Oolite Bulletins

I'm making the switch to Mint due to the loss of functionality in Ubuntu 12.04 Precise, however, I can't seem to get Oolite to run. I'm using the 64-bit version from Oolite.org. When it does run it is very buggy - pulling weirdness like oscilating between full screen and window . Another time I got it to run it was taxing the first processor to the max. The machine is a Gateway DX4860, amd 64, with 6 Gigs of RAM and, I guess unfortunately, Intel HD grahics. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

CommRLock78 wrote:

I'm making the switch to Mint due to the loss of functionality in Ubuntu 12.04 Precise, however, I can't seem to get Oolite to run. I'm using the 64-bit version from Oolite.org.

Damn! I meant to create a sweepstake on how long it would be before we got the first 12.04 question.

How do you feel about not bothering with v12.04 amd64 for playing Oolite for at least a month? New operating systems are always a pain, especially for non-mainstream software. Does the prospect of doing the testing fill you with excitement and pride, or fear and loathing?

Oh, yes, and please post a Latest.log

LOL - Actually, Oolite was running fine on even the Beta Ubuntu 12.04, I wasn't happy with really, the loss of ability with configurations - dconf didn't seem to do a bloody thing, simple lightdm wouldn't change the background in ldm. It just seems like it was harder to customize and configure than it should be. Also, X would completely freeze trying to run Google earth. So there were lots of problems. I really like Mint so far, but I'm really not happy that I can't do my bounty hunting

Latest.log:
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00:48:49.670 [log.header]: Opening log for Oolite version 1.76 (x86-64 test release) under Linux at 2012-04-28 00:48:49 -0700.
4 processors detected.
Build options: spoken messages, mass/fuel pricing, JavaScript console support, OXP verifier, localization tools, debug GraphViz support, JavaScript profiling.

Note that the contents of the log file can be adjusted by editing logcontrol.plist.

00:48:49.768 [display.mode.list.native]: X11 native resolution detected: 1280 x 1024
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I haven't put any OXP's in the AddOn folder yet, BTW. Oh, yeah, and the last time I lauched trying from the terminal I got the "Segmentation Fault" error. I tried '/home/robert/GNUstep/Applicatons/Oolite/oolite' -nosplash, with no success, however, I'm not sure that's the right syntax (I'm still a little green in Linux)...

that log should be a lot longer, even without any oxps installed.

Can you post the output of ?

that log should be a lot longer, even without any oxps installed.

That's all there was, in both the latest and previous...

Here's the output on glxinfo, as well as some video information I thought might be helpful.

$ glxinfo | grep renderer
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa DRI Intel(R) Sandybridge Desktop

$ sudo lshw -c video
*-display
description: VGA compatible controller
product: 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 09
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
resources: irq:45 memory:fe000000-fe3fffff memory:c0000000-cfffffff ioport:f000(size=64)

$ sudo modinfo i915
filename: /lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915.ko
license: GPL and additional rights
description: Intel Graphics
author: Tungsten Graphics, Inc.
license: GPL and additional rights
srcversion: 102B52E4C43F087D34EF575
alias: pci:v00008086d0000015Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000162sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000152sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000166sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000156sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000010Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000126sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000116sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000106sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000122sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000112sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000102sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000046sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00000042sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000A011sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000A001sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002E92sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002E42sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002E32sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002E22sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002E12sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002E02sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002A42sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002A12sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002A02sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d000029D2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d000029C2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d000029B2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d000029A2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002992sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002982sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002972sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d000027AEsv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d000027A2sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002772sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002592sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000258Asv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002582sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002572sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d0000358Esv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00003582sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00002562sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
alias: pci:v00008086d00003577sv*sd*bc03sc*i*
depends: drm,drm_kms_helper,video,i2c-algo-bit
vermagic: 3.0.0-12-generic SMP mod_unload modversions
parm: modeset:int
parm: fbpercrtc:int
parm: panel_ignore_lid:int
parm: powersave:int
parm: semaphores:int
parm: i915_enable_rc6:int
parm: i915_enable_fbc:int
parm: lvds_downclock:int
parm: lvds_use_ssc:int
parm: vbt_sdvo_panel_type:int
parm: reset:bool

[quote]filename: /lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915.ko[/code]

The Sandy bridge architecture is supposed to have seen lots of improvements lately, and you seem to be running a 3.0 kernel which is getting a bit old (Latest released kernel is 3.3 ).
will give details about the kernel and processor.

