The public build has been updated with the latest available version of the game! As usual, since the nightly build has merged to the public version, the nightly build has been disabled until the next cycle.

Backend rework

A massive re-implementation of several key game systems has been carried out, such as world generation, script management, interaction with files and devices in general, database management, etc. This brings several notable improvements, particularly in the Multiplayer mode, where in addition to a significant improvement in script execution speed, the server is now capable of monitoring scripts to prevent excessive resource usage that could cause server performance issues when players executed certain scripts. In addition to the backend improvements, a new gameplay element has been added, Capture the Flag events! Players can create their own missions to be solved by other players, earning some money in the process.

CPU Limit & Ram Limit

These are the systems responsible for balancing server load. Cpu Limit assigns a CPU execution time for each player. If the player exceeds this allocated time, CPU Limit will slow down the scripts so that they do not exceed this limit. For example, having a script that runs an infinite loop, even if it is empty, will trigger CPU Limit, which will moderately slow down the script. The more scripts running at the same time that are triggering CPU limit, the slower they will all go in order to not exceed the CPU time assigned to the player. A good practice to avoid triggering CPU Limit is to introduce waits in parts of your program where it is not necessary to be running at full capacity, such as in iterations of an infinite loop. A wait(0.1) in the appropriate place will be sufficient to avoid triggering CPU limit in most cases, as by waiting we are saving CPU time. In addition to wait, the user_input method resets CPU limit for that script. On the other hand, RAM Limit is responsible for monitoring the real RAM memory usage on the server that is being used by the players' scripts. At the moment, the limit is approximately 512mb, once that point is reached, RAM Limit will stop the program with a notice in the terminal. 512mb is a more than generous amount of memory for a script, if RAM Limit closes any of your scripts, it would be advisable to review your implementation as you are reserving much more memory than necessary. It is important to note that CPU Limit and RAM limit are only present in Multiplayer mode.

World generation & Database management

Several aspects of database management have been re-implemented to avoid saving redundant data, which was causing very large database sizes over time. This also caused performance to gradually decline as queries were taking longer and longer to execute. Now each network is generated from a seed and only the device data is saved in the database when any change occurs. This allows for performing database maintenance under optimal conditions, as from now on semi-wipes of the database will be possible to keep consistent performance over time. When these semi-wipes occur, the impact on players will be minimal. It will only affect NPC networks, and the result for the player will be the same as if the NPC admin had restored the computers in a network.

Capture the Flag

Or commonly called CTF, are missions that players can create. You can visit any Hackshop to see the list of available missions. To create a mission, you first need to rent a server. This rented network will be used as a template for the networks that will spawn when players accept your mission. In these missions, both the creators and the players who solve them receive money. The more players solve and rate your missions, the more money you can make.

Overwiew

In the coming weeks, I will fix regression bugs that may have escaped us during the nightly build. When I consider that the Public version is stable, the next cycle of the nightly build will begin. The next nightly build, unlike this one, will be dedicated practically entirely to introducing new gameplay elements. You can check the Roadmap to see the progress of development. Happy hacking!