Any statement from Mojang on why they redid the launcher in C++? From a programmer’s perspective it would have made much more sense for the main game, as C and C++ excel over other languages primarily when coding close to the hardware. Generally it is not "faster" or "better" than Java unless you are talking corner cases. Sorry if it has already been asked, I don’t follow the forum regularly
I’m asking because I have been Linux-only for ten years and and can generally count on same-day support for all OSes with the majority of indie titles.
Of course I understand that Mojang needs to cater to the Windows folks first by the sheer numbers, as well as the issues they have with the Java runtime and the substantial fragmentation of the Windows platform (maybe even more than the *nixes nowadays?). But this seems somewhat weird. Does it have to do with MS being rather Java unfriendly in favor of their own (alas much less portable) language runtime?
@OP: In the longer term there’s no way around upgrading to a more current (and faster) OS, be it Windows, a Linux distro or maybe even Remix OS if it has to be something super-slim. For a beginner’s distro that contains all codecs, Flash, Java etc. you could try Linux Mint. Browsing files being slower seems slightly strange to me though, as ext4 really runs circles around NTFS, especially with huge directories containing thousands of files. Maybe your PC is really too underpowered for anything current. That’s why I included the Remix OS link.
Hmm, no Linux build yet ("very soon" though) so no new Launcher for me so far.
As for the heated discussion about programming languages: C++ (which I strongly assume the new launcher is written in) is extremely portable, possibly even more so than Java, because it can be literally programmed "onto the naked hardware". The first piece of software ported to a new hardware architecture is usually a C compiler that has cross-compiled itself for the new platform. Portability of a complex software package implies that platform-independent (preferably open-source) libraries are used. One would in the typical case statically link them with the executable (and distribute them alongside the package) because different flavors of Linux and other Unix-likes have quite different dependency sets inside the package tree. But package management isn't an issue anyway if you just install into the user's $HOME.
However, C's and C++'s definite strength is portability across hardware platforms rather than between underlying software stacks/operating systems. And from what I see, MC has to support x86 (PC/Mac/PS4/Xbox One), Power architecture (PS3/Xbox 360/Wii U) and ARM (Smartphones/Tablets, PS Vita) hardware platforms. Some of those don't have a Java runtime for their default OS so Mojang has already been juggling both C++ and Java builds for quite a while.
Compared to compiled languages, Java apps have the advantage to "just run" wherever the runtime is available. You don't even have to think in terms of "platforms" which is a big, big plus for ease of software distribution.
A problem with prevalence of compiled languages is when a developer of closed-source software (which MC is) stops bothering with certain platforms, even if a perfectly functional build would just be a matter of a plain cross-compile. Linux getting the new launcher support "really soon" now is a symptom of that. "Really soon" by the way is a decades old hacker meme for "never". If that thing starts with the main application, MC loses me.
As promised I made a video for the expanded 2x3 version of PFA-Shelter. This version can still be deployed and dismantled within ca. 1 minute, given some practice. It is suitable for a first survival home if you spawn in flatlands, or a temporary wilderness base.
You'll need:
26 of any building block (only 6 more than PFA-Shelter 2x2). Wooden planks are best if you have no pickaxe, hardened/stained clay otherwise.
A door
A torch
Optional:
A bed
A crafting table
A furnace
A single or double chest
1-3 wooden fences or iron bars for makeshift windows/arrowslits
I hope this fine and optimized design may appeal to the one or other traveler and hunter. I developed it while roaming through a non-cheat survival map full of vast savannas and deserts.
I usually start in a savannah or plains so I always end up with loads of bread, even if I have livestock and don't look after my field(s) frequently. Surplus cattle is slaughtered and cooked.
I developed this minimalistic 2x2 shelter during my first long journey through a survival world. It can be deployed and dismantled in < 1 minute with a bit of practice, and likely even faster if you use hardened clay and a pick instead of wooden planks.
Required resources:
20 of any building block (should be both blast resistant and fast to mine, but set your own priorities)
A door
A torch
Optional:
A bed
A crafting table
A furnace
1-3 wooden fences or iron bars for makeshift windows/arrowslits
PFA-Shelter was mainly conceived for the strolling adventurer but can also serve as a first-day home (if you aren't claustrophobic). The layout can be easily extended if you plan to stay longer at a location.
