[perpetualKid]

Starting with the unstable/experimental builds now, the OR source code will be lifted to allow for development in new directions, i.e. bringing us Monogame, and go beyond 4GB support by enabling true 64bit runtime (for those running on 64bit OS, no changes on 32bit OS).

To get there, we will introduce some major changes:

- OR will run on and require .NET Framework 4.7.2. This is released for the majority of Windows OS released in the last decade or so:

• Windows Server 2016 (version 1709) and newer
• Windows Server 2019
• Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) (x86 and x64)
• Windows 10 Creators Update (version 1703) (x86 and x64)
• Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709) (x86 and x64) and newer
• Windows Server 2012 R2 (x64)
• Windows 8.1 (x86 and x64)
• Windows Server 2012 (x64)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (x64)
• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (x86 and x64)

Unfortunately, this leaves Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 8 behind. Anyone on these systems is encouraged to upgrade to an OS listed above. If not possible, the latest released stable version 1.3.1, will of course continue to run on the older OS; but will not benefit from updates anymore.

In addition, while trying to cleanup 3rd party dependencies, we are aiming to minimize the distribution of 3rd party *.dll files as part of OR (installer or updater), and rely on their respective installation process.

Currently, this affects OpenAL (Audio Library), and DirectX runtime (required for Monogame). For new installations, this should be part of the installer later on.
When using the updater on experimental version now, the Launcher (Openrails.exe) will check whether the required files are in place, and if not bring up a message like this:



When you click ok, it will try to open a browser pointing to the URL to download the (first) missing dependency:




If any questions or issues with these new requirements, please provide bug reports/log files as far possible.

[scottb613]

Hi Folks,

Sounds good to me - thanks so much to all those that contribute to this monumental effort...

As my old boss used to say - "grow or die"... It's nice to see the ball being pushed forward...

I know some will be unhappy with the loss of XP and Win8 (honestly Win8 was an awful OS - right up there with Win ME) - but if MS drops support for an OS - I don't think applications should be obligated to support them - especially when it prevents improvements from being introduced to maintain that backwards compatibility... Hopefully - it's not too painful and not too many are relying on these old OS's...

True 64 bit applications were a HUGE deal in the Flight Sim markets - as with complex aircraft - and all the world it renders - long flights would often CTD (running out of memory) after flying for hours - kind of seriously ruining the experience and wasting the vast amount of work it took to get to the point of crash... Once we went to 64 bit Flight Sims - the CTD's just went away... I'm not sure how taxing ORTS is on hardware resources in this respect - would you expect significant improvements from a 64 bit ORTS ?

Our future's so bright - we've got to wear shades...
:thumbup3:

Regards,
Scott

[dforrest]

All very interesting. Can you tell us what has already been implemented and what remains to be implements and, if possible, when it is expected that this will be done.

[eugenR]

I had also to upgrade DirectX9 by such a message,
before I could start OpenRails 1.3.1-48 on my Win10 64bit

[Genma Saotome]

 scottb613, on 09 April 2019 - 02:57 AM, said:

Our future's so bright - we've got to wear shades...
:thumbup3:

Timbuk 3
released in 1986: https://www.youtube....h?v=8qrriKcwvlY

[scottb613]

 Genma Saotome, on 09 April 2019 - 10:41 AM, said:

Timbuk 3
released in 1986: https://www.youtube....h?v=8qrriKcwvlY

Hi Dave,

Hah - that's what I was referencing - while my music tastes are pretty eclectic - that stuff from the 80's is what I grew up with... Hah - link included another favorite which I haven't heard in ages - Wall of Voodoo - "Mexican Radio" - gotta love bar-b-q iguana - from a time before MTV sucked (Martha Quinn, Alan Hunter, Mark Goodman, J.J. Jackson, and Nina Blackwood)...


Regards,
Scott

[stlsf4003]

Seeing as Win8 will no longer be supported.

What about us running Win7? is that support being removed to?

[Csantucci]

 stlsf4003, on 09 April 2019 - 11:07 AM, said:

Seeing as Win8 will no longer be supported.

What about us running Win7? is that support being removed to?

The answer is written in the first post.

[slipperman]

Hi,

 stlsf4003, on 09 April 2019 - 11:07 AM, said:

Seeing as Win8 will no longer be supported.

What about us running Win7? is that support being removed to?

No, not yet, at least, I hope not!! I suppose, when Microsoft release a version of .Net Framework which isn't compatible with Win 7 SP1, that is when OR will cease supporting it.

Windows 8 was, I believe, the runt of the litter, which was soon followed by Win 8.1, which was much better :) As far as I know, Microsoft doesn't support Win 8.

Cheers,
Ged

[stlsf4003]

 Csantucci, on 09 April 2019 - 11:09 AM, said:

The answer is written in the first post.

Must of missed that one. ^^;

Lets just pretend i didn't say anything on the matter. Lest I end up looking like an idiot.