Difference between revisions of "Older News"
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| + | ==March== | ||
| + | ===SDL 2 Transition=== | ||
| + | ''Thursday, March 6 2014'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the next development series (1.13.x), ''The Battle for Wesnoth'' will switch from the SDL 1.2 library to version 2.0. The [http://www.libsdl.org SDL library] is one of the main libraries used by Wesnoth: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * It handles processing the mouse, keyboard, and joystick inputs. | ||
| + | * It plays the music and sound effects. | ||
| + | * And most importantly, it draws everything on the screen. | ||
| + | |||
| + | One of the most important improvements in the new version of the library is better support for mobile platforms like Android and iOS. However, supporting these platforms needs more work than just porting Wesnoth to SDL 2.0. The initial goal will be porting Wesnoth to SDL 2.0, once that is done, work can be done on porting Wesnoth to Android and iOS. (Not sure who wants to work on this part.) | ||
| + | |||
| + | The changes between SDL 1.2 and SDL 2.0 are huge, so converting Wesnoth to use the new version of the library will be a lot of work and will probably affect stability while porting. Among the things that will be entirely rewritten are the drawing routines. Currently we only redraw the parts of the screen which have changed since the last frame was drawn. We intend to move to a model where we redraw the entire screen for every frame and let the graphics card figure out what really needs to be updated. This new model is also used in OpenGL, which is used in a lot of modern games. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Wesnoth supports a lot of platforms, but some of them are no longer actively maintained, meaning there are no testers for these platforms. Since the conversion to SDL 2.0 will need a lot of testing, support for these platforms will be dropped. Of course, if somebody steps up to start maintaining one of these platforms again, we will not drop support for that platform. The affected platforms are: OS2, AmigaOS, and BeOS. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ― Mordante | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Wesnoth 1.11.11 (1.12 beta 2): Development Release=== | ||
| + | ''Monday, March 3 2014'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | The eleventh development release in this series, '''Wesnoth 1.11.11''', delivers a number of bug fixes and improvements in various areas. Players and content authors running 1.11.10 are '''strongly encouraged''' to upgrade to this version to solve an existing important issue affecting many campaigns and scenarios. Check the [http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?t=40116 forum thread] with the full announcement and release notes for a brief description of this and other notable fixes and improvements. | ||
| + | |||
| + | As with previous releases, we also offer two versions of the changelog: a trimmed-down [https://raw.github.com/wesnoth/wesnoth/1.11.11/players_changelog players changelog] including only those items considered to be relevant in regular gameplay, and a (relatively) more complete and technical [https://raw.github.com/wesnoth/wesnoth/1.11.11/changelog full changelog] with more detailed contents. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The source code, Windows, Mac OS X, and OpenPandora packages are already available on the [[Download#Development_.281.11_branch.29|downloads page]]. You may also find packages for other platforms there as they become available. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Bear in mind that this is a beta version for the next stable series — as such, it is likely to be affected by bugs that you should [[ReportingBugs|report]] so we can fix them before 1.12.0! | ||
| + | |||
| + | You may [http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?t=40116 comment] on this release in the forums. | ||
| + | |||
==February== | ==February== | ||
| + | ===Google Summer of Code 2014=== | ||
| + | ''Monday, February 24 2014'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | What is Google Summer of Code? GSoC is an option provided by Google which allows students to work fulltime on open source projects during the summer. Meaning Google will pay students money to work on cool projects. The students are mentored and selected by those open source projects. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <center>http://www.wesnoth.org/images/GSOC_2014_150x150.png</center> | ||
| + | |||
| + | As in the past years the Wesnoth team submitted an application as mentoring organization for Google Summer of Code 2014. Just some hours ago the [http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/org/list/public/google/gsoc2014 list with accepted organizations] was published. '''Wesnoth has been accepted''' into GSoC 2014. So if you are a [http://www.google-melange.com/gsoc/document/show/gsoc_program/google/gsoc2014/help_page#1._Are_there_any_age_restrictions_on student eligible to participate] in Summer of Code and interested in earning a hoodie (yes, this year it will not be a t-shirt), why not consider working on a Wesnoth related project? So what should you do? Here is a short list: | ||
