Digital Paint Discussion Board

Development => Bugs, Feature Requests, and Feedback => Official Feature Votes => Topic started by: KnacK on May 05, 2008, 03:08:04 PM

Title: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: KnacK on May 05, 2008, 03:08:04 PM
Why do we need backward compatibility?

How many features or enhancements are we missing because of backwards compatibility.

I propose getting rid of backward compatibility in order for Jits to exercise enhancements, fixes, and features, that might not be possible if we maintain a 100% backward compatible client and server. ( yes, this goes for server too)
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Zorchenhimer on May 05, 2008, 03:08:43 PM
Darn, you beat me to it.  :P
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: KnacK on May 05, 2008, 03:09:17 PM
;D
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Garrett on May 05, 2008, 04:37:51 PM
I like the idea.  If we could have just one new release that is no longer backwards with the previous builds, only good things can come. 
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Cameron on May 05, 2008, 10:40:45 PM
Well before this happens servers are going to have to put a message up because I see people connecting with Build 16 still....
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Eiii on May 05, 2008, 11:58:29 PM
I'm pretty sure the 'You can't connect anymore' will be their wakeup call.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ashkenaz on May 06, 2008, 09:24:48 AM
Hell yes, i so agree, the game can have so much more enhancements without backwards compatibility.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ViciouZ on May 06, 2008, 11:31:10 AM
A benefit: If this means people on old clients can't connect anymore, we can say goodbye to ZGH and Penix!
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ashkenaz on May 06, 2008, 12:10:52 PM
trust me they will get new clients
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ViciouZ on May 06, 2008, 12:17:58 PM
I believe penix was designed to work with quake 2, and ZGH people aren't able to login meaning they're still on an old build. So, unless you're going to make some, that's some cheating out.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ashkenaz on May 06, 2008, 01:27:21 PM
why dont they get new clients rather than stick with the old
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ViciouZ on May 06, 2008, 02:53:03 PM
I don't think you understand: I'm saying this would be a benefit, because people who use wallhacks like ZGH and penix will no longer be able to play.

</excessiveUseOfItalics>
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ashkenaz on May 06, 2008, 02:58:23 PM
oh yea, i forgot those were hacks. come to think of it, if we break backward compatibility we can have a hacker firewall sorta thing (which never would be possible)
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Xena on May 06, 2008, 09:47:03 PM
sounds like plan... or backward compatibility to the last 3 builds only...
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Eiii on May 06, 2008, 10:07:05 PM
sounds like plan... or backward compatibility to the last 3 builds only...
That'd be a pain to keep track of. I think it'd be best for the development of this game if backwards compatability was disregarded entirely. If it works with the old builds, great, but that's not the goal.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Xena on May 06, 2008, 10:10:36 PM
so.... are we trying to get people updating to latest version? cause i thought the point was to get rid of people using older clients like build 16 and force them to use the latest one...

also, is it not possible to get a "detect" function on the server side to detect minimum build requirement?

haha, i like the idea of "you can't connect anymore because the version you're using IS TOO FRIGGIN' OLD!!!!" :D
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Cameron on May 06, 2008, 10:28:18 PM
This will be fun getting servers to be updated every build.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Eiii on May 06, 2008, 10:50:20 PM
Yep. Denying older uses access just for the sake of denying them access isn't justified at all, but I don't think progress should be held back because some people are too lazy to update their builds.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: Cameron on May 06, 2008, 10:52:25 PM
Picasso will be on his feet then.  Doubt Snipen will bother to update them :P.  Can't wait for Build 21 on the GT Servers.  Warmup Mode.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ashkenaz on May 07, 2008, 09:54:19 AM
i just hope we get rid of all this EVENTUALLY
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: jitspoe on May 07, 2008, 12:48:52 PM
sv_minclientbuild.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: ashkenaz on May 07, 2008, 02:25:36 PM
sv_minclientbuild.

???
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: lekky on May 20, 2008, 10:17:08 AM
but not with map formats...
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: KnacK on May 20, 2008, 11:18:48 AM
sv_minclientbuild.

That's all fine and dandy but you will still have those server admins that won't do this.

But if you are *fine* with this, and you don't think it will restrain you from advancing the game, then it is ultimately your decision.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: webhead on May 22, 2008, 01:31:18 PM
i think i'll give a +1 for this.
for any that might be against breaking backward-compatibility, i would draw your attention to the fact that technically, this game is still classified as in ALPHA, the stage of program development where all the serious work gets done, where ideas come and go, and things change - a lot. as such, i don't think breaking bw-cmp is a bad thing.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: KnacK on May 28, 2008, 01:51:55 PM
Jits,

If backward compatibility were not an issue, could you implement new features or improve existing features?
Or, asked another way, is backward compatibility hindering the advancement of the game?
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: jitspoe on May 28, 2008, 06:08:44 PM
I think it might be more of a hindrance to abruptly remove backward compatibility.  If nobody could connect to new servers with the old clients, the servers wouldn't update, and if the servers aren't updated, nobody will want to use the new client because they can't connect to the old servers.  There would always be rough transitions which would severely decrease the player base.  It would also mean I couldn't test the new client on old servers or update my test servers with the new version as none of the current clients could connect to them.
Title: Re: Feature/Roadblock: Backwards Compatibility
Post by: webhead on May 29, 2008, 02:28:33 AM
true, true, and i'm not saying keep compatibility strictly to the latest version only ... i don't think older clients should be disabled just for the sake of doing it... but if advancement of the game would break, say, clients of build 18 or earlier, that might not be something to worry about too much... as they should be more up-to-date than that.

like knack indicates, bw-cmp is only an issue if it impedes development.