What are the versions of xf86-video-intel and intel-dri you are using ?

Sorry about the delay there - I had to get some sleep!

Here's the output from aname -a

Linux **me**-DX4860 3.0.0-12-generic #20-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 7 14:56:25 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

I was thinking about the kernel and wondering about that, since it does seem kind of old, but Mint updater hasn't offered up anything newer yet...

I just did a search in Synaptic for the i915 driver - version 2:2.15.901-lubuntu2 but there's an upgrade too ...-lubuntu2.1. I'm going to install that and look into any kernel updates that just haven't come up through update manager.

I wasn't able to find anything about xf86-video-intel, I did a complete search on my system for it.

OK, so one thing I've noticed with all of these problems is the short-range view (F6) is the quickest crash, however, if I exit the station, the performance seems pretty smooth (again, I haven't installed any OXP's yet). I updated the kernel as well. Firstly, since I was able to get out of the station, I managed to get a more complete log:
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18:56:23.297 [log.header]: Opening log for Oolite version 1.76 (x86-64 test release) under Linux at 2012-04-28 18:56:23 -0700.
4 processors detected.
Build options: spoken messages, mass/fuel pricing, JavaScript console support, OXP verifier, localization tools, debug GraphViz support, JavaScript profiling.

Note that the contents of the log file can be adjusted by editing logcontrol.plist.

