FlightGear Newsletter May 2016: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Sound expressions: Using the collapsiple script template for the code example)
m (→‎Sound expressions: Switched to the {{fgaddon aircraft source}} template to future-proof the FGAddon URL.)
 
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{{draft|newsletter|Please feel free to add content that you think will be of interest to the FlightGear community.<br>You can read the latest newsletter at [[FlightGear Newsletter April 2016]].}}
{{Newsletter-header|May 2016}}
{{Newsletter-header|May 2016}}
<div style="border-bottom:3px double #BBB;">
<div style="border-bottom:3px double #BBB;">
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[[#FlightGear v2016.2 released|FlightGear v2016.2 released]]<br>
[[#FlightGear v2016.2 released|FlightGear v2016.2 released]]<br>
[[#Revamping TerraSync|Revamping TerraSync]]<br>
[[#Revamping TerraSync|Revamping TerraSync]]<br>
[[#Sound expressions|New Sound expressions]]<br>
[[#Sound expressions|Sound expressions]]<br>
| valign="top" width="33%" |
{{Newsletter-cover-header|In the hangar}}<br>
{{Newsletter-cover-header|In the hangar}}<br>
[[#c172p|c172p]]<br>
[[#Cessna 172P|Cessna 172P]]<br>
[[#ICARO Laminar 13 MRX|ICARO Laminar 13 MRX]]<br>
[[#ICARO Laminar 13 MRX|ICARO Laminar 13 MRX]]<br>
[[#Powered Paraglider|Powered Paraglider]]<br>
[[#Paraglider updates|Paraglider updates]]<br>
| valign="top" width="33%" |
{{Newsletter-cover-header|Scenery Corner}}<br>
{{Newsletter-cover-header|Community News}}<br>
  | valign="top" width="33%" |
  | valign="top" width="33%" |
{{Newsletter-cover-header|Contributing}}<br>
{{Newsletter-cover-header|Contributing}}<br>
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=== Revamping TerraSync ===
=== Revamping TerraSync ===
Terrasync started out as a standalone rsync-based utility. However, there doesn't appear to be any good/robust multi-platform librsync available for our use. We wanted to embed terrasync right into the core code so we could better coordinate downloading tiles and then loading them immediately into the sim (versus sometimes running into no tiles or partial tiles if an external tool was running rsync.)<ref>{{cite web
Thanks to work by Torsten Dreyer, [[TerraSync]] now uses HTTP to fetch scenery. Some advantages to this method are is simpler code, requiring less space, and making it much easier to set up a TerraSync server.
  |url    = https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35061363/
  |title  = <nowiki>Re: [Flightgear-devel] The future of terrasync</nowiki>
  |author = <nowiki>Curtis Olson</nowiki>
  |date  = May 3rd, 2016
  |added  = May 4th, 2016
  |script_version = 0.31
  }}
</ref>
 
as some of you have probably noticed, some coding is currently happening in the terrasync corner, mostly by James and some small parts by Torsten. The main intention is to get rid of the SVN protocol to distribute scenery but use easier to implement protocols. The idea is to use plain HTTP as the access method for files required by terrasync. This should make it much easier for hosts to set up a mirror, probably enables us to use a CDN for load balancing and also makes the client code slim. We already have three mirrors of the complete scenery online, one at sourceforge and two at privately owned servers. The sourceforge mirror receives daily updates from the main scenery export from http://scenery.flightgear.org/ and all other mirrors pull their data from the sourceforge server. We decided to drop the previous method of telling the client about it's nearest mirror by querying a web service ( http://scenery.flightgear.org/svn-server) in favour of using a more stable service provider of the internet: the domain name service (DNS) system. The fgfs client will query a fancy resource record (RR) type of NAPTR (network authority pointer, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAPTR_record) for the dns name terrasync.flightgear.org and analye the entries to find the best terrasync mirror. Those entries are already configured and can be examined here: https://toolbox.googleapps.com/apps/dig/#ANY/terrasync.flightgear.org This technique should enable us to provide different sets of scenery, eventually even for only parts of the world in a much easier fashion that it would have been the case with SVN. It also spares many gigabytes on the scenery mirror as they don't have to keep all the 50,000+ revisions we already carry around. I'll start adding the required code over the next couple of days to have it running hopefully for the 2016.2 release. I'll post a message to this list when I flip the final switch and enable the new terrasync. In the mean time, you might see some build failures on Jenkins or other hickups of the system. I promise to fix those as quick as possible. BTW: If you use terrafs, you already receive your data from the new http mirrors, although not use the DNS service resolver.<ref>{{cite web
  |url    = http://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35057670/
  |title  = <nowiki>[Flightgear-devel] The future of terrasync</nowiki>
  |author = <nowiki>Torsten Dreyer</nowiki>
  |date  = May 2nd, 2016
  |added  = May 2nd, 2016
  |script_version = 0.28
  }}
</ref>
 
