[sldev] [POLICY] OpenSL considered harmful?

[Kelly Linden]

Kamilion wrote:
> On Dec 11, 2007 9:07 AM, Kelly Linden <kelly at lindenlab.com> wrote:
>   
>>  As others have pointed out, we are working with OpenSim (along with other
>> people) in the AWG groups on standards of interoperability.   >From the wiki
>> page:
>>  "AWG's mission is to develop the protocols that will open up the Second
>> Life Grid from something operated solely by Linden Lab to where others can
>> run parts of the grid."
>>  I think someone linked it already, but more info on AWG here:
>>
>>  https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Architecture_Working_Group
>>
>>  I am sure the AWG group, and myself personally, would be interested in any
>> reasoning for using OpenSim over SL - what you mean by "when the SL server
>> should also be some other type of server" etc.  Your requirements probably
>> aren't entirely unique and I'm sure the group could benefit from hearing
>> them.
>>     
>
> I believe what he was implying was embedding or allowing another piece
> of software to interact with OpenSim.
> For instance, A router might have a simulator based on OpenSim
> embedded in it instead of a simple HTTP server.
> One would be able to use the SL protocol/viewer to toggle settings or
> change routing properties.
>
> Another use would be interacting with a home music server, moving a
> primset representing an album and it's songs into a space representing
> a playlist.
>
> Yet another use perhaps would be a simulator frontend to nagios[1] or
> splunk[2] keeping track of a group of servers as individual prims and
> representing their status by changing textures, colors or hovertext.
>
> There's plenty of other devices or chunks of software that could
> benefit from an embedded simulator.
> Anyone who's ever played the Megaman Battle Network[3] series[4] on
> the GBA/DS should know what I mean.
> Just about every device from ovens to traffic lights had it's own
> little 3D world embedded in it.
> Most of the problems stemmed from griefers using limited AI
> avatars/agents to infect these devices with viral properties.
>
> Sounds to me that's what Joshy Squashy might be working on.
>
> [1] http://www.nagios.org/
> [2] http://www.splunk.com/
> [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Man_Battle_Network_(video_game)
> [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Man_Battle_Network_(series)
>
> Slightly edited excerpt of [3] for background & quick reference:
> The player alternately controls two main characters, Lan Hikari and
> MegaMan.EXE. The former is human while the latter, MegaMan, is a
> computer program/avatar called a NetNavi (derived from Network
> Navigator) designed specifically to facilitate the user's (Lan's)
> interaction with the Net and other computerized devices. In the
> series, the Internet and the inner workings of computers are displayed
> as a material world which computer programs of all varieties, as
> personified in a humanoid form, can interact with.
>
> To advance through the game the player must navigate both the real
> world as Lan and the Net as MegaMan, each containing certain tasks
> that must be completed to allow advancement in the other. MegaMan.EXE
> is often contained in Lan's PET (PErsonal Terminal), however this may
> be connected to the Internet or a computer in a process called
> "jacking in" ("plugging in" in Japan), which allows MegaMan access to
> that device. At this point, the Navi is transferred to the respective
> device, rather than being duplicated. If the program is deleted while
> jacked in, the effect is rather permanent, unless a backup of the Navi
> has been made. However, for the player, deletion of MegaMan.EXE
> results in a game over in most circumstances.
>
>   
Sorry, I didn't mean to ask in general what he could have meant.  I can
think up dozens of scenarios myself, just as you have.  Rather, I
thought the AWG group would appreciate concrete examples from his
requirements.  What do they actually plan or hope to do?  Do they really
want to control router configs from a virtual 3d environment, or control
their home media system?  Aside from the AWG's interest, I personally am
also interested in the specific scenarios.

 - Kelly
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