18:56:23.410 [display.mode.list.native]: X11 native resolution detected: 1280 x 1024
18:56:23.424 [joystick.init]: Number of joysticks detected: 0
18:56:23.437 [searchPaths.dumpAll]: Unrestricted mode - resource paths:
~/GNUstep/Applications/Oolite/oolite.app/Resources
AddOns
AddOns/Basic-debug.oxp
18:56:23.437 [rendering.opengl.version]: OpenGL renderer version: 2.1.0 ("2.1 Mesa 7.11"). Vendor: "Tungsten Graphics, Inc". Renderer: "Mesa DRI Intel(R) Sandybridge Desktop ".
18:56:23.437 [rendering.opengl.extensions]: OpenGL extensions (139):
GL_ARB_framebuffer_sRGB, GL_ARB_depth_texture, GL_ARB_texture_env_add, GL_EXT_pixel_buffer_object, GL_EXT_texture_compression_rgtc, GL_ARB_half_float_vertex, GL_IBM_multimode_draw_arrays, GL_EXT_texture3D, GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array, GL_NV_vertex_program1_1, GL_ARB_framebuffer_object, GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, GL_EXT_shadow_funcs, GL_ARB_shader_texture_lod, GL_EXT_texture_cube_map, GL_EXT_rescale_normal, GL_ATI_draw_buffers, GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, GL_ARB_texture_compression_rgtc, GL_ARB_half_float_pixel, GL_EXT_stencil_two_side, GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp, GL_ARB_multisample, GL_ATI_separate_stencil, GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two, GL_INGR_blend_func_separate, GL_EXT_bgra, GL_ARB_sync, GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3, GL_EXT_provoking_vertex, GL_APPLE_packed_pixels, GL_NV_light_max_exponent, GL_ARB_sampler_objects, GL_SUN_multi_draw_arrays, GL_ARB_map_buffer_range, GL_ARB_vertex_shader, GL_ARB_shader_objects, GL_NV_texgen_reflection, GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays, GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_IBM_rasterpos_clip, GL_EXT_texture_object, GL_ATI_texture_env_combine3, GL_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB, GL_NV_texture_env_combine4, GL_ARB_fragment_coord_conventions, GL_EXT_stencil_wrap, GL_EXT_texture_swizzle, GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit, GL_MESA_pack_invert, GL_ARB_vertex_array_bgra, GL_NV_packed_depth_stencil, GL_ARB_texture_compression, GL_ARB_vertex_array_object, GL_EXT_blend_color, GL_EXT_blend_minmax, GL_ARB_texture_swizzle, GL_APPLE_vertex_array_object, GL_EXT_subtexture, GL_MESA_texture_signed_rgba, GL_ARB_point_sprite, GL_ARB_depth_clamp, GL_NV_depth_clamp, GL_EXT_vertex_array, GL_EXT_abgr, GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object, GL_NV_blend_square, GL_EXT_framebuffer_multisample, GL_ATI_envmap_bumpmap, GL_NV_conditional_render, GL_NV_texture_rectangle, GL_ARB_multitexture, GL_EXT_texture, GL_ARB_seamless_cube_map, GL_EXT_vertex_array_bgra, GL_ARB_copy_buffer, GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex, GL_APPLE_object_purgeable, GL_ARB_shadow, GL_EXT_blend_subtract, GL_EXT_separate_shader_objects, GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow, GL_MESA_window_pos, GL_ARB_window_pos, GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias, GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_EXT_texture_snorm, GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar, GL_ARB_point_parameters, GL_EXT_texture_sRGB_decode, GL_ARB_robustness, GL_ARB_texture_rg, GL_EXT_timer_query, GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp, GL_EXT_copy_texture, GL_EXT_texture_sRGB, GL_MESA_ycbcr_texture, GL_ARB_texture_env_combine, GL_ARB_fragment_program, GL_ARB_explicit_attrib_location, GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic, GL_EXT_draw_range_elements, GL_EXT_blend_logic_op, GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object, GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil, GL_ARB_texture_rectangle, GL_EXT_fog_coord, GL_ARB_ES2_compatibility, GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1, GL_EXT_gpu_program_parameters, GL_APPLE_client_storage, GL_ARB_fragment_shader, GL_OES_EGL_image, GL_EXT_polygon_offset, GL_ARB_shading_language_100, GL_SGIS_texture_border_clamp, GL_EXT_secondary_color, GL_EXT_point_parameters, GL_ARB_draw_buffers, GL_NV_vertex_program, GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap, GL_EXT_draw_buffers2, GL_EXT_texture_rectangle, GL_ATI_blend_equation_separate, GL_OES_read_format, GL_EXT_blend_func_separate, GL_ARB_texture_cube_map, GL_ARB_occlusion_query, GL_EXT_framebuffer_object, GL_EXT_packed_pixels, GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3, GL_ARB_provoking_vertex, GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate, GL_ARB_color_buffer_float, GL_EXT_texture_env_add, GL_EXT_texture_env_combine, GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp
18:56:23.440 [rendering.opengl.shader.support]: Shaders are supported.
18:56:23.440 [speech.synthesis]: Spoken messages are off.
18:56:23.579 [script.javascript.init]: JavaScript reset successful.
18:56:23.583 [script.load.world.listAll]: Loaded 5 world scripts:
oolite-cloaking-device 1.76
oolite-constrictor-hunt 1.76
oolite-nova 1.76
oolite-thargoid-plans 1.76
oolite-trumbles 1.76
18:56:24.058 [debugTCP.disconnect]: No connection to debug console: "Connection to debug console failed: 'NSPOSIXErrorDomain 111' (outStream status: 7, inStream status: 7)."
18:56:24.058 [debugTCP.disconnect]: No connection to debug console: "Connection to debug console failed: 'unknown error.' (outStream status: 0, inStream status: 0)."
18:56:24.058 [debugTCP.connect.failed]: Failed to connect to debug console at address 127.0.0.1:8563.
18:56:24.058 [loading.complete]: ========== Loading complete. ==========
18:58:04.857 [gameController.exitApp]: .GNUstepDefaults synchronized.

Closing log at 2012-04-28 18:58:04 -0700.
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Here's the output of uname -a with the new kernel:

Linux **Me**-DX4860 3.2.0-030200rc4-generic #201112012035 SMP Fri Dec 2 01:36:30 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
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I have tried the window resizing thing, but not while trying to go F6 - I'll try it now.
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Update: I tried that, and it still freaked out when I go to the short range chart, but I feel like I'm getting closer to making this thing work. Piloting around the station doesn't seem like there's any trouble there. There's something about going to that short range chart that makes it goofy - like all the sudden oolite's using up all the system resources. Under the new kernel I can go tty, usally, and reboot from there - sometimes MATE even recovers by itself after a few moments.

I am at a loss though at the moment....

Thargoid wrote:

I'm just using plain 12.04, as the Mint installer didn't see my Win7 installation when I tried to make a dual-boot with it, and I'm not willing to risk my main installation just to play with Linux

Odd, I had problems with grub installing 12.04 on my machine (I'm running dual boot, too, but ever since I've made the switch I've hardly used Windows 7 at all - I've been able to do all the important computing tasks with Linux (as well as my most important gaming, until now), so only for the very occasional windows game do I even use windows anymore). I also was getting tired of the "mother may I?" routine with microsoft and the closed-source world anyway.

