i wish i had time...and a PC

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 5:09 pm

Im developing a Map system here

http://mercenary.junholt.se

on my top wishlist from this game is some kind of web api with HTTP requests to read current data from the game.

In its most simple form it would be a small small web server (jetty maybe) that just presents and uncached version of the text -file with the positions and armory etc, but formatted in XML or JSON.

This would open up oppurtunities to web bases GPS systems and keepng track of friends of your own wish.

Im developing my map to work with IPAD and Android tablets and this would pretty much be the only way this can be done.

please please please. dear mighty developer of this game.

[Edited on 1-30-2011 by MapMan]

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:18 pm

That would be one idea, but i like the idea where Vice being the one presenting information "at will" and in a "pull" way where the 3rd party application asks for information whe it needs it, instead of updating a file every other second just in case.
That wouldnt be using any disk access at all if streamed via a micro web-server.

I guess there already is a rigid network data layer in the game.. Just asking to open it up a bit more

Its totally up to Vice ofcourse. i guess not many people are interestred in installing just another software for this.

bah...im babbling.. I just want it to work . Im doing this for SeeJay and his friends for free. Havent actually played the game ...but i really like maps and intrument panels

Atollski · Post by **Atollski** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:42 pm

For the time being, I can have a shot at creating something that will sort of fill the gap for you. If the save file output frequency is high enough, it may be within an acceptable delay.

Will try and connect with your server tonight with a bit of luck to see if the submission system works ok...

Ravenfeeder · Post by **Ravenfeeder** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:02 pm

Go on, play the game, you're missing out on a lot of fun.

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:28 pm

Thanks Atollski. Looking forward to it.
Would you fill the database with info from the game from your client?. That would be cool . Just remember to stamp your data with a unique name sp we can have several users updating their data at the same time.

Would you just update one record in a shared table about you position and such and overwrite it?.. or you would fill the data in the database in a logging manner?

About playing the game: I would die to try it out , but im on a Mac and the only PC in my house is too slow. I have a thousand ideas of how to make cool features and panels to this game so i guess i dont have time just now. Ive spent like 120 hours on that map

..at least. It has great potential of growing into a generic platform for different kinds of graphic components for this game.

Atollski · Post by **Atollski** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 1:16 pm

HTTP Post request test code is working (send/receive)

How do you want your data formatted when uploading and to what URL? If you send me an example Post request, I'll get the data and send it in that format.

I'm guessing there's several different versions you want:
- Submission of new discovery
- Regular submission of savedata.txt for your GPS application
- Client data query (for sending new discoveries back down to the client)
- Client instructions (for sending instructions to the client like 'update Map Log')

[Edit] I forgot to answer your question - I was thinking maybe it's best to create a 'submissions' table in the same structure as your final universe table where entries are appended to the end like a log. If the pilot name is included, the ID and pilot name in combination should act as a unique key. Some kind of validation query could then be used to check this information and append it to the master table.
As for the current position log, I think that could just be appended as an additional row to the end of the player tracking table.

For the people on here with a social life, this means that hopefully you can browse a location on SeeJay/MapMans site, click some kind of 'Plot a course' button and waypoints will be uploaded to your in-game map log.

Assuming we can get it to work, that is!

[Edited on 29/1/2011 by Atollski]

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 1:41 pm

I've got a pila of php code that I was building for map and player stats. Admittedly I don't have a whole lot of time, but if I pm you with the http POST api info I can format the data and make it available easily. My main goal here would be to do stuff with the pilot info ( making dynamic pilot stat images ).

@mapman,
What sort of structure would you want the xml to have? I've already got a custom xml document builder that I built for a previous evochron system, just let me know the structure and I'll send you some api details.

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by verbosity]

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:58 pm

From post: 101189, Topic: tid=7206, author=verbosity wrote:I've got a pila of php code that I was building for map and player stats. Admittedly I don't have a whole lot of time, but if I pm you with the http POST api info I can format the data and make it available easily. My main goal here would be to do stuff with the pilot info ( making dynamic pilot stat images ).