There is also a spacier 3x3 version that only requires 6 blocks more and has a very similar deployment procedure. As soon as I have more practice with that build I will make a video too.
0
Any statement from Mojang on why they redid the launcher in C++? From a programmer’s perspective it would have made much more sense for the main game, as C and C++ excel over other languages primarily when coding close to the hardware. Generally it is not "faster" or "better" than Java unless you are talking corner cases. Sorry if it has already been asked, I don’t follow the forum regularly
I’m asking because I have been Linux-only for ten years and and can generally count on same-day support for all OSes with the majority of indie titles.
Of course I understand that Mojang needs to cater to the Windows folks first by the sheer numbers, as well as the issues they have with the Java runtime and the substantial fragmentation of the Windows platform (maybe even more than the *nixes nowadays?). But this seems somewhat weird. Does it have to do with MS being rather Java unfriendly in favor of their own (alas much less portable) language runtime?
@OP: In the longer term there’s no way around upgrading to a more current (and faster) OS, be it Windows, a Linux distro or maybe even Remix OS if it has to be something super-slim. For a beginner’s distro that contains all codecs, Flash, Java etc. you could try Linux Mint. Browsing files being slower seems slightly strange to me though, as ext4 really runs circles around NTFS, especially with huge directories containing thousands of files. Maybe your PC is really too underpowered for anything current. That’s why I included the Remix OS link.
1
Hmm, no Linux build yet ("very soon" though) so no new Launcher for me so far.
As for the heated discussion about programming languages: C++ (which I strongly assume the new launcher is written in) is extremely portable, possibly even more so than Java, because it can be literally programmed "onto the naked hardware". The first piece of software ported to a new hardware architecture is usually a C compiler that has cross-compiled itself for the new platform. Portability of a complex software package implies that platform-independent (preferably open-source) libraries are used. One would in the typical case statically link them with the executable (and distribute them alongside the package) because different flavors of Linux and other Unix-likes have quite different dependency sets inside the package tree. But package management isn't an issue anyway if you just install into the user's $HOME.
However, C's and C++'s definite strength is portability across hardware platforms rather than between underlying software stacks/operating systems. And from what I see, MC has to support x86 (PC/Mac/PS4/Xbox One), Power architecture (PS3/Xbox 360/Wii U) and ARM (Smartphones/Tablets, PS Vita) hardware platforms. Some of those don't have a Java runtime for their default OS so Mojang has already been juggling both C++ and Java builds for quite a while.
Compared to compiled languages, Java apps have the advantage to "just run" wherever the runtime is available. You don't even have to think in terms of "platforms" which is a big, big plus for ease of software distribution.
A problem with prevalence of compiled languages is when a developer of closed-source software (which MC is) stops bothering with certain platforms, even if a perfectly functional build would just be a matter of a plain cross-compile. Linux getting the new launcher support "really soon" now is a symptom of that. "Really soon" by the way is a decades old hacker meme for "never". If that thing starts with the main application, MC loses me.
0
Are there any plans for an Ubuntu PPA (or a Debian repository)? That way Linux users could get easy auto-updates.
Also a "follow player" toggle like in Chunky would be great, so Minutor could be used as a kind of external minimap when playing without mods
0
As promised I made a video for the expanded 2x3 version of PFA-Shelter. This version can still be deployed and dismantled within ca. 1 minute, given some practice. It is suitable for a first survival home if you spawn in flatlands, or a temporary wilderness base.
You'll need:
Optional:
I hope this fine and optimized design may appeal to the one or other traveler and hunter. I developed it while roaming through a non-cheat survival map full of vast savannas and deserts.
0
I usually start in a savannah or plains so I always end up with loads of bread, even if I have livestock and don't look after my field(s) frequently. Surplus cattle is slaughtered and cooked.
0
Hello, my first post on this forum
I developed this minimalistic 2x2 shelter during my first long journey through a survival world. It can be deployed and dismantled in < 1 minute with a bit of practice, and likely even faster if you use hardened clay and a pick instead of wooden planks.
Required resources:
Optional:
PFA-Shelter was mainly conceived for the strolling adventurer but can also serve as a first-day home (if you aren't claustrophobic). The layout can be easily extended if you plan to stay longer at a location.
There is also a spacier 3x3 version that only requires 6 blocks more and has a very similar deployment procedure. As soon as I have more practice with that build I will make a video too.