I think I may be able to help with the Mint install, however. I've noticed it's very important to not use the default bootloader on the installation media. If the installer still doesn't recognize that Windows is installed, I would probably start over again creating the installer. If Windows is recognized, then you may still have to use the "something else" option (I've had to several times, including with this Mint install). You'll need to go into the partition manager, erase you're current Linux partition, and then tell it to mount at " / ". You should be good to go, but it was wise to be cautious when the installer didn't see the other OS. I encourage you to give it a try, I'm new to Linux, too, since about February, but I will tell something beyond just poking fun at Windows - Mint is fabulous. It is basically Ubuntu minus the unstability plus great ease of use and SPEEDINESS. It is definitely snappy.

Thargoid wrote:

I've been playing with the graphics drivers on my machine (as there are others on offer, but not open source ones) and if I upgrade then I lose the problem (the windows just open normally).

I'm guessing drivers from the Ubuntu repositories? I was talking to a friend about my problems and he brought up the fact that since Sandy Bridge architecture is so new, even the very firmware may still be a little sketchy at best. I haven't looked into any firmware updates in the past week or so, but I think my machine is still a bit new to be seeing much of that just yet. (It's a good thing I have Windows for that reason, although I've heard Intel is starting to support Linux in its firmware updating, I'm not sure just how to go about doing that yet).

Thanks for your help though, man. I'll get this game to work one way or the other. I'm not giving up just yet, and I'm pretty set in my choice of Linux distro - at least for the meantime.

I just snapped to the fact that you are THE Thargoid - thanks for the great OXPs! I know I have a few of your's installed!

Thargoid wrote:

The Ubuntu install is via Wubi, and I have Mint on a USB keydrive. That is what I was using to try and make the dual-boot install (via a Live User session from the key) when it wasn't seeing the Win7 install. I do have an old USB DVD drive around somewhere, but it was rather a faff to make a disc from the Mint ISO just to try that. The live user set-up works OK if a bit flaky at times, but it's good enough (although a little slow occasionally due to running from USB).

I forgot about Wubi- I haven't actually tried it. When I got this new machine I was replacing an old, but still chugging Dell Dimension 4600i (in desperate need of more RAM). As soon as I got this one home I divided up the disk into three partitions, giving a nice chunky partition of 190GB (out of 1 TB) to Linux, 230 GB for Windows and the other for long-term storage. As far as Windows 7, I'm actually quite impressed, it is a very mature OS - and a big improvement from Vista - which I had avoided as much as I could. It's interesting to see that they seem to be making Windows a more Unix-like OS, even though its kernel structure is completely different from Linux.

I was just personally tired of
1) home page changes
2) threat of viruses
3) an operating system which gets seems to grow and grow, with veracious appetite for disk space (in constantly updating) and for resources (as I understand it, dll files are kept in memory, even after a program has closed, this is why programs seem to start so "fast" the second time being launched in a session)
4) lack of capability - you don't have the control over your computer in Windows like you do in Linux. In Linux you tell the computer what to do, not the other way around.
5) non-free and closed source - while I'm not a programmer by trade, I am a late gen-xer. My first computer was a TI-99 and I still have one. So I do know a little about programming going from back in the days of Basic and Assembly. Hell, I'm sure we wouldn't be here if it weren't for GNU and the open source philosophy.
6) as I stated earlier "mother may I do this to my computer?"

But again, I'm not here to harp on it, its no really different than choice of Linux distro (or even worse, these days, which desktop environment your using) - it is a personal choice that depends on your needs, tastes, and comforts.

Forgive me if what follows is unhelpful and irrelevant twoddle.

I've now got Linux Mint 12 and I see in its Release Notes it is "based on Ubuntu 11.10".

CommRLock78 wrote:

Here's the output from uname -a

Linux **me**-DX4860 3.0.0-12-generic #20-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 7 14:56:25 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

And I get from the Mint boot DVD:

Linux Mint 12 installation DVD wrote:

Linux mint 3.0.0-12-generic #20-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 7 14:56:25 UTC 2011 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

My up-to-date Xubuntu 11.10 says:

Xubuntu 11.10 wrote:

Linux SandJX64 3.0.0-17-generic #30-Ubuntu SMP Thu Mar 8 20:45:39 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

So I was wrong to assume you are using a Ubuntu 12.04 derivative. Your Linux Mint 12 should be much more stable than that - especially since I now understand that is a design intention for Mint.