function similar to move()

[cbk1994]

Originally Posted by Tigairius

It works fine, and the class is available immediately. The only time I have problems is when I join a class to an object that's already been created, but in my example, it's being joined upon creation.

Joining classes on clientside requires a round-trip to the server; it's not immediately available, although you can use it immediately (in v6). For example:

Class "test":

PHP Code:

//#CLIENTSIDE
public function test() {
  return "it works!";
} 


Weapon "test":

PHP Code:

//#CLIENTSIDE
function onCreated() {
  temp.start = timevar2;
  
  temp.obj = new TStaticVar();
  temp.obj.join("test");
  echo("result: " @ temp.obj.test());
  
  echo("total time: " @ (timevar2 - temp.start));
} 


On a low-latency network, the delay is generally tolerable:

result: it works!
total time: 0.108752069

On an (artificially) high-latency network, however, it becomes a real problem:

result: it works!
total time: 0.901618003

This can be very problematic depending on the situation: the best case is that nothing happens for a second, the worst is that the player's left with a half-drawn interface on the screen while the class is fetched.

And even worse, on v5:

result: 0
total time: 0.000670057

v5 doesn't even wait for the class -- and 32% of Era is still using v5 right now.

An easy fix is to join the class serverside before joining it to any objects clientside:

PHP Code:

function onCreated() {
  this.join("test");
}

//#CLIENTSIDE
function onCreated() {
  temp.start = timevar2;
  
  temp.obj = new TStaticVar();
  temp.obj.join("test");
  echo("result: " @ temp.obj.test());
  
  echo("total time: " @ (timevar2 - temp.start));
} 


Now your clientside class works on v5 and v6, and without waiting for the network .

[xXziroXx]

I share Chris' experience with loading classes on clientside, and even had to write a work around for it:

PHP Code:

//#CLIENTSIDE
function onCreated()
{
//echo("Classes:" SPC player.joinedclasses);
//return;
  temp.classList = {
    "functions_buffs",
    "functions_items",
    "functions_messages",
    "functions_misc",
    "functions_stats",
    "functions_skills",
    "gui_initializer",
    "gui_basics",
    "gui_buff",
    "gui_item",
    "gui_skill",
    "gui_spell",
    "player_system",
    //"quest_npc"
  };
  
  for (temp.className: temp.classList) {
    // Load the class to the player
    if (!player.isInClass(temp.className))
      player.join(temp.className);
    
    // Maybe the class is loaded already?
    if (isClassLoaded(temp.className))
      continue;
    
    loadClass(temp.className);
    
    while (!isClassLoaded(temp.className))
      sleep(0.05);
  }
  
  triggerServer("gui", this.name, "initialized");
} 


Causes a 1-5 second delay in our "login level" depending on your latency when you first login during the session, but it's worth not getting any errors because of classes not having loaded yet.