Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » Technical Support » Keeping the client in synch

Posted by
outlaw


Users avatar

Posts
33
Registered at
2012-06-01 13:37:55
2014-01-09 10:12:37 - Keeping the client in synch
This is quite urgent with the upcoming Sprint Cup races.

I'm also not sure if you guys have the ability to change the client on short notice...

Anyway, boat position on the server is updated every 10s. The client queries boat.xml every 15.2s. This leaves us in the dark on the real position of our boats, critical for sharp roundings like Orno 1.

My suggestion is to add a "time to next update" field to the boat.xml, and change the client query timing accordingly.
Posted by
kroppyer


Users avatar

Posts
347
Registered at
2010-02-05 15:25:55
2014-01-09 15:36:50 - Re: Keeping the client in synch
You can have two clients open at the same time, if you time it right, they'll poll the server every 7 or 8 seconds so you'll never skip a jump.

I don't know the server or client code, but from what I've heard it's probably harder than it seems to sync them. It's almost always harder than it seems with software development ;)
Posted by
hmm


Users avatar

Posts
118
Registered at
2011-11-03 13:35:22
2014-01-09 22:34:01 - Re: Keeping the client in synch
How often the server updates the boats depends on the server load, so when the position is updated it is not known when the next update happens.

With the new server the load has been fortunately mostly low, so the updates happen mostly every 10 seconds but there is no guarantee on that.

I don't think this issue is really worth of updating the client. When we are starting to sync requests by the second also the possible network lag should be taken into account so doing this "properly" would not really be that easy.

The current client is same for all and it is something everyone is familiar by now. However, this can be taken into account when planning client updates or new clients in the future. Especially ability to also tell the client to update less frequently during bigger server load could be useful.
Posted by
outlaw


Users avatar

Posts
33
Registered at
2012-06-01 13:37:55
2014-01-10 08:47:29 - Re: Keeping the client in synch
A dedicated racer can work around the issue, casual and new users are a different matter. For example I could imagine a NNYC member signing up for Lake Winnebago and being frustrated by the client.

While exact position doesn't matter in open water SOL has entirely too many coastal and round the buoys races to call it irrelevant.

Regarding prediction, last interval + 2s should be reliable enough, unless load spikes are really extreme. You would also get some savings from less active boats (30s update interval).

Lastly you should consider incentives, having players run two clients seems undesirable etc. (And reloading to force the new wx, on what is probably the maximum load period to begin with...)
Posted by
hmm


Users avatar

Posts
118
Registered at
2011-11-03 13:35:22
2014-01-11 18:15:37 - Re: Keeping the client in synch
If anyone volunteers to change the client code, we might consider how to handle this issue.
Posted by
outlaw


Users avatar

Posts
33
Registered at
2012-06-01 13:37:55
2014-01-23 15:20:08 - Re: Keeping the client in synch
bump.

I unfortunately have zero experience with flash, that said I could give it a spin if no one else will.
Posted by
Svein


Users avatar

Posts
84
Registered at
2009-05-04 15:09:20
2014-01-30 20:39:48 - Re: Keeping the client in synch
This is relevant, if not imminent, issue.
My understanding is that "next" client version is not likely to be in flash environment, but maybe HTML5 or something else - not my field really:)

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m

Current Races:

Skimmer Dragonfly - India to East Africa 2026


In the autumn, when the rains stop and the tourists thicken in Goa and along the north western coast of India, globe skimming dragonfly climb to the skies (up to 1500m) to catch the high-altitude ITCZ winds and glide south west to East Africa. We’ll stay at sea level, where alas the winds will be less predictable, and race them there, the whole 2400nm of the way, in Carkeek 40s.
Race #2062
INFOby brainaid.de
Carkeek 40 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: MIG - SYC
Race starts: Nov 11th 11:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Fiji TIMED Race 2026

Welcome to Fiji for this month’s TIMED race. Sail our 90 foot Monohull over the almost 200nm course beginning in Lucala Bay and ending in Labasa in your attempt to turn in the fastest time.
This is a TIMEDrace so you may RE-REGISTER HEREto try again after finishing a run. You will have two weeks to test your skill and decision making after the race opens.
Race #2069
INFOby brainaid.de
PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
TRQ4 - TRCH - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
21 November at 23:00 UTC
Race starts: Nov 08th 12:00 Registration will open soon
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Bar-Tailed Godwit - Alaska to New Zealand 2026


Welcome to the autumn return flight of our bar-tailed Godwit, reflecting the bird's annual migratory route. This is the penultimate leg in our migration series. (The concluding leg is coming up simultaneously, 'Skimmer Dragonfly', start on the 11th of November. Not part of the 2026 OCCH). This race, at hand, is the next to last leg of the 2026 Ocean Race Championship. The voyage promises to be not only a test of skill and strategy but an immersive experience in the beauty of the vast Central Pacific Ocean. Join us as we push the boundaries of seafaring prowess on this epic adventure.
Let's fly like a Godwit!
Race #2065
INFOby brainaid.de
GunBoat 90 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
OCQ4 - OCCH - SYC - MIG
Race starts: Nov 02nd 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Mad Max by Balloon 2026 - Across the Outback


Mad Max Rockatansky doesn’t get to go in a balloon in any of the Legends of the Wasteland, and the Wasteland is not necessarily the Outback of Australia, but Mel Gibson and film director George Miller indubitably are… of Australia, and ballooning as reconnaissance is a main feature of the Mad Max spin-off video game, so here goes: 1500nm in a balloon from somewhere on the edge of the Outback, Goondiwindi, to cross a finish line at Fitzroy Crossing, somewhere on the edge of the Outback!
Race #1974
INFOby brainaid.de
SOL Balloon PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: BOL - SYC
RACE CLOSE: Tuesday,
November 17 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Oct 14th 13:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rumskib
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member cdhinman
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rthinman
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Panpyc
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member brandystrega
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client