the http download method will function very much as before where only the changed files (if any) are downloaded. The svn method requires 2x the actual space because of the way svn works under the hood. Git typically requires that you download every version ever created to get the latest copy (there are work arounds if you just want the most recent version.) So the end result for the average user that just wants to download and use the scenery is that the http method will be lighter weight overall. It also simplifies the code inside FlightGear quite a bit and should make the synchroniation more robust. And as mentioned before, it should simplify the task of setting up a scenery mirror for those that wish to do that. As before, power users will have multiple options for updating scenery or mixing and matching from different sources if they choose. <ref>{{cite web
  |url    = https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35061856/
  |title  = <nowiki>Re: [Flightgear-devel] The future of terrasync</nowiki>
  |author = <nowiki>Curtis Olson</nowiki>
  |date  = May 4th, 2016
  |added  = May 4th, 2016
  |script_version = 0.31
  }}
</ref>
 
The technique of the http repository is much simpler than that of the svn repository and it will be pretty simple to create a local mirror or to download chunks of data. With a bit of to-be-developed scripting (python e.g.) there is no need to download existing data again. I don't know how terramaster works but I am sure it is easy to adapt to the new http access method. <ref>{{cite web
  |url    = https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35062543/
  |title  = <nowiki>Re: [Flightgear-devel] The future of terrasync</nowiki>
  |author = <nowiki>Torsten Dreyer</nowiki>
  |date  = May 4th, 2016
  |added  = May 4th, 2016
  |script_version = 0.31
  }}
</ref>
 
The goal is to completely remove SVN and only use the HTTP repository. I'd like to reach that goal better sooner than later as we currently have two single-points of failure for the SVN-service. The first is the http://scenery.flightgear.org/svn-service web service (runs on a private web server) and the second is the one-and-only svn-server available for public access, also hosted on a private server. If either on of those fails, the SVN-terrasync is dead. I have learned the hard way that not having a fallback is a bad idea.<ref>{{cite web
  |url    = https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35062543/
  |title  = <nowiki>Re: [Flightgear-devel] The future of terrasync</nowiki>
  |author = <nowiki>Torsten Dreyer</nowiki>
  |date  = May 4th, 2016
  |added  = May 4th, 2016
  |script_version = 0.31
  }}
</ref>
 
<references/>


=== Sound expressions ===
=== Sound expressions ===
New support for expressions was added in the volume and pitch sections of audio configuration files<ref>{{cite web
Erik Hofman has added support for XML [[expressions]] in the volume and pitch sections of audio configuration files.<ref>{{cite web
  |url    = https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35126638/  
|url    = https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35126638/  
  |title  = <nowiki> [Flightgear-devel] New XML Sound feature </nowiki>  
|title  = <nowiki>[Flightgear-devel] New XML Sound feature</nowiki>  
  |author = <nowiki> Erik Hofman </nowiki>
|author = Erik Hofman  
  |date  = May 31st, 2016
|date  = May 31st, 2016
  |added  =  May 31st, 2016  
}}</ref>
  |script_version = 0.40
  }}</ref>.


It works as follows:
It works as follows:
# If an expression is found in <pitch/> or <volume/> it gets processed and the rest is ignored.
* If an expression is found in {{tag|pitch}} or {{tag|volume}} it gets processed and the rest is ignored.
# If an expression was defined in a volume or pitch definition of a sound-section then all other volume or pitch sections containing a property are ignored.
* If an expression was defined in a volume or pitch definition of a sound-section then all other volume or pitch sections containing a property are ignored.
# Sections with <internal/> are always processed so timed sounds are still available.
* Sections with {{tag|internal}} are always processed so timed sounds are still available.


This way you can add volume and/or pitch sections with an expression  
This way you can add volume and/or pitch sections with an expression  
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newer versions of FlightGear.
newer versions of FlightGear.


