Is SL primarily server or client-based?

Greetings, all. I'm pretty new here (still on the 'test run' to see if it's something I want to spend money being a part of), and I'm a little confused here about how SL operates. Is SL primarily server-based, or client-based?

What I mean is, it appears that in order to use a new outfit (say, a shirt), or create a new primitive, or even something as simple as adjusting your avatar via the sliders, you need to be logged onto the system. This struck me as very odd, and so I was wondering if I'm missing something.

For example, I rather assumed that the client would allow me to adjust my avatar, set outfits, fiddle with colors, equipment or other similar stuff while I was offline. However, I don't see where I can do so (and in fact, don't even see where the data files associated with those would be stored on my PC). It strikes me that the servers only need to know what your avatar looks like while you are online, so why is all that stored on the server (taking up vast quantities of storage space), and why does all that need to be adjusted and applied only while online (thereby taking up bandwidth, promoting lag, etc.)?

I rather expected a situation where most of my information is stored client-side (with obvious exceptions, such as buildings and other objects that are persistent in the game world regardless of whether their owners are online). For that matter, I also rather expected a way to create all your objects and such offline as well -- I've seen lots of houses, buildings and other structures only partially completed -- couldn't a way be made so that the members can create their objects and such on their client -- offline -- and then, when they are satisfied, upload it to the servers? Is there some sort of client-side utility program maybe that I'm missing? Or does everything related to the game really require you to be logged on first?

I'm sorry if these are rather silly questions, but I've never dealt with a persistant member-created world such as SL before. I was just a little surprised that so much of it seemed to be server-side -- it srikes me that it would be much simpler if a lot of stuff was done client-side -- not only would it be less storage-intenive for LL, but it would also cut down on the bandwidth needed, and best of all, keep the realm of responsibility for data loss via computer crash more on the user's end, not LL's.

I'd say server-based.

SL is server based so people can't get in and monkey around with the files and possibly copy or change things they shouldn't

Hi SL is a classic client/server application where a large app lives on the client, your pc (what is it 20M or so?) and the database and some other funcitonality are at the server side. Another architecture would be to run it right out of your browser, then it would be completely server based.

Middy.

for the record, this is not me posting as a newbie alt. i can't even figure out how to pronouce Koribouros Eldritch.

all the persitent data has to be server based. avs, objects, textures, even the landscape can be altered on a whim so it's best stored and downloaded consitently.

there is no sensible answer to your other question. there is no good reason that we don't have an offline object and av editor. it's a critical oversight that hasn't cost ll any customers yet.

oh bugger, i'm supposed to just be playing the game.

doh

98.9% server based.



No, you're not missing something. That's the way it's designed, and there are very few reasons to make it anything otherwise.



Certainly, the server only "needs" to know what you look like when you're online, but everyone online needs to know what you look like while you are online. If they can connect to SL's servers, but not to you, how are they supposed to see you? And what's the point of re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-uploading your avatar for the twenty billionth time you connect, when you can just save the bloody thing on their servers at all times?

Also, if you uninstall and reinstall SL, your avatar data is still saved. The way you're thinking it should be done, you'd lose your outfits and other things the moment you uninstalled.



Why?

One BAD thing about letting people create offline and upload would be a situation similar to what we've seen with email communication between objects and the outside world in SL. Enough people start doing it, and enough people start doing it too often, and you overload the system.

Why create offline tools when you have to be online to use what you create anyway?



Hrm. You've never even played something like Ultima Online, World of Warcraft, or anything else? All those store data server side too. In fact... I don't know of ANY MMO that allows offline editing of things for upload, with the occasional exception of clan related tags/graphics, and POSSIBLY that "There" place (though I've never worked in There so I don't even know for sure). And allowing uploads of graphics into MMOs is something that's EXTREMELY rare, if it exists at all.

That said, it would INCREASE bandwidth usage, not decrease it, as you'd have to upload everything to the server every time you connected. And the amount of "data loss protection" would be SLIM, considering that most of the world is made of objects, not your "l33t clothes".