Jump to content
Eternal Lands Official Forums
Entropy

Testing team needed

Recommended Posts

Many times, it is very frustrating to ask people to help us test new stuff, because many people think they are good testers, but the reality is different.

 

So from now on, I want to have a dedicated team of people who know their shit, so to say.

 

In order to be part of this team, you need to meet the following requirements:

1. Very good computer skills (know how to use archives, know how to update or rollback video drivers, etc.)

2. Know how to read and comprehend English.

3. Ability to work in a team.

4. Ability to follow specific instructions without 'improvising', and without asking questions that are not relevant or already answered.

5. Have plenty of free time.

6. Have a lot of patience and deidcation. If you can't have a long attention span, you can't be a good tester.

7. Know how to submit a proper bug report.

8. Be reasonably familiar with the game.

9. Strong dislike for 'selective reading'.

 

Strongly desired (but not required) abilities:

1. Know some programming language (preferably C).

2. Know how to work with the CVS and how to compile the client for your platform.

3. Know how to use gdb (or some other debugger).

 

 

If you think that you meet all the required criteria, and if you want to be part of the testers team, please post here. If you offer your help but do not meet the criteria, you will be banned from the forums and possibly from the game as well. There is a reason I am asking for those requirements, so please don't make it harder than it already is.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would like to assist.

I have been a computer specialist irl for well over a decade now.

Though I am not a programmer, I am a skilled problem solver & seeker.

I work from my home doing p.c. repair, customization, etc... so my schedule is as fixable as need be.

Please let me know if any of my talents may suite your needs.

D.S.

Edited by DormantSouL

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I believe I can help. I run Linux and although I try to stick with my distribution's versions of software, I am comfortable with checking out software from cvs, compiling software, packaging it, running gdb, etc...

I also know how to apply patches, etc... This ranges from compiling kernels and kernel drivers and modules to compiling desktop software like Firefox, Gnome and openoffice.

I can't say I know how to program with C but I understand the syntax a bit so I can help with manually applying or backporting patches.

I'm running a home compiled cvs snapshot of elc from yesterday.

Edited by Fonzi

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, I've been working as a software developer for 8 years now. I know Visual Studio and the gcc toolchain very well and I'm familar with debugging in gdb and VS.

 

I'd like to help improving the game.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think it would be useful for client devs like myself to be at least involved, if not part of this test team. I believe I match all your requirements. I may be lacking in the free time but that's because I already spend far too much time bug fixing and hopefully improving the client code etc.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm willing to assist with this.

 

I've several years experience programming and testing/implementing. I know some c/c#/c++ but haven't yet compiled the client (though it's on my list of things to do as I learn more.) Teamwork has always been required in my past jobs and I no longer work so I could dedicate a significant portion of time to this. I'm familiar with reporting bugs and finding them. I've also used many different forms of debuggers although I can't claim I know gdb well.

 

I've got a dislike for selective reading but can't say I've NEVER done it myself (I do have a minor issue digesting stuff the first time I read it but I'm a quick study usually.) I can't say I'll never ask a dumb question or make a mistake but I'm willing to try. I certainly don't wish to be banned for trying to help, but if you're patient with me I can assure you the results would be well worth it.

 

I realize testing is a serious exercise and would treat it as such.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would like to help as well. I know my way around windows and linux installs and have some experience with CVS, compiling code and a vague understanding of C.

 

I am curious though, roughly how much free time 'plently' is?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would be interested in helping also. I've helped on several organized feature tests in the past.

 

I meet all the requirements. The only one in question would be the "plenty of free time" as EL does fit around work and family.

 

As to the desired items, I know C (and several other programing languages). I can use source code controls systems and debuggers, but I'm not currently setup to compile the EL client.

 

If you're interested in my qualifications and experience, you can take a peek at my Resume.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

In order to be part of this team, you need to meet the following requirements:

1. Very good computer skills (know how to use archives, know how to update or rollback video drivers, etc.) [check]

2. Know how to read and comprehend English. [check]

3. Ability to work in a team. [Can I be the tea boy? [check]]

4. Ability to follow specific instructions without 'improvising', and without asking questions that are not relevant or already answered. [check]

5. Have plenty of free time. [i live in EL [check]]

6. Have a lot of patience and deidcation. If you can't have a long attention span, you can't be a good tester. [i can mine for months [check]]

7. Know how to submit a proper bug report. [check]

8. Be reasonably familiar with the game. [i have lived here for over 3 years [check]]

9. Strong dislike for 'selective reading'. [it happens to the best of us occasionally but I can focus [check]]

 

Strongly desired (but not required) abilities:

1. Know some programming language (preferably C). [Client dev [check]]

2. Know how to work with the CVS and how to compile the client for your platform. [Client dev [check]]

3. Know how to use gdb (or some other debugger). [check]

 

Please consider me as a potential candidate, I have been in the software development game professionally since the early 1990s and as a hobby since the mid 1980s.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I meet the requirements and I'd like to help. My knowledge of C may be not good enough to write patches, but I can test. Ingame name: Ulrih.

 

catz.

Edited by Ulrih

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok, excellent.

Everyone that psoted here qualifies, except for Jumpy. Sorry, we understand your desire to help us, but we need only people with very good technical skills if we are to find and solve things fast. Of course, we'll still have open tests as well, but only after we believe there are no bugs left.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Just a note:

 

IMHO there should be a process defined for bug fixing. I have some experience in this area, and one thing I know is that testers make sometimes very bad fixers - they tend to quickly perform small fixes without regard to other places of the code that might be affected by that fix (integration issues), either because they don't have a global perspective of the code, or just because they wanna show "work done".

