XMage Launcher ready for beta testing

[BetaSteward]

The XMage Launcher is ready for beta testing. If you want to try it out download the jar here: http://xmage.info/xmage/XMageLauncher.jar

Put it in a new folder and run it using whatever version of java you have installed. I'm not providing any instructions on how to use it since I'm hoping it will be self evident. If it isn't let me know.

The launcher should work under Windows, Linux or OS X but I have only tested it against the first two (Windows 8.1 and Fedora 19). If you have access to a machine with OS X let me know how it performs.

Please post any errors, suggestions or feed back in this thread. When reporting errors please provide your OS type and version as well as your java version.

Regards,

BetaSteward

[LevelX]

Hello BetaSteward,

My System:
Windows 7

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> java -version
java version "1.8.0_20"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_20-b26)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.20-b23, mixed mode)

I downloaded the launcher and saved it to desktop.

I started it with "Open with..." => "Java(TM) Platform Binary".
The launcher started and asked me to download a newer java version.
I said no.
Then he said a newer XMage version is available and I confirmed to download it.
After that the message "Java is not installed" was displayed and start buttons are not available..


Here's the log of that:

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Reading config from http://xmage.info/xmage/config.json
XMage folder:  C:\Users\Ludwig\Desktop
Java version installed: 
Java version available:  1.7.0_71
New version of Java available. 
XMage version installed: 
XMage version available:  1.3.0.dev2014-10-18
New version of XMage available. 
Removing old files ...
Downloading XMage from http://xmage.info/download/mage-bundle-1.3.0.dev2014-10-18.zip
Installing XMage ...
Done
Java is not installed.  Unable to continue.

[LevelX]

After that I restarted again and let him install Java version 1.7.0_71 although I have 1.8.X already installed.

After that starting the Client with the launcher did work as intended.


After that I closed the launcher and restarted it.
Again the message was shown, that a newer java version is available (but it was the same as installed before).
It was downloaded again and installed. Then the message appeared: Java is not installed. Unable to continue.
That's repeatable now.

Code: Select all

Reading config from http://xmage.info/xmage/config.json
XMage folder:  C:\Users\Ludwig\Desktop
Java version installed: 
Java version available:  1.7.0_71
New version of Java available. 
Downloading Java from http://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/java/jdk/7u71-b14/jre-7u71-windows-x64.tar.gz
Installing Java ...
XMage version installed:  1.3.0.dev2014-10-18
XMage version available:  1.3.0.dev2014-10-18
Java is not installed.  Unable to continue.

Another point:
Is it possible to delete the xmage.dl file after download and unpacking?

[LevelX]

Beside the mentioned problems I like the new Launcher.
Seems like a very useful tool for users to install, update and start XMage.

Maybe we should add the new XMage logo somewhere in the main panel.

[BetaSteward]

Thanks for taking the time to test the Launcher.

The Launcher will download and install a separate version of java just for XMage. This allows the launcher to always know what version of java is installed and where it is located. I will change the text on the first java check to indicate this. I could force it to download java if it doesn't find a local version but I'm not a fan of apps that don't let you know what it is doing and allow you to stop.

I'll try to debug the constant downloading issue. The launcher creates an installed.properties file. What does this file contain after you close the app?

The launcher is supposed to delete the xmage.dl file. I suspect that I might not be properly closing the file which is why it can't be deleted.

The UI is pretty bare bones right now. If you want to take a run at improving the look and feel I would welcome that. I also think we should change the app icon to something a bit different so that you can tell from the task bar which one is the client and which one is the launcher.

[BetaSteward]

I've updated the Launcher with some fixes. Let me know if you are still getting the persistent java install message.

[BetaSteward]

I've updated the Launcher again with even more fixes. I wonder if I should start versioning it? I haven't yet because I keep thinking that there will only ever be one version released. Am I being naive?

[LevelX]

So far all did work as expected.

Minor points:
If no XMage is installed yet, the message would be clearer saying something like "No Xmage installed - Installing ...". Now it says it's updating with newer version.
Dot at the end of the client & server start description text is missing.


And yes, it would be nice (and probably needed), that the Launcher can update itself to a newer version.

