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Question - "What Should I expect on Patch Day?" (1 Viewer)

Joined
Jun 2, 2022
RedCents
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Hi all,

I used the search function with keywords "patch day" and did not see much except patch notes so I thought I would put up this thread for new folks so we can set expectations accordingly.

I realize that the folks here at Red Guides need to assess the code and check interactions with the EQ Client but overall I was hoping Red Guides veterans could share past experiences so that we newer Red Guides members have a feeling as to what to expect. For example:

1) Do patches make VV totally unusable?
2) What has typically been broken in the past?
3) etc etc

I realize no one has a crystal ball so to predict exactly what will go wrong is impossible. I just wanted to start an open conversation/dialogue regarding patch day past experiences,

Be well. Happy gaming.
 
Solution
yes. when eq patches MQ has to be rebuilt.

once mq is built RG can build - we usually try and test stuff first.

What to expect on patch days?
When eq patches MQ has to be rebuilt. (you also have to patch EQ --- this way you avoid "Version Mismatch" issues)

Once MQ is updated RG can build - we now have an automated system that rebuilds RG as soon as it is updated - which means our previous method of "let's give it a quick test" is no longer there, and sometimes there ends up being another smaller patch later to correct if something got missed - so re-check on patch days if you are having issues.

EQ could change literally anything and it would require the way MQ interacts with that portion of EQ to be completely...
yes. when eq patches MQ has to be rebuilt.

once mq is built RG can build - we usually try and test stuff first.

What to expect on patch days?
When eq patches MQ has to be rebuilt. (you also have to patch EQ --- this way you avoid "Version Mismatch" issues)

Once MQ is updated RG can build - we now have an automated system that rebuilds RG as soon as it is updated - which means our previous method of "let's give it a quick test" is no longer there, and sometimes there ends up being another smaller patch later to correct if something got missed - so re-check on patch days if you are having issues.

EQ could change literally anything and it would require the way MQ interacts with that portion of EQ to be completely reworked. It is normally just offsets, sometimes struct changes --- with the large changes eq has been making over the past few months (updates and backend improvements) there are more things than just offset changes that are happening, so it can certainly be a lot of work for the devs.

Curious when Very Vanilla will be updated?
You'll get a web notification (if we have permission), site notification, and email (optional)
Click to watch
MacroQuest for Live servers:
MacroQuest for Test server

EQ patches go like this: (in theory)
2nd* tue/wed = test "real" patch
3rd* wed = live patch
4th* tue/wed = test "true up"

the tue over the wed is a more recent thing (I suspect klanderso has more to do with that, and having time to ensure working stuff before the weekend and upset people - klanderso is pretty awesome)
* holidays subject to cause shifts in days or even week

Test is notorious for being like "oops we forgot the 'dont crash plz' file, gotta patch again", or "woops we added +1 to crashing, we meant -1", so "on paper" it is double the patches, but very frequently ends up being more than double the work (i imagine, I'm not doing the work - I'd love to learn enough at some point to help facilitate doing so, however).

Test also introduces new stuff before it goes to live - over the past couple of years EQ has been making a lot of substantial code changes - not just a "here's a monthly patch" where they adjusted an aoe value or something simple. On top of that, once you get into October/November you start seeing stuff from the expansion going onto the test server, even if that stuff isn't released yet. The good news is that gives the MQ dev(s) more time to implement it, the bad news is that it is more work. Thankless unnoticed (for the most part) work.

MQ itself is open source and by volunteer(s) - RG which builds and distributes that is obviously paid for. When MQ is updated, RG does the best it can to immediately build and make available an updated build
If you wanted to show your appreciation to the main MQ dev for their volunteer work:

brainiac:
https://www.redguides.com/tip/brainiac
Reply to this thread after donating for your 🧠
 
Solution
started normal eq patcher... download but no patch notes. questioning what DPG is doing this time. Just have the strange feeling of extended patch day.
 
yes. when eq patches MQ has to be rebuilt.

once mq is built RG can build - we usually try and test stuff first.

eq could change literally everything requiring any and everything to be rebuilt but usually not the case. it is normally just offsets, sometimes struct changes --- with the large changes eq has been making over the past few months (updates and backend improvements) there are more things than just offset changes that are happening, so it can certainly be a lot of work for the devs.


Curious when Very Vanilla will be updated? You'll get a web notification (if we have permission), site notification, and email (optional)
MacroQuest for Live servers:
Use this URL to get notified:
https://www.redguides.com/community/resources/very-vanilla-mq-live-servers.1974/watch
MacroQuest for Test server
https://www.redguides.com/community/resources/very-vanilla-mq-test-server.2218/watch
Is there an estimate for the mq2 update for the test server? I think the mismatch warning says that mq2 test is from Aug 8. Also I am a noob but really enjoy your content and videos. Thanks, Sic.
 
Is there an estimate for the mq2 update for the test server? I think the mismatch warning says that mq2 test is from Aug 8. Also I am a noob but really enjoy your content and videos. Thanks, Sic.
There is not, there is almost never an estimated time. They did another test patch off schedule, so it makes sense that the mq devs weren't able to plan on patching. It'll certainly be patched and updated as soon as it can be
 
Question - "What Should I expect on Patch Day?"

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