1.8.4.7 locked out?

I downloaded the 1.8.4.7 client and am greeted with a message that I have to upgrade.

There is no newer client to download.

Pressing download causes a crash:
2006-03-15T21:24:25Z INFO: Calling updater: '/home/kovu/sl/SecondLife_1_8_4_7/AutoUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/AutoUpdater' -userserver userserver.agni.lindenlab.com -name "Second Life" &
2006-03-15T21:24:25Z INFO: remove_marker_file()
sh: /home/kovu/sl/SecondLife_1_8_4_7/AutoUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/AutoUpdater: No such file or directory

(trying to use the MacOS updater, I saw a post about this in a previous client as well)

Though looking over recent entries, it seems people are still able to play... So what am I doing wrong?

As I understand it, the whole grid is offline until 3pm PST.

Although I don't know anything about the Linux client itself.

I have not tried the linux client personally but if i understand correctly, if an update is mandatory to continue playing, the linux client will be locked out until someone releases an updated version sometime within the next few days.

However i have no way to test that because we are ALL locked out until 3pm PST, and i dont have linux on my linux machine anymore The harddrive is totally wasted.

I hope you find a means to play

Lindon provided a Linux client in alpha for us to test/use. They want us to report bugs so they will be able to reach a broader audience.

At a certain point in time the switch the system to the next version and instruct us to upgrade to a version that does not exist yet.

The will not let us use the latest available client we just downloaded. They will not give an official estimate for when the new version will be available. And not apologize for the inconvenience. They do not give us any workaround suggestion, like try to run the Windows version under Wine. They do not give us an official notice that this is the case, just let us figure this on our own.

I hope I misunderstood the hole situation, because otherwise this is down right disrespectful.

You do. The situation is that you are being offered free access to a preview.

Also, in reality Karen did post advance notice that the Linux client may not be ready today. The preview comment is also valid, considering they label this as an Alpha staged client. Generally speaking, Alpha is a developmental release for selected/limited testing where as Beta releases are more wide spread as SL has made this for us.

I hope the new version is out really quickly, but I will be patient if it is not.

--Val

I dropped Don a line in email about it. Hopefully he can get it compiled and pushed out for us soon.

Yes, I know what the definition of an alpha software is: "The API is not yet stable, we can not promise anything. All your hair may fall off if you will use it."

But I was speaking of a mere decency. You know that the client is going to break? Update the http://secondlife.com/community/linux-alpha.php page. There are lot's of FOSS publications out there that point to that URL, and while you do not do this people will keep download the obsolete version, and find this out only AFTER installation.

Put on THAT URL an explanation, and a link to a developer blog or something. Put a direct link to something like /263/28/93797/1.html (SL + wine).

We are costumers, or potential costumers. Hell, we are people. We deserve more respect then this.

I think Linden Lab dropped the ball on this one.

You have not been there when they updated from 1.8.4.6 to 1.8.4.7, were you?

This time they announced very early that the linux client will not be done in time, so we had lots of time to find alternatives or just make ourselves comfortable with the situation. As a user of alpha software you should read the forum for the client on a regular basis to be informed about anything happening to the software. However, I think you're right about the web page. They should stop offering the old linux client in the moment it's obsolete, since the update mechanism does not work yet. A message like: "The 1.9 Linux Client will be here later, for now use wine and READ THE FORUM" could save some people from trouble.

I see it even more limited: it is an ALPHA, meaning that we who use it are testers, not SL Residents.

There IS no SL Linux Client

Actually, we should all be SO happy that we do not have to test for a while ROFL!

But I feel exactly the same pain as everyone who is using it: it is GREAT, and it is LINUX, and it is SL! And it is not here

I think we should start a new group, called "Linux Withdrawal Help Group", for the times when we cannot do Free Alpha Testing for LL (otherwise known as, FINALLY a Linix Client! Hold me back!!!) Members will be called "Linux Cold Turkey", officers "Linux Client down? Call " or something...

Not at all. It seems to be the case that Linden Labs never actually had hold of the ball in the first place.

Assuming that the client and server interact just to check version numbers (and not that there isn't some bigass fundamental incompatibility between versions), could there not be a quick patch released to merely have the 1.8.4.7 client report itself as being 1.9.x.fudge_factor?

... second question: bearing in mind that clients are out for Windows and MacOSX, does this mean that a) there are three separate codebases being developed? Or b) are the Windows and Mac versions merely ports from the same, cross-platform-capable written code?


If (a), I can certainly see why there'd be huge holdups and yet am amazed a Mac codebase exists and is being updated equally... (it's not like I've the time or experience to decompile everything and see if this is the case, but the "click to download to your applications folder" comment makes me suspect the Linux codebase is ported from MacOSX...?)

If (b), there must be some rational reason for the holdup. Would it not ease some tensions if some announcement were made as to why? Not to mention a non-committed rough estimate? (I think that point might've already happened here...?)

... I'm a newbie so feel free to disregard what I say here; but the reason I leapt to get myself signed up was because I caught a [Slashdot|Digg] post saying that a Linux client had been made available.

... yes, I have Windows at home (to capture video on a Pinnacle and to play the occasional, rare game)... but 'twas the Linux announcement that made me seriously leap to join. I mean, if I have to expose my Windows boot to the net, I might as well ditch it and just play SWBattlefront II instead.

... and as for running Wine... hey, I only recently got accelerated nVidia support running on this Debian box; aside from the encourage-the-development-of-Linuxware factor, I just haven't had time to sit and set Wine up.

No attitude intended; I own no asbestos clothing. Be gentle with me, it's my first time. Thanks, all.

Well.. As Karen Linden said in another thread, apparently the person that's maintaining the Linux code was busy on another project. I really hope they the Linux client gets more attention as time goes on...

According to Karen's post, there are different libraries involved. so it is more than just a version number thing.

Different libraries means, the old SL client will not be able to do anything with the data it gets from the servers

So I guess we need a bit more patience.