Author Topic: What happened to the Solaris Skunk Werks? (Read 18248 times)

Domi1981 · « **on:** 06 March 2018, 11:20:42 »

Does anybody know anything? Did the programmer die? Are there any successor programmes?

Tymers Realm · « **Reply #1 on:** 06 March 2018, 11:28:40 »

Best I know is that the developer for SSW has let it go.

As to 'successors'? There MegaMekLabs. It is the most up to date suite there is.
Though honestly I prefer SSW as well. The whole user interface is leaps and bounds better than MML.

Sartris · « **Reply #2 on:** 06 March 2018, 11:47:29 »

LostInSpace left the project and Skyhigh now runs the MUL (plus whatever else he does for that pesky day job) so the two main devs are now gone.

MegaMekLab has a better interface than it did but honestly a clunky GUI doesn’t bother me if it gets the job done.

Isn’t there an online designer that’s pretty good as well?

grimlock1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 06 March 2018, 12:44:10 »

Quote from: Tymers Realm on 06 March 2018, 11:28:40

Best I know is that the developer for SSW has let it go.

As to 'successors'? There MegaMekLabs. It is the most up to date suite there is.
Though honestly I prefer SSW as well. The whole user interface is leaps and bounds better than MML.

Ditto.

Sharpnel · « **Reply #4 on:** 06 March 2018, 17:23:11 »

I still use SSW as I cann't get any of the MegaMek stuff to work.

Fat Guy · « **Reply #5 on:** 06 March 2018, 18:38:55 »

Of the two, SSW is much more user friendly and prints a nicer looking sheet.

Daryk · « **Reply #6 on:** 06 March 2018, 19:29:55 »

And has a very nice "export to clipboard" feature that makes posting 'mechs (and vehicles with SAW!) with code tags very easy.

pheonixstorm · « **Reply #7 on:** 06 March 2018, 21:02:50 »

Any suggestions and complaints for MML should be posted to: https://github.com/MegaMek/megameklab/issues

Or you can discuss everything in the megamek sub-forum on these forums. The most recent changes have been to printing and the ability to create small craft and dropships. Jumpships, etc are planned after stable I believe. Another item at least discussed was updating the UI though I don't know what the exact changes might be.

Brakiel · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 March 2018, 07:10:38 »

It would have been nice if they had open sourced SSW. Then the community could handle updating it. Does anyone know how to contact the former devs?

I am Belch II · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 March 2018, 07:14:08 »

It would be nice for a official unit builder for CBT. I loved the HeavyMetal programs it would be nice to see something like that again.

Domi1981 · « **Reply #10 on:** 07 March 2018, 07:19:52 »

Quote from: Brakiel on 07 March 2018, 07:10:38

It would have been nice if they had open sourced SSW. Then the community could handle updating it. Does anyone know how to contact the former devs?

Maybe I´m wrong but I think this is about license issues with Microsoft again. Its time someone puts out a new brand and recreates Battletech with a modern approach. Maybe not on Alpha Strike level but a bit more streamlined than CBT.

nckestrel · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 March 2018, 07:30:36 »

Quote from: Brakiel on 07 March 2018, 07:10:38

It would have been nice if they had open sourced SSW. Then the community could handle updating it. Does anyone know how to contact the former devs?

https://sourceforge.net/p/sskunkwerks/code/HEAD/tree/

Brakiel · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 March 2018, 07:42:15 »

Quote from: nckestrel on 07 March 2018, 07:30:36

https://sourceforge.net/p/sskunkwerks/code/HEAD/tree/

I thought the Sourceforge version was out of date? 0.6.83.1 was released Sep 11, 2014, and the last commit I see is in 2013.

nckestrel · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 March 2018, 08:53:34 »

Quote from: Brakiel on 07 March 2018, 07:42:15

I thought the Sourceforge version was out of date? 0.6.83.1 was released Sep 11, 2014, and the last commit I see is in 2013.

No idea.

Sartris · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 March 2018, 10:03:33 »

6.83.1 from 9/2014 is on the ssw site

http://www.solarisskunkwerks.com/

Where the source is for that is anyone’s guess

Hammer · « **Reply #15 on:** 07 March 2018, 10:05:30 »

Quote from: Sharpnel on 06 March 2018, 17:23:11

I still use SSW as I cann't get any of the MegaMek stuff to work.

What issues are you having, and what version are you using.

Quote from: Brakiel on 07 March 2018, 07:42:15

I thought the Sourceforge version was out of date? 0.6.83.1 was released Sep 11, 2014, and the last commit I see is in 2013.

That was the last time the programs where worked on.

Quote from: Domi1981 on 07 March 2018, 07:19:52

Maybe I´m wrong but I think this is about license issues with Microsoft again. Its time someone puts out a new brand and recreates Battletech with a modern approach. Maybe not on Alpha Strike level but a bit more streamlined than CBT.

I suspect the Dev's got pulled into the MUL development and that became their new focus.

Quote from: Daryk on 06 March 2018, 19:29:55

And has a very nice "export to clipboard" feature that makes posting 'mechs (and vehicles with SAW!) with code tags very easy.

