Kitely Elevates Virtual World Hosting with Enhanced OpenSim Upgrade
In a move poised to redefine virtual world experiences, Kitely, a pioneering force within the OpenSim grid community, has rolled out a significant upgrade to its platform, adopting an enhanced iteration of OpenSim 0.9.2.2. This strategic update arrives fresh on the heels of a comprehensive system upgrade that notably doubled the world’s performance, setting a new benchmark for user engagement and satisfaction.
Early in the week, Kitely made headlines with its announcement detailing the integration of the new OpenSim version, which brings to the forefront hundreds of proprietary enhancements in stability and performance painstakingly developed by the Kitely team over recent years. Among the myriad improvements, two stand out distinctly: markedly faster world startup times and superior script compatibility with content originally developed for Second Life, both of which are poised to significantly elevate the user experience across Kitely’s expansive virtual grid.
The spotlight in this latest OpenSim 0.9.2.2 upgrade shines brightly on the transition from XEngine to YEngine for scripting. This pivotal change promises a slew of benefits alongside certain challenges. “YEngine is meticulously designed to align closely with the LSL script syntax, paving the way for a smoother transition of scripts developed for Second Life into the OpenSim ecosystem,” explains Oren Hurvitz, Co-founder and VP R&D at Kitely. However, Hurvitz cautions, this change might necessitate adjustments, replacements, or outright removal of certain scripts that previously operated on XEngine to ensure seamless functionality within Kitely worlds post-upgrade.
Furthermore, this transition has led to the resetting of all scripts to their initial states. “This reset is due to the alteration in the format of state files – where OpenSim stores the script’s state – making them incompatible with YEngine,” Hurvitz elucidated. Users with scripts requiring post-rezzing configuration will need to undertake reconfiguration efforts to adapt to this new environment.
It is important for users to note that the transition to the new scripting engine entails a system-wide recompilation of all scripts across each world. “This recompilation is triggered the first time a world is accessed post-update, leading to an initial delay in world startup times,” Hurvitz noted, assuring users that this is a one-time occurrence. Post the initial entry, subsequent visits are expected to enjoy swifter startup times due to the pre-compiled nature of the scripts.
This significant upgrade underscores Kitely’s unwavering commitment to enhancing its platform, a testament to its dedication to providing superior virtual world experiences without imposing additional costs on its user base. Since its public inception in March 2011, Kitely has remained at the forefront of innovation within the OpenSim grid space. Its unique on-demand region system and the bustling Kitely Market stand as testaments to its prominent position in the virtual world ecosystem.
Kitely encourages its users to delve into the OpenSimulator wiki entry on YEngine for a comprehensive understanding of the script changes and their potential impact on their virtual experiences.
About the Author
Maria Korolov, editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business, is a revered figure in virtual technology journalism. An accomplished science fiction novelist by night, Korolov’s daytime pursuits include award-winning technology reportage specializing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and enterprise virtual reality. Her literary contributions have seen acclaim on Amazon’s best-seller list, with her first novella, Krim Times, and the follow-up, The Lost King of Krim, resonating widely with readers. In addition to her literary undertakings, she spearheads MetaStellar, a burgeoning online magazine dedicated to speculative fiction. Korolov’s insights can be further explored through her Amazon author page and her engaging social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, alongside her informative YouTube channel. For direct inquiries, she can be reached at maria@hypergridbusiness.com.
