[sldev] Snowglobe on OpenSim grids

[Lisa Denia]

Philippe (Merov) Bossut wrote:
> Before doing this though, I'd really like to know how the old map could
> possibly work with OpenSim: the map tiles were taken from the asset server
> using a scheme just as inflexible as the one we use now with S3 hosted
>  tiles over HTTP. So, I'm puzzled... Could you describe how the map tiles
>  are stored and organized in OpenSim so that we can come up with a workable
>  solution? (I bet there's a spec somewhere so a pointer to this would be
>  very much appreciated).

OpenSim uses the "old" style: Every map tile gets stored on the respective 
grid's asset server. Exactly the same as with the current "official" viewer, as 
it has to be completely compatible.
There is a way to communicate with the asset server via HTTP though(called 
REST, see http://opensimulator.org/wiki/REST), but that mechanism is optional 
and not enabled on all grids/simulators.

Carlo Wood wrote:
> I heard that opensim is going to change this, too.
> They are planning on switching to http based textures... So, some input
> from an opensim developer before starting to implement this is needed
> imho. Are/is there any on this list?

I'm not an OpenSim developer, but as far as I know they are not going to 
implement this until it gets needed in order to work with standard Second Life 
viewers. Snowglobe is not needed, so the "solution" is to use another viewer.
I think a patch implementing HTTP textures will surely be accepted, but as 
there aren't that much developers, they target on other things first.


I think there are 3 ways now:
- Include legacy code again in Snowglobe, using the old way for fetching world 
tiles
- Communicate via REST somehow, will not work on all grids. Also the worst 
solution, as we have to get the maptile's UUID using the old way.
- Implement HTTP textures in OpenSim(not that easy) and allow to define an 
alternative HTTP texture fetch URL in Snowglobe.

The last one is probably the best solution, but can't be achieved in a short 
time.

Thanks,
Lisa Denia