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News

To avoid having to update a static page with news items, this page simply lists the latest entries of my journal mentioning either Atlantik or monopd.

A tiny bit of fame

Software

In December 2004, ironically the month I took a break from the Internet, Atlantik made Wikipedia. Check out the current Atlantik article on Wikipedia. I actually have been in LinuxMagazine once or twice, plus a few other magazines, so I suppose Atlantik meets the notability requirements?

Monopd back on track?

Software

Don't immediately dismiss those rumours you've heard: it looks like a new monopd release may indeed be around the corner, considering the various signs of activity in that direction:

All in all, it looks like I'm slowly finding the right motivation to get my software projects back on track.

Raiders of the Lost Arch

Software

Good news: I have finally committed the already supplied monopd DOS patch to my Arch archives which I have restored on my private network and will see if there's a way to make it public again. There may be hope for me and this project (along with Atlantik) yet.

Back on-line soon

Personal

I'm not just talking about my personal health, oh no: after fifteen months of absense I will have an Internet connection at home again. The downside is that I might become addicted to night-time MSN sessions once again, but considering my daily commute and active social life that's not too likely so it's worth the risk. The bigger downside is that my new static IP address (rumoured to become 86.87.82.37) will make it very, very tempting to start hosting things at home again just while I was trying to lower my electricity bills.

I'll try and think of any positive notes as well. One that I can already think of will be the ability to update the HorrorPops web site more promptly and to put the Arch archives for my software (such as Atlantik) back on-line, which will tempt me to resume development.

Oh, about that personal health.. almost completely stopped couching. Without visiting any doctors, so my no-claim health care refund remains intact!

Slackware 10.2 packages for Monopd

Software

One benefit of running a 100% vanilla Slackware installation: I can make proper packages for my software once again. If you're running 10.2 and are interested in a hassle-free installation of Monopd: head for the Atlantik download page and marvel at the TGZ packages for libmath++, monopd and libCapsiNetwork.

Or maybe you are really hip and using slapt-get (Slackware's APT) in which case you could just add SOURCE=https://robertjohnkaper.com/downloads/atlantik/slackware-10.2/
 to your /etc/slapt-get/slapt-getrc and a simple --update and --install monopd will fetch and install all packages required for monopd automagically.

Patch against monopd 0.9.3 DOS attack bug

Software

Luigi Auriemma reported a security bug in monopd 0.9.3 which could result in a denial of service by extraneous resource consumption:

The Monopd server makes the string replacement (escapeXML) of some chars in the input data of the client for avoiding the manipulation of its XML output.

The problem is that the replacing of the bad chars takes many CPU and memory if the string is too long (over 15000 chars) so any client in the server will not be able to play and join during the attack.

I have written a proof-of-concept for testing the bug:

http://aluigi.altervista.org/poc/monopdx.zip

A fix against this DOS attacks is available in the form of a patch against monopd 0.9.3, from the Atlantik and monopd download page. It limits the amount of characters accepted from user input involving strings (player names and token images, game descriptions).

More Kiki updates

Software

More Kiki software updates? That's correct: Kiki is the name for the PHP software I have written for this web site and I have been doing some work on it. Yesterday's update on access levels has gotten a follow-up: access levels now work for the journal mail digest! And, if your RSS reader has access to your login cookie, for RSS feeds as well.

What else is new in the geek part of my life? Not much. I'm still waiting for KDE 4 to be released so I can take advantage of KSVG2 for Atlantik. I might even resume development on it when that happens.

Software development is not a huge asset on the dating market though, especially not in the rock scene, so ideas to make it look hip and sexy are welcome!

Atlantik, monopd and libCapsiNetwork

Software

I'm still enjoying my break from software development and when I look at my gig plans I must admit there is still not much room for such activity in the near future (blame all the lovely punk rock girls). But due to popular request I have uploaded the latest versions of all Atlantik related sofware, so go ahead to once again download Atlantik, monopd and libCapsiNetwork straight from the source!

GNU Arch development archives will follow as soon as I resume development. After all, I still have plans to merge the server code and base classes into a single library. And I'd love to see an Atlantik complete with all the wonderful features I envision such as SVG game boards and instant messaging integration. Maybe when I get tired of those punk rock girls I'll start playing with the new Qt and KDE stuff instead!

I am still a geek

Software

A fair share of my life revolves around gigs, offensive hoodies and haircuts, travelling and being nice to (and making out with) pretty girls. Developing SMS games for television and being HorrorPops webmaster do not hurt my social status either. But I am also active in the free software community, so there is no point in denying that despite all the hip properties I am still a geek.

On that note, let me announce that I have started to rebuild project pages for my software, starting with Atlantik, the board game application for KDE. I am still a bit cautious about the new technologies I want to use so I am not actively developing it at the moment, but something tells me I most definitely will do so again in the not too distant future!

The London Game

Urbanity

I'm considering to bid on a copy of The London Game on eBay and hopefully can get the thirty year old original edition. Should be worth a tenner (or five). Seller only ships to UK though, so I'll have to ask Ian whether he'll be my c/o or hope the seller is in London so I could pick it up next week. Or maybe Chris.

It's a wonderful board game, where one has to travel around on the tube map. It is similar to some other travel-based games I've played. I would have to find them as I have forgotten the exact name those, but one was a Monopoly-style airliner game and the other a visit-places across the world game. The London Game adds a bit of Barricade, allowing players to block tube stations. There's no mystery-solving element as seen in Mysteries of Peking, though. And each player has an equal mission, there is no special player like in Scotland Yard.

I'm thinking of getting a copy because I love these kind of games (obviously). But I have also noticed that Monopoly-support in Atlantik is already more advanced and rule-pedantic than the average casual player seems to care about and expanding monopd with another game seems to be the only obvious solution to still stay involved with KDE development despite the busy work and social life.

My last experiments with KSVG still failed and multi-path routes across the board is something definitely lacking in monopd (I maintain my philosophy that it won't be hard, it's just a matter of finding time and motivation to do it).

I might lose interest if any jumpers close down Central, Victoria or the Northern Line next week though, I'll need them to get to my hotel in Queensway and the gigs at the Brixton and Underworld. Oh, and Circle'd better not break down for I think the hotel is actually closer to Bayswater and there's a Subway over there and a chicken/turkey sandwich with pickles, peppers, cheese and bacon plus crisps for brunch sounds like a plan.

And that's just one of the activities KDE users will be sent out to do if I go ahead and make this new game for Atlantik. A board game where you get to be me.

"Go directly to Camden to make out. Do not pass Bank, and since you pull, you do not collect 20 quid because you're not selling the extra ticket for the blink-182 gig."

That's the spirit!

Update: Doh. Charles is visiting next month. He wanted to bring me something UK anyway and what better than something I actually want. (Not the most, but she won't fit in his suitcase.)

New Monopd

Software

Just released a new Monopd, 0.9.2 to be precise. Valgrind found the nasty bug that was in the previous release, and more importantly it contains a bugfix guaranteeing the "correct transfer of properties to the bank when a disconnected player doesn't reconnect in time".

That's good news for Atlantik and KDE users, as all clients out there automatically benefit from these fixes.

© Copyright 1995-2007 Robert John Kaper. All rights reserved.

Tom has more friends but mine are prettier! (#1/1)