An example would be:
For an example, see {{fgaddon aircraft source|paraglider|sound.xml|commit=1863|line=25|text=here}}
 
{{collapsible script
| type  = XML code
| title  = Expressions in a sound configuration file
| lang  = XML
| script =
  <engine>
    <name>engine</name>
    <mode>looped</mode>
    <path>Aircraft/paraglider/Sounds/wasp.wav</path>
    <property>engines/engine/running</property>
    <volume version="2.0">
    <expression>
      <product>
      <min>
        <max>
        <product>
          <property>engines/engine/mp-osi</property>
          <value>0.23</value>
        </product>
        <value>1.0</value>
        </max>
        <value>0.3</value>
      </min>
      <min>
        <max>
        <log> <property>orientation/alpha-deg</property> </log>
        <value>1.2</value>
        </max>
        <value>1.0</value>
      </min>
      </product>
    </expression>
    </volume>
    <pitch version="2.0">
    <expression>
      <min>
      <max>
        <sum>
        <value>0.4</value>
        <product>
          <property>engines/engine/rpm</property>
          <value>0.0001</value>
        </product>
        </sum>
        <value>1.2</value>
      </max>
      <value>0.4</value>
    </min>
    </expression>
    </pitch>
<!-- backwards compatibility -->
    <volume>
    <property>engines/engine/mp-osi</property>
    <factor>0.23</factor>
    <min>0.3</min>
    <max>1.0</max>
    </volume>
    <volume>
    <property>orientation/alpha-deg</property>
    <type>log</type>
    <min>1.0</min>
    <max>1.2</max>
    </volume>
    <pitch>
    <property>engines/engine/rpm</property>
    <factor>0.0001</factor>
    <min>0.4</min>
    <max>1.2</max>
    <offset>0.4</offset>
    </pitch>
<!-- backwards compatibility -->
  </engine>
| bgcolor = #e0f2ff
}}


== In the hangar ==
== In the hangar ==
=== Cessna 172P ===
=== Cessna 172P ===
The Cessna 172P team has just created a new branch called "release/2016.2" with the latest developments from the last few months: https://github.com/Juanvvc/c172p-detailed/tree/release/2016.2  These include:  
The '''[[Cessna 172P]]''' team has just created a [https://github.com/Juanvvc/c172p-detailed/releases/tag/version%2F2016.2 new version] of FlightGear's default aircraft, containing the latest developments from the last few months,<ref>{{cite web
|url    = https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35095319/  
|title  = <nowiki>[Flightgear-devel] c172p ready for the Barcelona release</nowiki>
|author = Gilberto Agostinho
|date  = May 17th, 2016  
}}</ref> including:
* Decreased rudder authority  
* Decreased rudder authority  
* Added propwash effect for 180 HP version  
* Added propwash effect for 180 HP version  
Line 193: Line 67:
* Updated tutorial to Barcelona  
* Updated tutorial to Barcelona  
* Changed "Autostart" menu item to actually start the engine as well  
* Changed "Autostart" menu item to actually start the engine as well  
* Split instrument light knob into a knob that two knobs: one that controls the instruments, and one that controls the radio's <ref>{{cite web
* Split instrument light knob into a knob that two knobs: one that controls the instruments, and one that controls the radio's
  |url    =  https://sourceforge.net/p/flightgear/mailman/message/35095319/
  |title  =  <nowiki> [Flightgear-devel] c172p ready for the Barcelona release </nowiki>
  |author =  <nowiki> Gilberto Agostinho </nowiki>
  |date  =  May 17th, 2016
  |added  =  May 17th, 2016
  |script_version = 0.40
  }}</ref>


=== ICARO Laminar 13 MRX ===
=== ICARO Laminar 13 MRX ===
There is a new aircraft model in [[FGAddon]]: The '''[[Icaro Laminar 13 MRX]]'''. It is an advanced weight-shift controlled hanglider build by ICARO in the early 2000s.
There is a new aircraft in [[FGAddon]] — the '''[[Icaro Laminar 13 MRX]]'''. It is an advanced weight-shift controlled hanglider build by ICARO in the early 2000s.


