Game patching and updating

Networking & Multiplayer
#1

Have there been any threads on programming patching or updating utilities for games

or

Does anyone here have any good links they’d like to share on creating patching / updating utilities?

I’m not sure how it’s done commercially, but from a java novice perspective it seems you could keep a list of version IDs for each java .class and a method to pull those IDs from each class, then when a new game version is released, a list of classes and current version numbers is downloaded to the client…the client references his IDs against the new list, and only downloads those classes that have been updated.

I’m going to take a wild stab in the dark here and assume there’s a much better way then the one I’m using…any update experts out there?

#2

I’m no expert, but have you see Java Web Start and JNLP? Using jardiff this does exactly what you’re talking about. Comes packaged with the latest VMs. Although as far as I know theres no progmatic way of launching the updating API (although there was talk of this as an extension).

Kev

#3

Thanks for the quick reply, Kev

[quote]…there’s no progmatic way of launching the updating API…
[/quote]
Exactly! I was just reading your thread that you posted in August on this…and that’s the kind of service I’m looking at, one that can handle an initial install of all components and then systematic updates of only newer components later on from within the program itself…webstart would only be half a solution to me.

And I’m still wondering if there’s a better solution to ‘what to download and what not to download’…

#4

[quote]Thanks for the quick reply, Kev

Exactly! I was just reading your thread that you posted in August on this…and that’s the kind of service I’m looking at, one that can handle an initial install of all components and then systematic updates of only newer components later on from within the program itself…webstart would only be half a solution to me.
.
[/quote]
Why? This is exactly what Java Webstart does unless I am totally misunderstanding you.

The only limit is that it is a push technology not a pull. You initiate an update by putting new content on your server.

If you really need pull, look at OpenJNLP.

#5

You misunderstand…I want the kind of service that Kev was looking for back in August…

I’ve never heard this “push and pull technology” term before.

I’ll look into OpenJNLP and see what it has to offer…

Thanks for the additional information.

#6

Its one of the things that was hinted at here:

http://www.java-gaming.org/cgi-bin/JGNetForums/YaBB.cgi?board=OnLin;action=display;num=1071614502;start=0#0

Seems that people started refering to it as a webstart engine. It’d be nice to use webstart to do the updates but integrate it will the games GUI. So web start became an Updating API with an optional GUI component.

Kev

#7

[quote]You misunderstand…I want the kind of service that Kev was looking for back in August.
[/quote]
Based on your needs description I’m not sure WHy you think you need client-side control of the process. (Thats a “pull” FYI. Server side control is a “push.”)

But if you do then yes OpenJNLP is probably your baby.

#8

Jeff is spot on here. Either regular WebStart or OpenJNLP is just about all you need in most instances for patching/updating content.