Cross Server Chat

[Luke-Jr]

I prupose armagetron adopt console_columns 150 as the default size of chat.

Better would be to set font size as a real value, rather than a percentage of screen size. 150 columns will always be way too tiny on a handheld system, and way too small on some big 40" display. In any case, a variable column count probably screws up MOTDs...

[Jonathan]

150 columns will always be way too tiny on a handheld system, and way too small on some big 40" display.

In other words, the letters are tiny on a handheld system, and the number of columns is way too small on 40". Although the latter doesn't seem too unreasonable. Viewed from a larger distance etcetera, and there's simply a lot of space. Don't have to avoid big just because you can still read it when it's smaller. Should 40" also have a FOV of 150 degrees?

[Z-Man]

Depends on how close you are to it. Do we even have a good way of querying the physical screen size?

Anyway, there already is a lower limit to the pixel size of the console font. It can't get smaller than the small version of the bitmap font. Should be perfectly readable on a handheld, they typically have a low enough resolution (what you say? new iPhone? shoo, go away.) So I see no reason not to increase the number of columns, 80 was really just the default value set back when 800x600 qualified as high resolution.

And no, the layout of a GOOD MOTD would not be screwed up by making the font smaller. The server admins should already be aware of different font sizes and set manual \ns.

[Luke-Jr]

Depends on how close you are to it. Do we even have a good way of querying the physical screen size?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure SDL must have *some* way to at least get DPI. From that, we can calculate the physical view area (not necessarily fullscreen)... there is still the distance-from-display aspect, but nobody else has really solved that either, except in theory (IIRC, a TrollTech blog suggested a ratio-based unit size...)

Anyway, there already is a lower limit to the pixel size of the console font. It can't get smaller than the small version of the bitmap font. Should be perfectly readable on a handheld, they typically have a low enough resolution (what you say? new iPhone? shoo, go away.) So I see no reason not to increase the number of columns, 80 was really just the default value set back when 800x600 qualified as high resolution.

Why is there a lower limit? Handhelds tend to have higher resolution, not lower... But to date, I personally feel that everything should assume a 640x480 standard (and work at that resolution). If we do increase this number, can we force a wrap-around at 80 characters for the MOTD to discourage/prevent people from breaking that setting?

And no, the layout of a GOOD MOTD would not be screwed up by making the font smaller. The server admins should already be aware of different font sizes and set manual \ns.

What difference do font sizes matter if there are always (for the most part) 80 columns? Manual \ns just make the problem worse...

[Z-Man]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure SDL must have *some* way to at least get DPI.

Nnnnope. At least I couldn't find one.

Why is there a lower limit?

To keep the text at least theoretically readable. The small font is designed to be pretty much the smallest, not terribly ugly, font that is still readable if you display it pixel by pixel. Make it smaller, and it gets unreadable quickly.

Handhelds tend to have higher resolution, not lower

In terms of DPI, yes. But you also hold them closer to your eyes. Personally, I wouldn't let a computer monitor get closer than arms length. Besides, IMHO, handheld related problems should be handled at configure/compile time anyway. At least the possibility that a build may run on a handheld.

can we force a wrap-around at 80 characters for the MOTD to discourage/prevent people from breaking that setting?

We already do The MOTD is not only displayed on the console, but also in a fullscreen message. Those are unaffected by CONSOLE_ROWS.

And no, the layout of a GOOD MOTD would not be screwed up by making the font smaller. The server admins should already be aware of different font sizes and set manual \ns.

What difference do font sizes matter if there are always (for the most part) 80 columns? Manual \ns just make the problem worse...

Umm, what are you getting at there? The previous suggestion of forcing 80 column line breaks for the MOTD?

[Shock]

Oh, alright.