| + | |||
| + | # '''Get an idea''' what a suitable project could be by looking at our [[SummerOfCodeIdeas|ideas page]]. | ||
| + | # '''Join''' our '''IRC''' channel #wesnoth-dev on irc.freenode.net and talk to the devs about your possible idea. We will be able to help you refine the idea and can show you how to transform it into a really good proposal. | ||
| + | # Make sure to follow all the [[SummerOfCodeIdeas#I_want_to_be_one_of_your_Google_Summer_of_Code_students.2C_what_should_I_do.3F|other small steps provided in the wiki]]. | ||
| + | # Do not hesitate to <b>ask questions</b> in IRC. | ||
| + | # '''Have fun!''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Wesnoth 1.11.10 (1.12 beta 1): Development Release=== | ||
| + | ''Sunday, February 23 2014'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | At long last, the first beta for the upcoming '''1.12''' stable series is here! As the tenth development release in this series, '''Wesnoth 1.11.10''' delivers more features and improvements along with the usual assortment of bug fixes. Check the [http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?t=40069 forum thread] with the full announcement and release notes for a brief description of the most notable changes in this version, as well as the plans for version 1.12.0 and the various ways you can help us! | ||
| + | |||
| + | As with previous releases, we also offer two versions of the changelog: a trimmed-down [https://raw.github.com/wesnoth/wesnoth/1.11.10/players_changelog players changelog] including only those items considered to be relevant in regular gameplay, and a (relatively) more complete and technical [https://raw.github.com/wesnoth/wesnoth/1.11.10/changelog full changelog] with more detailed contents. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The source code, Windows, Mac OS X, and OpenPandora packages are already available on the [[Download#Development_.281.11_branch.29|downloads page]]. You may also find packages for other platforms there as they become available. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Bear in mind that this is a beta version for the next stable series — as such, it is likely to be affected by bugs that you should [[ReportingBugs|report]] so we can fix them before 1.12.0! | ||
| + | |||
| + | You may [http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?t=40069 comment] on this release in the forums. | ||
| + | |||
===Wesnoth 1.11.9: Development Release=== | ===Wesnoth 1.11.9: Development Release=== | ||
''Sunday, February 9 2014'' | ''Sunday, February 9 2014'' | ||
Revision as of 21:58, 6 March 2014
Contents
March
SDL 2 Transition
Thursday, March 6 2014
In the next development series (1.13.x), The Battle for Wesnoth will switch from the SDL 1.2 library to version 2.0. The SDL library is one of the main libraries used by Wesnoth:
- It handles processing the mouse, keyboard, and joystick inputs.
- It plays the music and sound effects.
- And most importantly, it draws everything on the screen.
One of the most important improvements in the new version of the library is better support for mobile platforms like Android and iOS. However, supporting these platforms needs more work than just porting Wesnoth to SDL 2.0. The initial goal will be porting Wesnoth to SDL 2.0, once that is done, work can be done on porting Wesnoth to Android and iOS. (Not sure who wants to work on this part.)
The changes between SDL 1.2 and SDL 2.0 are huge, so converting Wesnoth to use the new version of the library will be a lot of work and will probably affect stability while porting. Among the things that will be entirely rewritten are the drawing routines. Currently we only redraw the parts of the screen which have changed since the last frame was drawn. We intend to move to a model where we redraw the entire screen for every frame and let the graphics card figure out what really needs to be updated. This new model is also used in OpenGL, which is used in a lot of modern games.
Wesnoth supports a lot of platforms, but some of them are no longer actively maintained, meaning there are no testers for these platforms. Since the conversion to SDL 2.0 will need a lot of testing, support for these platforms will be dropped. Of course, if somebody steps up to start maintaining one of these platforms again, we will not drop support for that platform. The affected platforms are: OS2, AmigaOS, and BeOS.
― Mordante
Wesnoth 1.11.11 (1.12 beta 2): Development Release
Monday, March 3 2014
The eleventh development release in this series, Wesnoth 1.11.11, delivers a number of bug fixes and improvements in various areas. Players and content authors running 1.11.10 are strongly encouraged to upgrade to this version to solve an existing important issue affecting many campaigns and scenarios. Check the forum thread with the full announcement and release notes for a brief description of this and other notable fixes and improvements.