The aim of this project is to provide a very realistic hang glider which shows all the specific properties of a real hang glider. In particular the unique flight dynamic behavior (compared to common aircraft) is focused on.
The aim of this project is to provide a very realistic hang glider which shows all the specific properties of a real hang glider. In particular the unique flight dynamic behavior (compared to common aircraft) is focused on.


=== Powered Paraglider ===
=== Paraglider updates ===
David's paraglider model has had a major FDM and 3d update. The FDM is of true ram-air type, a small engine has been added and the parachute itself is now animated.
David Culp's '''[[paraglider]]''' has had major FDM and 3D model update. The FDM is now a true ram-air type. In addition, a small engine has been added and the parachute itself is now animated.
Warining: a bug prevents the Paraglider from loading properly at the current default airport Barcelona. Any other airport does not seem to cause a problem.
{{note|As of June 2016, there is a bug prevents the paraglider from loading properly at FG 2016.2's default airport (Barcelona). Any other airport does not seem to cause a problem.}}


<gallery mode="packed">
<gallery mode="packed">
Paragliding in the_mountains.jpg|Paragliding in the mountains
Paragliding in the mountains.jpg|Paragliding in the mountains
Icaro MRX13 Laber.jpeg|Soaring with the Laminar 13 MRX
Icaro MRX13 Laber.jpeg|Soaring with the Laminar 13 MRX
</gallery>
</gallery>
== Scenery corner ==
== Community news ==


== Contributing ==
== Contributing ==
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==== Screenshot of the Month ====
==== Screenshot of the Month ====
FlightGear's Screenshot of the Month May 2016 is ''Landing in Frankfurt's 25L'' by Ambro
FlightGear's Screenshot of the Month May 2016 is ''Landing in Frankfurt's 25L'' by Ambro.
 
[[File:Landing in Frankfurt's 25L.jpg|900px|center|Landing in Frankfurt's 25L by Ambro]]
[[File:Landing in Frankfurt's 25L.jpg|900px|center|Landing in Frankfurt's 25L by Ambro]]


If you want to participate in the screenshot contest of June 2016, you can submit your candidate to [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=29720 this] forum topic. Be sure to see the [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=29720#p287514 first post] for participation rules. For purposes of convenience and organization, after all the entries have been submitted, a new forum topic will be started containing all shots in an easy-to-view layout. The voting will then take place there. Once the voting has finished, the best screenshot will be presented in the Newsletter edition of June 2016.


If you want to participate in the screenshot contest of June 2016, you can submit your candidate to [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=29720 this] forum topic. Be sure to see the [https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=29720#p287514 first post] for participation rules. For purposes of convenience and organization, after all the entries have been submitted, a new forum topic will be started containing all shots in an easy-to-view layout. The voting will then take place there. Once the voting has finished, the best screenshot will be presented in the Newsletter edition of June 2016.
{{Appendix}}


[[Category:FlightGear Newsletter|2016 05]]
[[Category:FlightGear Newsletter|2016 05]]

Latest revision as of 08:06, 9 June 2016

Magagazine.png
Enjoy reading the latest edition!
Please help us write the coming edition!
May 2016

Development news
FlightGear v2016.2 released
Revamping TerraSync
Sound expressions

In the hangar
Cessna 172P
ICARO Laminar 13 MRX
Paraglider updates

Contributing
Translators required
FlightGear logos
Screenshots
Screenshot of the Month

Development news

FlightGear v2016.2 released

The FlightGear development team is delighted to announce the v2016.2 "Barcelona" release of FlightGear, the free, open-source flight simulator. This new version contains many exciting new features, enhancements and bugfixes. Highlights in this release include the Space Shuttle, ALS filters, a new HTTP TerraSync system, and improvements to our automatic ATIS.

A list of major changes can be found at Changelog 2016.2. FlightGear v2016.2 is available for a variety of operating systems from http://www.flightgear.org/download/.

Revamping TerraSync

Thanks to work by Torsten Dreyer, TerraSync now uses HTTP to fetch scenery. Some advantages to this method are is simpler code, requiring less space, and making it much easier to set up a TerraSync server.

Sound expressions

Erik Hofman has added support for XML expressions in the volume and pitch sections of audio configuration files.[1]

It works as follows:

  • If an expression is found in <pitch> or <volume> it gets processed and the rest is ignored.
  • If an expression was defined in a volume or pitch definition of a sound-section then all other volume or pitch sections containing a property are ignored.
  • Sections with <internal> are always processed so timed sounds are still available.