@mapman,
What sort of structure would you want the xml to have? I've already got a custom xml document builder that I built for a previous evochron system, just let me know the structure and I'll send you some api details.

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by verbosity]

Is that PHP for the client? Assuming you are running a personal webserver on all players machines? If so. do you have it packaged as something th eplayer could install to enable those APIÂ´s .. I would love to see your API .. That would maybe make it clearer for me. Thanks /Mappie

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:03 pm

nope,
I've spoken with atollski and we've worked out a system where I'll get all the raw data from his program uploaded onto my own webserver (verbsleagues.co.uk), you'll be able to access it from there.

I've not built the api for getting data out yet ( but as stated above lots of code built for similar Evochron projects in the past), what sort of data do you want in what sort of order? could you knock up a couple of samle xml files and I'll provide you with an api which you can use to get that information from the webserver. Simply put, tell me what you want and how you want it, and I'll provide an easy and flexible way for you to get it

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:04 pm

From post: 101188, Topic: tid=7206, author=Atollski wrote:HTTP Post request test code is working (send/receive)

How do you want your data formatted when uploading and to what URL? If you send me an example Post request, I'll get the data and send it in that format.

I'm guessing there's several different versions you want:
- Submission of new discovery
- Regular submission of savedata.txt for your GPS application
- Client data query (for sending new discoveries back down to the client)
- Client instructions (for sending instructions to the client like 'update Map Log')

[Edit] I forgot to answer your question - I was thinking maybe it's best to create a 'submissions' table in the same structure as your final universe table where entries are appended to the end like a log. If the pilot name is included, the ID and pilot name in combination should act as a unique key. Some kind of validation query could then be used to check this information and append it to the master table.
As for the current position log, I think that could just be appended as an additional row to the end of the player tracking table.

For the people on here with a social life, this means that hopefully you can browse a location on SeeJay/MapMans site, click some kind of 'Plot a course' button and waypoints will be uploaded to your in-game map log.

Assuming we can get it to work, that is!

[Edited on 29/1/2011 by Atollski]

Thats cool. I guess i can ignore the pm you sent me about sockets?

For now im interested in getting savedata-data up to the SQL server. And i would guess that in the beginning it would just append stuff always. Some SQL guru might have some idea of how to limit the user rows to a maximum of say 50? That should be enought to plot the directions of a player in the game.

As for asking the SQL server for info i really need help with the PHP part of that. I suck at PHP and i have barely managed to get data out of it in the way i want. Its a table there so it with a structure, although no timestamps , so i guess it would be hard to find out whats new. What about just sending the complete table and let your client sort out whats new?

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:07 pm

From post: 101195, Topic: tid=7206, author=verbosity wrote:nope,
I've spoken with atollski and we've worked out a system where I'll get all the raw data from his program uploaded onto my own webserver (verbsleagues.co.uk), you'll be able to access it from there.

I've not built the api for getting data out yet ( but as stated above lots of code built for similar Evochron projects in the past), what sort of data do you want in what sort of order? could you knock up a couple of samle xml files and I'll provide you with an api which you can use to get that information from the webserver. Simply put, tell me what you want and how you want it, and I'll provide an easy and flexible way for you to get it

Thats awesome!!
Well since i access stuff using AJAX calls i would preffer to have them returned in JSONP . Are you familiar with that concept?
Note. ! thats because of crossdomain security limitations in HTTP calls

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by MapMan]

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:13 pm

Code: Select all

callback = {"success":true "data":{
	
	"Pilot":"Attolski",
	"SX":22000,
	"SZ":3000,
	"etc...":"etc.."
}};

and i will send in the actual name for the variable "callback" in a parameter to you.
Its as simple as that.

take a look at "json_encode()" in PHP. It does the formatting for you.

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by MapMan]

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:23 pm

yeah that not an issue ( will still need an example of what data you want, and how you want it arranged). I'm not sure how that would increase security ( though it's not really an issue ).

Essentially I'll be storing all the data sent by atoolski's program, so there will be quite a bit of data that can be mined, all I need to know is what someone wants and how they want it.