As with previous releases, we also offer two versions of the changelog: a trimmed-down players changelog including only those items considered to be relevant in regular gameplay, and a (relatively) more complete and technical full changelog with more detailed contents.
The source code, Windows, Mac OS X, and OpenPandora packages are already available on the downloads page. You may also find packages for other platforms there as they become available.
Bear in mind that this is a beta version for the next stable series — as such, it is likely to be affected by bugs that you should report so we can fix them before 1.12.0!
You may comment on this release in the forums.
February
Google Summer of Code 2014
Monday, February 24 2014
What is Google Summer of Code? GSoC is an option provided by Google which allows students to work fulltime on open source projects during the summer. Meaning Google will pay students money to work on cool projects. The students are mentored and selected by those open source projects.
As in the past years the Wesnoth team submitted an application as mentoring organization for Google Summer of Code 2014. Just some hours ago the list with accepted organizations was published. Wesnoth has been accepted into GSoC 2014. So if you are a student eligible to participate in Summer of Code and interested in earning a hoodie (yes, this year it will not be a t-shirt), why not consider working on a Wesnoth related project? So what should you do? Here is a short list:
- Get an idea what a suitable project could be by looking at our ideas page.
- Join our IRC channel #wesnoth-dev on irc.freenode.net and talk to the devs about your possible idea. We will be able to help you refine the idea and can show you how to transform it into a really good proposal.
- Make sure to follow all the other small steps provided in the wiki.
- Do not hesitate to ask questions in IRC.
- Have fun!
Wesnoth 1.11.10 (1.12 beta 1): Development Release
Sunday, February 23 2014
At long last, the first beta for the upcoming 1.12 stable series is here! As the tenth development release in this series, Wesnoth 1.11.10 delivers more features and improvements along with the usual assortment of bug fixes. Check the forum thread with the full announcement and release notes for a brief description of the most notable changes in this version, as well as the plans for version 1.12.0 and the various ways you can help us!
As with previous releases, we also offer two versions of the changelog: a trimmed-down players changelog including only those items considered to be relevant in regular gameplay, and a (relatively) more complete and technical full changelog with more detailed contents.
The source code, Windows, Mac OS X, and OpenPandora packages are already available on the downloads page. You may also find packages for other platforms there as they become available.
Bear in mind that this is a beta version for the next stable series — as such, it is likely to be affected by bugs that you should report so we can fix them before 1.12.0!
You may comment on this release in the forums.
Wesnoth 1.11.9: Development Release
Sunday, February 9 2014
The ninth release of the 1.11.x development series, Wesnoth 1.11.9, is now available. Check the forum thread with the full announcement and release notes for a brief description of the most notable changes in this version.
As with previous releases, we also offer two versions of the changelog: a trimmed-down players changelog including only those items considered to be relevant in regular gameplay, and a (relatively) more complete and technical full changelog with more detailed contents.
The source code, Windows, Mac OS X, and OpenPandora packages are already available on the downloads page. You may also find packages for other platforms there as they become available.
Bear in mind that this is a development version — as such, it is likely to include a few new bugs in addition to the features and improvements mentioned in the release notes. If you encounter issues with it, make sure to report them to us so they can be fixed for future releases.
You may comment on this release in the forums.
January
Wesnoth 1.11.8: Development Release
Monday, January 6 2014
Just as a new year begins, Wesnoth 1.11.8, the eighth release of the 1.11.x development series has been released. This version features important changes to the game UI and controls, as well as the usual assortment of additions and improvements for players and content creators alike. Have a look at the complete announcement listing the most notable changes in this version.
As with previous releases, we also offer two versions of the changelog: a trimmed-down players changelog including only those items considered to be relevant in regular gameplay, and a (relatively) more complete and technical full changelog with more detailed contents.
The source code, Windows, Mac OS X, and OpenPandora packages are already available on the downloads page. You may also find packages for other platforms there as they become available.
Bear in mind that this is a development version likely to include a few new bugs or features that still need to be polished in forthcoming releases depending on your feedback. Don't forget to report to our bug tracker any issues you find!
You may comment on this release in the forums.