This way you can add volume and/or pitch sections with an expression before all other sections and keep backward and forward compatibility. But you could, for example, make the expression section more complex for newer versions of FlightGear.

For an example, see here

In the hangar

Cessna 172P

The Cessna 172P team has just created a new version of FlightGear's default aircraft, containing the latest developments from the last few months,[2] including:

  • Decreased rudder authority
  • Added propwash effect for 180 HP version
  • Improvements to the irradiance effect
  • Better oil dialog
  • Flap lever is now dragable and scrollable
  • Added normal map to wheels and other objects
  • Improvements to the heading indicator
  • Correct rudder pedal animation
  • Updated tutorial to Barcelona
  • Changed "Autostart" menu item to actually start the engine as well
  • Split instrument light knob into a knob that two knobs: one that controls the instruments, and one that controls the radio's

ICARO Laminar 13 MRX

There is a new aircraft in FGAddon — the Icaro Laminar 13 MRX. It is an advanced weight-shift controlled hanglider build by ICARO in the early 2000s.

The aim of this project is to provide a very realistic hang glider which shows all the specific properties of a real hang glider. In particular the unique flight dynamic behavior (compared to common aircraft) is focused on.

Paraglider updates

David Culp's paraglider has had major FDM and 3D model update. The FDM is now a true ram-air type. In addition, a small engine has been added and the parachute itself is now animated.

Note  As of June 2016, there is a bug prevents the paraglider from loading properly at FG 2016.2's default airport (Barcelona). Any other airport does not seem to cause a problem.

Contributing

Translators required

En.gif The FlightGear Wiki still needs help for translating it into various languages. If you are interested in making the FlightGear Wiki multilingual, you can start by looking at Help:Translate.
Fr.gif Le wiki de FlightGear a toujours besoin d'aide pour être traduit en différentes langues. Si vous êtes intéressé par le rendre multilingue, commencez par lire Help:Traduire.
De.gif Das FlightGear Wiki braucht noch Hilfe für sie in verschiedene Sprachen zu übersetzen. Wenn Sie bei der Herstellung der FlightGear Wiki mehrsprachiger interessiert sind, können Sie, indem Sie auf Help:Übersetzen beginnen.
Nl.gif De FlightGear Wiki kan nog steed hulp gebruiken bij het vertalen van artikelen. Als je interesse hebt om de wiki meertalig te maken, raden we je aan om een kijkje te nemen bij Help:Vertalen.
Es.gif La wiki de FlightGear todavía necesita ayuda para traducirla a varios lenguajes. Si estás interesado en hacer la FlightGear wiki multilingüe, entonces comienza en Help:Traducir.
Cat.gif La wiki de FlightGear encara necessita ajuda per traduir-la a diverses llengües. Si esteu interessat en fer la wiki de FlightGear multilingüe, llavors comenceu a Help:Traduir.
Pt.gif A wiki de FlightGear ainda necessita de ajuda para traduzi-la em vários idiomas. Se estás interessado em tornar a wiki de FlightGear multi-lingual, por favor começa em Help:Traduzir.

FlightGear logos

If you want some graphic elements for your FlightGear-related site (such as a hangar or YouTube channel), please feel free to visit FlightGear logos for a repository of logos. And if you have some art skills, please don't hesitate to contribute with your own design creations.

Screenshots

The FlightGear project always needs screenshots, which show features that were added since the last release. These should be of good quality, especially in content and technical image properties. It is therefore recommended to use the best viable filter settings (anti-aliasing, texture sharpening, etc.). More info at Howto:Make nice screenshots.

Screenshot of the Month

FlightGear's Screenshot of the Month May 2016 is Landing in Frankfurt's 25L by Ambro.

Landing in Frankfurt's 25L by Ambro

If you want to participate in the screenshot contest of June 2016, you can submit your candidate to this forum topic. Be sure to see the first post for participation rules. For purposes of convenience and organization, after all the entries have been submitted, a new forum topic will be started containing all shots in an easy-to-view layout. The voting will then take place there. Once the voting has finished, the best screenshot will be presented in the Newsletter edition of June 2016.

References
  1. Erik Hofman (May 31st, 2016). [Flightgear-devel] New XML Sound feature.
  2. Gilberto Agostinho (May 17th, 2016). [Flightgear-devel] c172p ready for the Barcelona release.