Why doesnt byond support linux and macs for playing games?

ID:132419
 
Jan 15 2011, 1:40 pm
I was just curious as to why this is.
Jan 15 2011, 2:06 pm
BYOND is integrated to the Windows API for things like interface controls and drawing the graphics (utilizing DirectX).

I would attempt to port the BYOND software to use the Qt framework, which would let it work on both Linux and Mac, but I haven't been given the opportunity.
Jan 15 2011, 2:42 pm
It does but it doesn't.

There are Linux/Mac versions of the Dream Seeker client, but they don't support many features. They are basically crippled.

Once upon a time, when Byond developers were migrating away from the ailing Windows BitBlt API, OpenGL was considered as an alternative so that we could have a graphical version of the client for other systems, but for some reason they decided to go with DirectX instead which is a Windows API.
Jan 15 2011, 2:53 pm
In response to Loduwijk
Loduwijk wrote:
There are Linux/Mac versions of the Dream Seeker client, but they don't support many features. They are basically crippled.

There hasn't been a version of DreamSeeker for Linux or Mac since before 4.0 (probably since before 3.5, but don't quote me on that).

Once upon a time, when Byond developers were migrating away from the ailing Windows BitBlt API, OpenGL was considered as an alternative so that we could have a graphical version of the client for other systems, but for some reason they decided to go with DirectX instead which is a Windows API.

They used OpenGL in a public release (a few, I believe) but there were apparently performance issues so they switched to DirectX. I think you can manually enable OpenGL through some config.
Jan 15 2011, 2:56 pm
In response to Airjoe
The GL implementation is essentially abandoned to the point of being unusable now.
Jan 15 2011, 2:59 pm
In response to Airjoe
I'm aware that there is a command line version for Linux and mac however you cant even use dream maker other than to compile to make world files which is only helpful for hosting, i was hoping you could at least use full dream maker like it makes it seem when you download it.

If it could run fully functional in wine at the least it would be amazing, let alone being completely for Linux
Jan 15 2011, 3:09 pm
In response to Magykz
DreamMaker is almost fully functioning in Wine, just the icon editor rotate buttons are blank.
Jan 15 2011, 3:13 pm
In response to Stephen001
are there any specific configurations? also what version of wine are you running? because i just tried with 1.3 an hour ago or so and it didnt work.
Jan 15 2011, 3:15 pm
In response to Magykz
I am on Wine 1.3.35, on Gentoo. No special config, just ran the installer and used it.
Jan 15 2011, 9:33 pm
In response to Stephen001
thats weird, i have 1.3.11 on ubuntu and it crashes every time you go to open it.
Jan 15 2011, 11:53 pm
In response to Magykz
go to the linux guild page, there is a wine repository? i dont remember what those things are called. Download that and it works a little better. Although its just not worth it, use windows for byond much more compatible :)
Jan 16 2011, 5:03 am
In response to Rapmaster
We put a guide up on the Linux Guild page, have a look at it and if it's still not working, post on our forums.
http://www.byond.com/members/linuxguild
Jan 17 2011, 3:19 am
The focus seems to be on getting a Flash client. Once this is operational BYOND will transcend all platforms and will work on Mac and Linux alike.

Until then you're going to have to run a virtual machine or dual-boot. It's sad but for all of Microsoft's crap there's one thing they've worked on a lot and that is their API. And BYOND has become so reliant on it that porting it over to another OS would be tricky.
Jan 22 2011, 8:14 am
In response to Android Data
I do run a virtual pc, but when a game is slightly lag it seems to multiply it many times, mainly because its just an average laptop