Upgrade Package

[rootbear75]

Instead of forcing people to uninstall old versions of starlight, why not make the MSI detect and old version, then upgrade w/e files need upgrading.

 

Also maybe add an "Update" feature in the menu.

 

also add an "Uninstall" icon so u dont have to go into the control panel to do it

Edited August 4, 2008 by rootbear75

[★ CRe]

Are people really that lazy these days?

[Hakaku]

Not lazy, but it's inconvenient to have to go through your computer to delete every !@#$%^&*ociated file. Then have to reinstall a package which contains useless files except the one installer.

[★ D1st0rt]

Hey quit yer !@#$%^&*in! At least you can run starlight on your computer, my system was compiled with a different version of gcc

[Hakaku]

Hey quit yer !@#$%^&*in! At least you can run starlight on your computer, my system was compiled with a different version of gcc

lol I know, I should >< Mainly because I don't use Starlight (because it's still inferior to Subchat2; using Continuum's encryption is probably the only thing this client has advantage over)

[★ Purge]

Meh, just use Continuum. There's a chat window for a reason.

[tcsoccerman]

i just installed the new one(over the old one) and it worked perfect. Edited August 5, 2008 by tcsoccerman

[★ Lynx]

I thought you could just replace the .exe and info file, but maybe Snrrrub changed something in this release.

 

-Lynx

[Snrrrub]

Mainly because I don't use Starlight (because it's still inferior to Subchat2; using Continuum's encryption is probably the only thing this client has advantage over)

I'm sorry to hear that - could you list some specific areas where you feel Starlight is lacking?

 

I do agree that the deployment model has to change. The tool that I'm currently using (WiX) is severely undo!@#$%^&*ented so I'll either look around online or switch to another compiler and packager entirely.

 

-Snrrrub

[Hakaku]

I'm sorry to hear that - could you list some specific areas where you feel Starlight is lacking?

 

I do agree that the deployment model has to change. The tool that I'm currently using (WiX) is severely undo!@#$%^&*ented so I'll either look around online or switch to another compiler and packager entirely.

 

-Snrrrub

Since you asked,

 

One of the strongest things that stuck out was Starlight's interface itself. It's not very nice looking considering every other chat client, including Continuum itself, all correspond to the proper colour scheme (black background, [custom] colors, etc.). Yes, I know Sl has these, but customizing the background is like painting half a building and forgetting to paint the rest. I also cannot change the font type, size, or properties. Then, when I minimize/maximize, Sl doesn't remember the previous state it was in, so my window rather than being fullscreen, is a small square box. There is also no \?auto commands for when you login. No links in the menu, no quick-access commands for players, staff, or banG). I don't know where my directory server list comes from, so if I want to add a zone not available on default I have to load Continuum to find out. And I don't know how often (if at all) the list is refreshed?

 

And well, you could separate Starlight's installer from the gcc. But mainly customizability and the min/max bug are the two factors that bother me most.

[★ D1st0rt]

Snrrrub if you can provide an API I could work on a user interface dll all Continuum-style. I already know all of the gtk widgets to use from my own similar project!

 

It would be in my spare time though (haha) so don't go out of your way or to any great lengths. The whole gcc/libstdc++ version mismatch thing would still prove a problem anyway

[Snrrrub]

Hakaku, thanks for your comments. The min/max bug was fixed long ago even though it was never reported. As for the "proper" color scheme - the goals of this project are different than that of the Continuum chat and Subchat2. It is not designed to be an exact replica of Continuum's chat - if it was, there's little reason for it to exist. Rather, one of its goals is to provide a clean and simple interface. I added color customization so that it's more accessible to those with color blindness or other visual impairments. If you're looking for a highly-customizable application with an interface element for every possible action, Starlight isn't for you.

 

And well, you could separate Starlight's installer from the gcc.

I'm !@#$%^&*uming you mean GTK+ since the installer for Windows has nothing to do with gcc. If so then you might be pleased to see that Starlight 1.2 was distributed in two forms: one including the GTK+ redistributable and one without.

 

The whole gcc/libstdc++ version mismatch thing would still prove a problem anyway

If libstdc++ is an issue, I can distribute the object files which can be linked against libstdc++ on your machine. Let me know if you're interested.

 

If there are any features you'd like to see, just send me an email (at the bottom of every page on my website!) and I'll look into it. I'm always open to suggestions although I can't promise that I'll implement every suggested feature (even if every other SS chat client does it that way).

 

-Snrrrub

[Hakaku]

Hakaku, thanks for your comments. The min/max bug was fixed long ago even though it was never reported.

Long ago as in fixed in the current version or next release? Because 1.2 still has this bug and I'll provide video if you need it.

 

I'm !@#$%^&*uming you mean GTK+ since the installer for Windows has nothing to do with gcc. If so then you might be pleased to see that Starlight 1.2 was distributed in two forms: one including the GTK+ redistributable and one without.

Wow, I really wasn't paying attention, but that's what I meant >< And I suppose I did miss the installer below.

 

But no, I'm not asking you to emulate Continuum in every way, but you have to realize that the purpose of this client is so that SubSpace players can chat with others in-game. Thus, you should consider your target audience. I don't see why you wouldn't want to allow more customizability for simple matters such as the font, or allowing the entire background to be a uniform color, rather than mixed color + white (if readability/accessibility is your goal, then colours on white are an eyesoar). As for the commands, you don't need to copy SubChat by adding every feature, but an auto feature would be appreciated to list things such as chat when you log in.

[rootbear75]

i just installed the new one(over the old one) and it worked perfect.

I thought you could just replace the .exe and info file, but maybe Snrrrub changed something in this release.

 

-Lynx

when i tried, it said "A previous version of Starlight has been found. Please Uninstall that one before installing this one," or something along those lines.

1) the Uninstaller, so if you want to get rid of it, you dont have to go thru the control panel. All installed programs usually have one.

2) Upgrade is not being lazy. If only 1 or 2 files are changed, its silly to have to update EVERYTHING!

 

 

and snrrrub, you didnt say anything about my idea

Edited August 6, 2008 by rootbear75

[★ D1st0rt]

If libstdc++ is an issue, I can distribute the object files which can be linked against libstdc++ on your machine. Let me know if you're interested.

That would be excellent to see if that's the only issue (!@#$%^&*uming it doesn't reference functions that have changed)

[rootbear75]

[Snrrrub]

rootbear: I agree that Starlight should check for updates and I will add that feature in a future release.

 

-Snrrrub

[rootbear75]

rootbear: I agree that Starlight should check for updates and I will add that feature in a future release.

 

-Snrrrub

kthx

[Snrrrub]

Hakaku, I can confirm the minimize/maximize bug in the Windows build of Starlight. After some investigation, I found that the bug was in GTK+ for Win32 and the fix will be included in the next public release of GTK+. Here are the Bugzilla reports:

 

My duplicate bug report, August 26, 2008: http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=549475

Original bug report, April 20, 2008: http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=528975

 

-Snrrrub