on.

Looking deeper into the dependencies only raises more concerns. One example is the way Python packages are installed :Seriously, just chose one method to install packages and stick to it. This is a mess.

By the way, you should have a look at the Python packaging user guide. Python packages are a mess to deploy correctly, this is the way to keep things as clean as possible.

I'm quite afraid to look further, I even found some compiled libraries (WTF???). I would really prefer that our subscription's money goes to actual Ryzom development instead of this absurd "installer". There is many bugs waiting to be solved and this "installer" will only add new ones AND prevent new players from joining the game.

Anyway, I won't use this "thing" and I would recommend that nobody else's does.

---

Markanjio di Segafredo
Alkiane
Noble Gardien des Matis - Noble Matis Guardian
Fléau de l'Empire - Scourge of the Empire

#8 Report | Quote[en] 

I'm running Linux Mint 20.

Instead of running package.bin, i made "Install RyzTart" executable and ran that, because it seemed like the right file to start the installation. That worked and it installed Ryztart and logged in.

I had a look at the options, profiles, shortcuts, etc. Then i hit Play, and all it did was bring up the old ryz-launch launcher. I had to log in again the old way. Ryz-launch Account was even pre-filled to a different account than i had logged in for RyzTart.

I also had to log in a third time off of ryz tart to get the rocket chat going.

So ... isn't this just an extra step for logging in? I could have saved one step by going straight to the old launcher.

#9 Report | Quote[en] 

Markanjio
Anyway, I won't use this "thing" and I would recommend that nobody else's does.

Agree.

---

Kaetemi

#10 Report | Quote[en] 

Jorgensen
Then i hit Play, and all it did was bring up the old ryz-launch launcher.

That's strange, by login on Ryztart you should have a list of all you chars, select a char, click play and automatically connect the char, don't need enter the login and don't need select the char.

Can you contact me for check ?

Last edited by Ulukyn (3 years ago)

#11 Report | Quote[en] 

o7 i dm'ed you on rocket chat

#12 Report | Quote[en] 

Ok, after talking with Ulukyn it turns out I wasn't using Ryztart correctly. I hadn't selected any server, account and character in the bottom right drop-down lists, so it was defaulting to the old login method.

So as of now, Ryztart seems to be working fine for me.

#13 Report | Quote[en] 

Tried it out,

Current setup:
Steam all in 1 folder (ryzom files + save)

Ryztart setup:
used steam/common/ryzom as game files location
used steam/common/ryzom/Ryztart as Ryztart location
c/users/magez/appdata/local/ryzom/0/ as save location

profiles/shortcuts:
it took a little while to figure out how to setup the alt account, first i added it manually in the profile and shortcut section, after that i used the ryztart login window to auto add the profiles and shortcuts.
manually i couldn't get it to validate(edit) c/users/.../0 for the alt so main and alt used the same save folder. automatic and then edit the profile/shortcut to validate c/users/.../0 worked right away somehow.

shortcuts to characters:
shortcuts get auto added when you create a new character IF you are logged in to the account on ryztart, if you are not logged in on ryztart and use the shortcuts to login to an account+character then use the ingame menu to go to character selection screen and make a new character it doesn't get added to ryztart shortcuts unless you login to that account again on ryztart>login.

python/ryztart windows:
what i didn't like is the phyton window and rystart window staying open, it messes with tabbing from main to alt, would be nice if there is a flag/checkbox to have it minimize to system tray when launching a certain profile (so when i flag it at alt profile/shortcut it auto minimizes to system tray after i log alt) or at least have the option to manually minimize it to system tray.

Updates:
some files were updated by ryztart, when i validated in steam(at the end after testing) again 25 files were re-downloaded.
by ryztart:
Ryzom/nel_drv_direct3d_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_dsound_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_fmod_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_openal_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_opengl_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_xaudio2_win_r.dll
Ryzom/ryzom_client_r.exe
Ryzom/ryzom_configuration_qt_r.exe
Ryzom/crash_report.exe
Ryzom/client_default.cfg
Ryzom/d3dcompiler_43.dll
Ryzom/d3dx9_43.dll
Ryzom/fmod64.dll
Ryzom/forum.url
Ryzom/msvcp120.dll
Ryzom/msvcp120_win64.dll
Ryzom/msvcr120.dll
Ryzom/msvcr120_win64.dll
Ryzom/ryzom.ico
Ryzom/ryzom.url
Ryzom/ryzom_client_patcher.exe
Ryzom/ryzom_installer_qt_r.exe
Ryzom/upgd_nl.bat
Ryzom/X3DAudio1_7.dll
Ryzom/cfg/client_gpu_1.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_ram_512.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_vram_128.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_gpu_3.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_vram_64.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_ram_256.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_sound_buffer.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_gpu_4.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_gpu_2.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_cpu_4.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_cpu_3.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_vram_32.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_cpu_1.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_cpu_2.cfg
Ryzom/data/data_common.bnp
Ryzom/data/examples.bnp
Ryzom/data/animation_fx.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/animation_fx_set.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/animset_list.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/attack_list.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/automaton_list.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/building.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/continent.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/creature.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/death_impact.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/emot.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/faction.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/flora.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/forage_source.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/fx.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/id_to_string_array.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/item.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/light_cycle.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/lmconts.packed
Ryzom/data/mission_icon.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/outpost.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/outpost_building.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/outpost_squad.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/plant.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/race_stats.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/sbrick.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/sheets_packer.cfg
Ryzom/data/sitem.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/skill_tree.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/sky.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/sphrase.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/succes_chances_table.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/text_emotes.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/titles.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/visual_slot.tab
Ryzom/data/vs_index.txt
Ryzom/data/weather_function_params.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/weather_setup.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/world.packed_sheets
Ryzom/data/fonts/ryzom.ttf
Ryzom/data/fonts/ryzom_monospace.ttf
Ryzom/unpack/tmp
Ryzom/unpack/ryzom_live.version
Ryzom/unpack/ryzom_00881.idx
Ryzom/unpack/exedll_win64.bnp
Ryzom/unpack/packedsheets.bnp
Ryzom/unpack/cfg.bnp
Ryzom/unpack/fonts.bnp

by steam:
Ryzom/nel_drv_direct3d_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_dsound_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_fmod_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_openal_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_opengl_win_r.dll
Ryzom/nel_drv_xaudio2_win_r.dll
Ryzom/ryzom_client_r.exe
Ryzom/ryzom_configuration_qt_r.exe
Ryzom/crash_report.exe
Ryzom/cfg/client_gpu_1.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_ram_512.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_vram_128.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_gpu_3.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_vram_64.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_ram_256.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_sound_buffer.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_gpu_4.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_gpu_2.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_cpu_4.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_cpu_3.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_vram_32.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_cpu_1.cfg
Ryzom/cfg/client_cpu_2.cfg
Ryzom/data/data_common.bnp
Ryzom/data/examples.bnp

conclusion:
overall i think ryztart needs to be simplified for the public(newcomers), but it looks great, maybe a little overwhelming.
i think most do not use yubo or gingo (especially newcomers) and seeing that from the get go is a little confusing.
on the servers tab "changing the installation location of ryzom will not move it but create a new one" should mention you can select an existing location if you have it (like non default locations).

Edited 2 times | Last edited by Magez (3 years ago)

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#14 Report | Quote[en] 

Will this be used for installs via Steam too?

---

#15 Report | Quote[fr] 

Steam already has an installer and an updater that works very well. So Ryztart will not be used. Or maybe later with modules, but the game launch and update will be via Steam (like GoG Galaxy launcher do)
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