[LevelX]

More minor points:
Add a minimum size for the window (now it can be resized to 0,0).
Add a "to" to text for Launch Server: ... if you want to run an ...

[BetaSteward]

I just finished an overhaul of the UI. I took a look at some other installers in the wild and modelled it after some of my favorites. I also added a randomly selected background so it should be different each time you start the Launcher.

My next step is to fix the remaining issues you raised above and possibly internationalize the UI.

[BetaSteward]

Almost done! I finished i18n on the UI and cleaned up the messaging when XMage is not installed. If anyone wants to add text for a specific language you can add a MessagesBundle.properties file to the repo. Or you can send it to me and I will add it.

[LevelX]

I tested the updated version yesterday. Looks great and appealing now.

But I have some new points:

1) I don't like that the launcher window can't be moved on the desktop. Think how many people work meanwhile with multiple screens. To fix the position of the window is no good ideah (imho).

2) Also the panel for the log is now so small and the window isn't resizable so I guess it would be better to be able to open the log with a button and getting then a resizable additional panel.
With this it would also be possible to distinct between viewing server and client log.

3) Anyway great job you've already done.


Concerning the translation, can you post the strings to translate for interested users?

[LevelX]

Another question: Will the saved gamelogs in folder "gamelogs" be deleted if new XMage version is installed by the launcher?
I would vote for "No" or only if user confirms to delete the files.

[BetaSteward]

Let me address you points in order:

1) I agree and I have checked in the changes already.

2) I'll see what I can do. I admit that this might be useful but I'm also trying to keep in mind that the Launcher is for non-technical users. Power users will probably want to run the server separately.

3) Thanks

4) I'll put the UI strings in a separate post

5) Regarding keeping logs: Since the logs are never removed/archived by the client or server I can see them growing quite large over time. Removing them occasionally might improve performance. Perhaps I could add an archive feature to the Launcher which would rename the current log file to something with the date and preserve the folder between installs.

[BetaSteward]

frameTitle = XMage Launcher
launcherVersion = XMage Launcher version:
launchClient = <html><center>Launch<br>Client</html>
launchClient.tooltip = <html>Launch Client application only<br>Use this if you will be connecting to a remote XMage server to play against others.</html>
launchClientServer = <html><center>Launch Client<br>and Server</html>
launchClientServer.tooltip = <html>Launch Client and Server applications<br>Use this if you will be playing locally against an AI.</html>
launchServer = <html><center>Launch<br>Server</html>
stopServer = <html><center>Stop<br>Server</html>
launchServer.tooltip = <html>Launch Server application only<br>Use this if you want run an XMage server.<br>Additional network configuration may be necessary to allow clients to connect.</html>
close = Close
progress = <html><b>Progress:</b></html>
serverRunning.message = XMage server is currently running. Do you want to stop it? If you don't then you will need to stop it manually.
serverRunning.title = Server is running
readingConfig = Reading config from
readingConfig.error = Error reading config from
readingConfig.error.causes = Possible causes: Site is offline or internet connection is unavailable.
invalidConfig = Invalid config from
folder = XMage folder:
error = Error:
noXMage = XMage is not installed. Unable to continue.
noJava = Java is not installed. Unable to continue.
java.installed = Java version installed:
java.available = Java version available:
java.none = Java not found
java.none.message = It looks like this is the first time you are running the XMage Launcher.<br>The Launcher maintains it's own dedicated version of java.<br>Even if you have already installed Java the Launcher needs to download it's own version.<br>
java.new = New version of Java available
java.new.message = A newer version of Java is available.<br>
java.downloading = Downloading Java from
java.installing = Installing Java ...
installNow = Would you like to install it now?
removing = Removing previous versions ...
done = Done
error.cleanup = ERROR: could not cleanup temporary files
error.remove = Can't remove
xmage.installed = XMage version installed:
xmage.available = XMage version available:
xmage.none = XMage not found
xmage.none.message = No XMage install was found<br>
xmage.new = New version of XMage available
xmage.new.message = A newer version of XMage is available.<br>
xmage.downloading = Downloading XMage from
xmage.installing = Installing XMage ...