Is it normal to have AGS problems that nobody else sees?

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

I continually find bugs and crashes with AGS that nobody else seems to get, and I put it down to the fact that I seem to use the program in ways that nobody else does. For example, my games all link together so I make heavy use of RunAGSgame and often have multiple copies of the AGS editor open.

I've noticed that others also use AGS in unusual ways (for 3D games, etc.). So is it quite common to be "out on a limb" like this?

[Dualnames]

Not really. I've figured out like 3-4 major AGS bugs with HHGTG. And that's because you're doing very specific stuff, not just a sierra interface.

[Igor Hardy]

In my case, not really. And I must say I assumed it's very rare anyone does, because the available functions in the newest AGS versions seem so well tested in all circumstances.

And that's because you're doing very specific stuff, not just a sierra interface.

When exactly does a non-standard interface become a problem? I did a lot of custom changes to the templates I used for my own game, but I don't see how they could ever break AGS itself - they're all done based on simple functions and lots of parameters.

The most serious problem I had so far (and quite recently) is I needed to have the viewport sometimes not centered on the main character without locking it in a set position. I was very surprised that there isn't a feature like that in AGS. I had to use a very work-around solution to achieve the desired effect.

[Radiant]

That's normal, and yes, you should tell CJ about it.

[Questionable]

That's normal, and yes, you should tell CJ about it.

Isn't there a "report a bug" thing somewhere? I thought I remembered seeing something like that.

Anywho, as a side note: If you are having problems that nobody else see's or seems to understand in real life, you should ALSO tell CJ about it and then seek professional help. You would be what we call: "A Lunatic."  =P

Good luck to ya!

[Danman]

Hello fellow " Lunatic" I always get bugs and stuff in AGS which is usually from being a Novice at scripting
But what I do is figure other ways to do that specific thing..

If that even makes sense.

Edit: Or you can just report it 

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

That's normal, and yes, you should tell CJ about it.

I'm not sure he'd be interested. I'm still using 3.12 and it looks like all the attention is on 3.2. CJ probably wants to know about bugs in the new product, not the old one.  I have to stay with the old version so my new games can interact with the old ones.

Plus some of the bugs are so obvious that surely others have reported them? For example, the 3.12 editor crashes at least three times a day (or rather, it won't save files until I reboot the computer). It also leaves multiple yellow popup messages that Windows interprets as full screen applications (e.g try ALT-TAB to see one, select it and do a full screen grab). That's probably the reason for not saving - the editor creates some orphan processes that Windows thinks are busy using the program. If other people haven't reported that then it must be because of how I use the program, so I don't want to be a nuisance. And I can't just auto-report since my main computer isn't connected to the Net.

I do sometimes post threads on strange problems,(here and here for example) but seldom get many replies. I think I sound like someone who's constantly complaining, and I don't want to sound ungrateful since the product is free and most of the bugs have workarounds.

[Crimson Wizard]

I think I sound like someone who's constantly complaining, and I don't want to sound ungrateful since the product is free and most of the bugs have workarounds.

Ha ha, I believe you should change your mind. I find it tremedously satisfying to report bugs that no one else noticed.  
For example, if you check "changes" list for latest AGS 3.2 build, 2 of 7 "fixed" lines refer to bugs I found   8)

I know I may sound like boaster, but it's just I lve to find bugs 

[Calin Leafshade]

For example, the 3.12 editor crashes at least three times a day (or rather, it won't save files until I reboot the computer). It also leaves multiple yellow popup messages that Windows interprets as full screen applications (e.g try ALT-TAB to see one, select it and do a full screen grab). That's probably the reason for not saving - the editor creates some orphan processes that Windows thinks are busy using the program. If other people haven't reported that then it must be because of how I use the program, so I don't want to be a nuisance. And I can't just auto-report since my main computer isn't connected to the Net.

That is not normal nor likely to be the fault of AGS.

Im still a 3.12 user (although now 3.2 has been finalised I will probably convert) and the editor has never crashed for me. At least not that I can remember.

AGS is a very stable piece of software. Even when the runtime crashes (which still happens very rarely and is usually my fault) the debugger catches the error perfectly.

[Dualnames]

Okay, let's do a compare your AGS built thing. I've made AGS totally unstable, and CJ can come and prove it. Which one of you needs more than one word to describe his game resolution? Who needs a complete workaround, to just import a new background?

[markbilly]

That leaving a message box (the yellow things that pop-up when you mouse-over) open bug happens in many many programs. I think it's probably a windows bug more than an AGS bug.

Yeah, just report them. CJ can re-create the situation in the newest iteration of the editor then, to check whether it is still a problem...

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

How do I report offline? Is there an email address? My main computer isn't connected to the Net, but I can easily copy an error message onto a memory stick. Currently I need to reboot the computer about once every hour because AGS 3.12 decides it can't access some script.

[Dualnames]

How do I report offline? Is there an email address? My main computer isn't connected to the Net, but I can easily copy an error message onto a memory stick. Currently I need to reboot the computer about once every hour because AGS 3.12 decides it can't access some script.

There's really not a great need to go so berserk on doing it formally. Just PM Chris, explain your problem, say how you've reproduced it, and optionally give him the files of your game with instructions on how to reproduce it himself.

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

Thanks. I'll do that. Maybe without the game files though - 150 MB is a bit much to attach to a PM

[monkey0506]

You should not report bugs directly to CJ via PM. You're supposed to post these in the Technical Forum.

PMing them to CJ can cause legitimate bugs to produce less public awareness which could result in CJ forgetting and bugs persisting several versions of AGS, and for illegitimate reports (as is the case with the vast majority of so-called "bug" reports that really aren't bugs with AGS at all) it's a waste of CJ's time.

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

You should not report bugs directly to CJ via PM. You're supposed to post these in the Technical Forum.

I'll just leave it then. I've already posted about the system.viewport_width issue and the more serious repeatedly_execute_always bug and the Error creating window handle crash, the inability to start translated games and other issues. I'll see if those are accepted as bugs before posting any more. 

I looks like CJ waits to see if other people have the problem before fixing it - a perfectly reasonable approach. Most of my bugs are because I use RunAGSGame with large, complex games. Nobody else does, so we'll see if anything happens. I'll just carry on working around them.