Also if you need some hosting for scripts let me know, I'll be happy to set you up with space on the server

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:27 pm

Look at the example above. I will send a GET request and send you the pilot name in the parameter "pilot".

Then you can just return data for his position in the correct termonology from savedata. just use the variable name used there.

I basically wanna plot out the ship of that user and som info about it. You know better than me whats cool to know. Weaponary maybe. Speed? .. enlight me

about JSONP and security. What i meant was that ajax calls to other domains are not possible if you dont send the result back as a variable. I never give a damn about security

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by MapMan]

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 5:04 pm

mmm, there is a list of what I can send, but basically everything about the pilot ( location, ship equipment etc etc).

How often are you going to want to run the request? Also you'll be able to specify a time period ( so for instance you could run a request for a pilot every minute and ask for their last minutes data), or simply ask for everything thats been logged by them ( best not to do that too often

).

eg: www .verbsleagues. co.uk/getdata.php?pilot=pilotname&time=timeperiod&details=all/location/status&format=jsonp/xml/csv

This way other apps will all be able to request the data for whatever they want.

I'll get back to you with something shortly

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by verbosity]

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by verbosity]

Atollski · Post by **Atollski** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 5:52 pm

YAAY! I didn't think anything would be working by today: That initial connection is just a filthy hack at the moment, it just uploads the entire file without any formatting but I'll try and devise some kind of system where the web server can specify the format it wants the data (JSON, XML, anything you like).

Although I've never used PHP, I'll start learning it now so I have a vague idea what you're doing at the receiving end, and see if I can get the connection to listen out for your Get requests. I'm not sure how/if it will work, you guys are the experts at the receiving end. I assume that I'll have to set up a connection and maintain it whilst listening out for your requests. Will start experimenting now!

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:42 pm

From post: 101203, Topic: tid=7206, author=verbosity wrote:mmm, there is a list of what I can send, but basically everything about the pilot ( location, ship equipment etc etc).

How often are you going to want to run the request? Also you'll be able to specify a time period ( so for instance you could run a request for a pilot every minute and ask for their last minutes data), or simply ask for everything thats been logged by them ( best not to do that too often ).

eg: www .verbsleagues. co.uk/getdata.php?pilot=pilotname&time=timeperiod&details=all/location/status&format=jsonp/xml/csv

This way other apps will all be able to request the data for whatever they want.

I'll get back to you with something shortly

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by verbosity]

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by verbosity]

I would guess the best thing for me would to throw a request for each client (Map user) . This call might want to recieve data regarding several pilots momental status, but in its simplest form just for one. I can cache the responses at my end in a webStorage database, so i would just have the need to recieve the latest data. History would be managed in my end.

I would guess a valid poll time would be 10-15 seconds. That would probably just be a position request for plotting the object on my map.(very small) When user clicks the object i send a new request asking for more detailed info. Those requests are not very intensive on your end i guess (depending on if you have and indexed server at your end). WHat do you think?

The url semantic you specified looks great, but i dont think the time-parameters would be useful for me. (hmm..well maybe). All the others makes sense

I would like you to add a input parameter named "callback" where i specify the name of the function call you return.

I was a bit quick with the last sample this is the correct format. here is what i should look like if i send "&callback=callback001"

Code: Select all

callback001({"success":true "data":{

	"Pilot":"Attolski",

	"SX":22000,

	"SZ":3000,

	"etc...":"etc.."

}});

Makes sense?

[Edited on 1-29-2011 by MapMan]

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Jan 29, 2011 9:56 pm

some of the parameters will be optional ( the time and detail level for instance), I'll do a bit of work tomorrow and supply a more fully formed api and have a test page up.

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:43 pm

Universe search function added. Takes you right to the system you select or shows the system holding the object you select. Easy peacy.

[Edited on 1-30-2011 by MapMan]

Atollski · Post by **Atollski** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:10 pm

Your map rocks more and more every time I see it!

MapMan · Post by **MapMan** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:32 pm

thanks man. Hope it also will come to some use for someone.

Post by **Marvin** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:22 pm

It makes for a great cross-reference when coming across a new planetary system ... to see if it's really new.