OpenSimulator:0.5 Release Target Discussion

Suggested Goals

Physics

• Support for at least one physics engine with basic collision detection

• looks like hollow prims and some other simple shapes may be possible

• ODE is furthest along at this point. Issues include overall stability and lack of multithreading

• BulletX is being worked on

• New physics interface design? (event driven)

New Backend Protocol (OGS 2)

As part of the new protocol, overhaul the "commsmanager"

• A lot of the functions currently in there, needs moving out. Like most of the Caps handling needs to be moved to the backend servers (possible with a dedicated Caps Manager server, like LL seem to have).

• Inventory handling should move to a module. As should Xfer uploads.

Rewrite Asset Cache/Server

Improve the management of client updates

• Use a "interest list" for each connected client, so they only get updated about prims/objects that are in range (or they need to know about).

• Combine objects (parts) into single packets, rather than sending a separate packet for each prim as currently happens.

Finish implementing the ll functions for scripting.

Improve UDP network code (ClientStack)

Clean up the IClientAPI interface

Start to think more about security ? (most likely will not happen until a later version)

• Add security sinks in the "region to region" .Net remoting process.

• Check for security wholes in scripting engine.

Tighter integration of DataStore into the core

Planet Mode

One on the shortcomings of the grid model is that it is a "Flat Earth" approach. By doing little more modifying OpenSim to (optionally) connect the northern edge of the topmost region to the southern edge of the bottom region and a similar mod for the east and western edges and we have effectively brought together any group of contiguous regions within a grid and created a planet. If you keep walking/flying long enough you would eventually (or very quickly - the more sims the larger the planet) arrive back at your point of origin.

Try this - take a map of your sim and apply it as a texture to a sphere - see what I mean?

The analogy can also be extended further, a sandalone sim becomes a Planetary System Server, a grid server becomes Star System Server and a new level could be added to link Grids - The Galaxy Server but I am thinking the info DNS provides may already have that covered.

I now invite the community to debate the concept further - are we a "Flat Earth" or a "Planetary System" with galactic potential?

Magi.

Parcel Media Settings

The multimedia functions in OpenSim create an awesome environment for presenting an enormous range of material. Whilst the parcel media settings can be set they do not persist between sessions.

Magi.