 

Mantis is up and seems to be working OK, so maybes better to define some process like:

 

* tester finds a bug, posts it in Mantis (unassigned)

* If tester believes he can fix the bug, he does note that by assigning the issue to him

* Other devs should read all fixes (not only those that they are working on) and comment as necessary.

* Devs should pick unassigned bugs, and properly comment how they are going to fix them (very succinctly).

 

Just my 10 cents.

 

Álvaro

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, for this purpose Mantis is overkill..

We are mostly going to test new server features, and the bugs will be mostly server related, so I am the only one that can fix them.

 

Posting in the forums (in a special thread for each test) is a better method.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok, excellent.

Everyone that psoted here qualifies, except for Jumpy. Sorry, we understand your desire to help us, but we need only people with very good technical skills if we are to find and solve things fast. Of course, we'll still have open tests as well, but only after we believe there are no bugs left.

I understand

I woudn't want me on a software team either.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This post is for the testing team, although anyone can try the following test client. However, if you are not part of the testing team, I don't want to hear any problem reports from you, because it most likely means you didn't install it properly.

 

Vertex shader animation test:

Xaphier finished the actor vertex shader animation and display, which under some circumstances can increase the speed by a factor of 500% or more (in very crowded areas, with lots of monsters and/or people).

The speed increase depends on your videocard and CPU, the better the video card, the faster it should be.

 

On my system, AMD 64 X2 4600+, GF 7300 GS, I noticed no improvement. However, YMMV, so please test it and see if there are any changes (ideally you should check around storages and places with a lot of people).

 

Make sure to check if the shaders are actually used by looking for a file called infos.log in your settings directory. That file should say that the vertex shaders are used. If it doesn't say it, or if the file is not found, it means that your card does not support that, or that you didn't install it properly.

 

So try to check and see if there is any noticeable speed improvement, any crashes, and so on. For Linux, you can just get the cvs, and move the /shaders directory in your el data dir.

 

The windows pack can be downloaded from here: http://el.beplacid.net/downloads/el_shaders.zip

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've tested the new client for a day now and did not notice any severe problems but no speed improvement either.

 

System is Athlon XP 2400, NV GeForce 6600.

 

On my laptop (i915GM) the vertex program init fails but the fallback works fine.

 

EXTENDED EXCEPTION(5:opengl_error): invalid operation in load_vertex_program at d:\ago\elc-vc\elc\actor_init.cpp (line 29)

 

The GL_ARB_vertex_program extension however is present

 

[02:08:09] GL_ARB_multitexture extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_ARB_texture_env_combine extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_ARB_point_sprite extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_ARB_texture_compression extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_ARB_shadow extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_EXT_framebuffer_object extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] GL_EXT_draw_range_elements extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] GL_ARB_fragment_program extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] GL_ARB_vertex_program extension found, using it.
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_ARB_fragment_shader extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_ARB_vertex_shader extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_ARB_shader_objects extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_ARB_shading_language_100 extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_ARB_texture_rectangle extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] GL_EXT_fog_coord extension found, NOT using it...
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_ATI_texture_compression_3dc extension, not using it...
[02:08:09] Couldn't find the GL_EXT_texture_compression_latc extension, not using it...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I just noticed a problem with an invisible Wraith.

 

After disabling the shaders by removing the vertex shader program files the Wraith reappeard. There are no related errors in error_log.txt.

 

System is Athlon XP 2400 with GeForce 6600.

 

Log started at 2008-01-18 03:07:06 localtime (Westeuropäische Normalzeit)

[03:07:06] Using the server profile: main
[03:07:23] Error: Can't open file "key.ini"
[03:07:23] Error: Can't open file "quest.log"
[03:07:23] * server www.eternal-lands.com filename http://www.eternal-lands.com/updates150/files.lst
[03:07:23] Downloading http://www.eternal-lands.com/updates150/files.lst from www.eternal-lands.com
[03:07:23] Finished downloading http://www.eternal-lands.com/updates150/files.lst
[03:07:23] Error creating buffer: Invalid Name
Last message repeated 7 times
[03:07:23] Error creating buffer: Invalid Operation
[03:07:24] * server www.eternal-lands.com filename http://www.eternal-lands.com/updates/custom_files.lst
[03:07:24] Downloading http://www.eternal-lands.com/updates/custom_files.lst from www.eternal-lands.com
[03:07:24] Finished downloading http://www.eternal-lands.com/updates/custom_files.lst
Last message repeated 3 times
[03:07:30] stop_stream - Error stopping stream - error: Invalid Value
Last message repeated 2 times
[03:08:27] Error creating buffer: Invalid Operation
[03:09:04] stop_stream - Error stopping stream - error: Invalid Value
[03:11:36] Client closed

Edited by ago

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah, it seems that there are issues with semi transaprent creatures..

I didn't know about the wraith, thanks for pointing that out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

From the infos.log:

Using vertex programs for actor animation

 

Stats:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+

NVidia GeForce 8500GT (169.25 driver version)

 

I've found some noticable improvment though I'm not quite sure how to quantify it. I'm definately less laggy in populated areas (how much less laggy? I'm not sure but it's nice...)

 

The only "odd" thing I noticed so far was the colors seem a LOT brighter. The before and after images are below in respective order (before and after.) NOTE: my screen's not really this dark, not sure why the images are so dark, but the color contrast (from before to after) is indeed this drastict.

 

without_shaders.jpg

with_shaders.jpg

 

Sorry I broke the picture links for a sec, I realized a silly mistake I made with channel numbers :P

Edited by DogBreath

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×