We've made fixes to this but their is still room for improvement.

Code: [Select]

Archer ARC-2K
Base Tech Level: Introductory (IS)
Level          Era 
-------------------
Experimental    -  
Advanced        -  
Standard      2856+
Tech Rating: D/C-E-D-X

Weight: 70 tons
BV: 1,356
Cost: 6,170,773 C-bills
Source: TRO 3039 - Succession Wars
Role: Missile Boat

Movement: 4/6
Engine: 280
Heat Sinks: 12
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107
Armor: 176/217
                     Internal  Armor    
----------------------------------------
Head                        3      9    
Center Torso               22     29    
Center Torso (rear)                8    
Right Torso                15     20    
Right Torso (rear)                 5    
Left Torso                 15     20    
Left Torso (rear)                  5    
Right Arm                  11     18    
Left Arm                   11     18    
Right Leg                  15     22    
Left Leg                   15     22    

Weapons      Loc  Heat  
------------------------
Large Laser   LA    8   
Large Laser   RA    8   
LRM 15        LT    5   
LRM 15        RT    5   

Ammo         Loc  Shots  
-------------------------
LRM 15 Ammo   LT      8  
LRM 15 Ammo   LT      8  
LRM 15 Ammo   RT      8  
LRM 15 Ammo   RT      8

nckestrel · « **Reply #16 on:** 07 March 2018, 10:18:06 »

Quote from: Sartris on 07 March 2018, 10:03:33

6.83.1 from 9/2014 is on the ssw site

http://www.solarisskunkwerks.com/

Where the source is for that is anyone’s guess

Apparently one fix for MG Arrays is missing. I don't think that's what is keeping anybody from working on SSW.

Alex Keller · « **Reply #17 on:** 07 March 2018, 11:37:54 »

I used to play with SkyHigh. He doesn't have the time/interest as before and so he (like many other BT fans) has taken a step back.

Sharpnel · « **Reply #18 on:** 07 March 2018, 13:08:00 »

Quote from: Hammer on 07 March 2018, 10:05:30

What issues are you having, and what version are you using.

It's 0.41.28 and I'm getting an error that says "The registry refers to a non-existent Java Runtime environment or the Runtime is corrupted. The system cannot find the path specified"

RoundTop · « **Reply #19 on:** 07 March 2018, 13:50:11 »

What is your java version? Go to version 8 and try again.

Sharpnel · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 March 2018, 14:03:34 »

Java is the latest update of Version 8

Hammer · « **Reply #21 on:** 07 March 2018, 14:14:05 »

Quote from: Sharpnel on 07 March 2018, 13:08:00

It's 0.41.28 and I'm getting an error that says "The registry refers to a non-existent Java Runtime environment or the Runtime is corrupted. The system cannot find the path specified"

That's the error for a bad java install. You'd need to uninstall java, then reinstall the latest version of Java 8. Do not grab Java 9 as we don't support it fully.

Sharpnel · « **Reply #22 on:** 07 March 2018, 14:38:11 »

That seemed to work. Thanks for the help

Daryk · « **Reply #23 on:** 07 March 2018, 19:34:20 »

Hammer: that's not bad, but the SSW format includes crits and tons, which I (at least) prefer.

Tymers Realm · « **Reply #24 on:** 07 March 2018, 21:02:12 »

Quote from: Daryk on 07 March 2018, 19:34:20

Hammer: that's not bad, but the SSW format includes crits and tons, which I (at least) prefer.

And Heat Sink placement. Something MMLs formatting doesn't show.

Daryk · « **Reply #25 on:** 07 March 2018, 21:38:32 »

Good point, +1 to that!

SD501st · « **Reply #26 on:** 08 March 2018, 10:39:32 »

Since this thread is already about SSW, I've got a question... or rather, some buggy behaviour that I can't explain.

My SSW seems to have trouble with MG Arrays, when adding them to a Mech none of them have any weight and can't be allocated to the Mechs critical slots... unless you add another non-array MG of the same type as well. :o

Another problem is that Battlemech turrets don't seem to weigh anything even when the location they are in is stuffed full of weapons. ???

Tymers Realm · « **Reply #27 on:** 08 March 2018, 10:42:30 »

Quote from: SD501st on 08 March 2018, 10:39:32

Another problem is that Battlemech turrets don't seem to weigh anything even when the location they are in is stuffed full of weapons. ???

Once you have the turret and weapons in the location you want, you then have to rt click on each weapon and select 'Add to Turret'. Then SSW will include the turret weight.

SD501st · « **Reply #28 on:** 08 March 2018, 10:46:26 »

Quote from: Tymers Realm on 08 March 2018, 10:42:30

Once you have the turret and weapons in the location you want, you then have to rt click on each weapon and select 'Add to Turret'. Then SSW will include the turret weight.

Ahh, thank you! Now I can finally make designs with turrets without having to keep track of the consumed tonnage in my head and remember to leave that amount of tonnage free. ^-^

Tymers Realm · « **Reply #29 on:** 08 March 2018, 10:51:29 »

No worries.
I've been playing with Quads and turrets recently in SSW. You also have to rt click to armor a component and a good number of other things in SSW, but you get used to it.