User:SignpostMarv Martin/Archive/Implementing new features

Of course, a really valuable way to contribute is to add a new feature. Try to work with the community and with Linden Lab in planning the feature before running off and implementing new things. Though we appreciate your hard work, we can't accept every new feature, since maintaining new features comes with a cost. Try thinking of ways to use APIs to make plugins, or perhaps propose new APIs to make the viewer more extensible, before adding new things to the core viewer.

Ideas for new Features

Just some Ideas that came up on the #opensl irc channel:

• Alternate Rendering Engines - older hardware support, etc... (Open Source 3D Engine)
• Better Sound Support - Preload status, playback control, etc...
  • Quote: llKelly: eightltr: yes, that idea has been suggested in the past. (L$1 per 1sec audio) I think we would rather improve the methods of linking to externally hosted sounds.
• MIDI Support - maybe with some nice clientside Wavetables
• MOD, XM, ect. Support
• Removing Texture Loading so SL can run on less powerful Systems (say the N800/N770)
  • Seconded -- Disabling texture download/display would be a great asset to people interested in communication more than shopping/etc.
• Patching it so that llLoadURL opens the F1 Help Browser
• Adding a Avatar Local Stream Channel that has a Range of X Meters around an Avatar
  • This would be used for Local Audio Streaming
  • Or Local VoIP chat
  • Teamspeak...
• Peer to Peer Voice over IP using above idea, improved:
  • Capible clients advertise themselves via below CTCP-style protocol
  • Clients use multicast packets to broadcast to a list of addresses the server manages of clients in range.
  • In effect, this would give each avatar two unidirectional shoutcast-style stream impliments, or one bidirectional impliment.
• More efficient local cache
• CTCP protocol layered on IM system
• Command Line Interface for changing preferences, sending an IM, teleporting, etc
  • for example: "/set drawdist 96", "/set sound off", "/tp ahern", or "/im kex godel hello"
  • would need an escape system which doesn't conflict with script command gestures (or a reserved words like how /me is)
  • Or better yet, the Ctrl-G Gesture management window could be improved to allow this, and even allow rebinding /commands
• More sophisticated IM muting/filtering/autoresponse options
  • mute or do not alert on IMs by started by a group, agent, or group-agent
  • Autoreply to IMs received while (Away)
  • Sidebar Userlist of Active Users who are currently participating in a Group IM Session. When a user says something, they're added. When a user leaves the session, they're removed from the list.
• More control over filtering specific objects/textures/sounds/agents/etc

See Also

Linden Lab is considering offering bounties for especially desirable features in the viewer.

• Linden Lab Bounties
• Community Bounties
• Category:Bounties