OpenCPN Version 5.7.1 Beta Test #1

[bdbcat]

Hello all OpenCPN users.

Here we begin the formal Beta Test of OpenCPN 5.7.1. This Beta test series will result in the Production release of OpenCPN 5.8.0, in a few weeks.
This Release contains many upgrades. Most of the changes are behind the scenes, and contribute to improved overall code reliability and maintainability. But there are many new features as well.

Here are some of the new visible features and functions to be offered in O580:
1. Integrated support of NMEA2000 device interfaces.
2. Improved comm port prioritization system.
3. Improved graphics drivers, providing better performance and platform compatibility.
4. Network client/server model to allow secure transfer of nav objects from one OCPN computer to another with simple UI.

The objective of these Beta tests is two-fold:
1. Verify existing functions perform as expected, searching for what we call "regression errors".
2. Test new functionality with all possible hardware configurations, even some that might be non-sense in real life.

Plugins: Several plugins are available for this Beta releases from the OpenCPN master (default) catalog. More plugins may be found in the OpenCPN "Beta" plugin catalog. As testing proceeds, beta plugins will be migrated to the master catalog as they are verified.

This basic code base has been extensively tested by a team of Alpha testers, who also participated in the resolution of bugs at the code level.
However, I expect the first wide exposure Beta test will surface a number of errors as the test base is expanded. This is normal, and should not be discouraging. We will just work the issues as they surface, one by one.


Here are the MacOS and Windows installers.

MacOS:
https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/davi....a4e630be8.pkg

Windows:
https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/davi...630b_setup.exe

Linux: The linux packages are available as usual in the OpenCPN Beta repository:
https://launchpad.net/~bdbcat/+archive/ubuntu/opencpn

Flatpak:
Beta build available now. Version identifier is: "5.7.1-1+a4e630b"
To install:
$ flatpak install --user https://flathub.org/beta-repo/appstr...CPN.flatpakref
To run:
$ flatpak run org.opencpn.OpenCPN//beta

Android:
Coming soon.

Source code:
For local builders, the source code is in github, on branch "master" at tag: "Beta_5.7.1_1"

Good Luck, thanks for your help
Dave

[LeaseOnLife]

AIS target list has a funky black background in brightest color scheme around the buttons, some text can't be read. Dimming causes a more correct grey background with readable text. This is on Debian SID/bookworm, amd64 and armhf:

[LeaseOnLife]

I have been using the always latest available master on both, my PI4 and the laptop for the last few weeks and it has been pretty stable on my systems.


External plugins I am using, mainly radar_pi and tactics_pi, also work.

[bcn]

macOS 13.0.1, macMini M1
o-charts plug-in 2.0.17

OpenGL working ok.
However still issues with dashed lines







Route received ok from a Win11 system. The received route shows waypoint names (numbers), which were not active on the source.
Route manager issue with size of some entries.

[bcn]

macOS 13.0.1, macMini M1


Light sectors are too bold and show some denting at the 90degrees.
Looks like the same line width for all scales.

[bcn]

Originally Posted by LeaseOnLife

AIS target list has a funky black background in brightest color scheme around the buttons, some text can't be read. Dimming causes a more correct grey background with readable text. This is on Debian SID/bookworm, amd64 and armhf:

The picture from macOS, M1

[bcn]

DELL, Win11, with 16" display 3840x2400 scaling 250% (recommended)


Spacing of letters too wide.
See the same issue on a 10" Surface Go with 1800x1200 and 125% scaling. Less accentuated, but in the same direction

[Gilletarom]

Hello Dave, All,

I tried this morning's version: opencpn-msvc_5.7.1+4226.a4e630b_setup.

In the "Connections" page there is a new feature: "Priority list"...

Hmm what is it? How does this work?

[Hakan]

Gilletarom..

The Prio list is to be able to prioritize between several data source connections. I'd say for the first time we will have a system to select desired data source as the first hand choice. And which source will be the first (second - third..) fall-back system if the main system fails.
Selection of position priority is also connected to COG/SOG and satellite prioritization.

Your list is empty. Set up a couple of connections and test it.

[Gilletarom]

Originally Posted by Hakan

Gilletarom..

The Prio list is to be able to prioritize between several data source connections. I'd say for the first time we will have a system to select desired data source as the first hand choice. And which source will be the first (second - third..) fall-back system if the main system fails.
Selection of position priority is also connected to COG/SOG and satellite prioritization.

Your list is empty. Set up a couple of connections and test it.

Thank you Hakan for your explanations which confirm my intuition.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to test this function since my boat is laid up during the winter, no VHF, no GPS, nothing... And I don't have a GPS at my home where I have my PC.

I will therefore not be able to beta test this new feature. At least, until the VDR plugin is updated and available in the beta catalog.

[Gilletarom]

Hello Dave,

About Grib plugin :
After some tests done now, it seems that everything is fine, but it must obviously be normal, because I assume that the functioning of this plugin has not been modified.

That said, to use this plugin, I have the Thunderbird mail software when sending an email to a grib file server, thunderbird is closed immediately after sending.

Previously, it took a long time for the server response to come back. For users who sail far from the coast and have an expensive internet access contract, the closure of Thunderbird is easily understood.

But, now and this for more than a year, as far as I am concerned, on the one hand the response from the server is very fast, on the other hand, along the coasts, with an internet access contract not expensive,Thunderbird does not need to be closed .

So currently Thunderbird needs to be re-opened right after it was closed.

Would it be possible that there is, in the preferences of Thunderbird, an option to check so that Thunderbird is not closed unnecessarily for the users who wish it?

[Gilletarom]

Originally Posted by bcn

The picture from macOS, M1

The picture from Windows.

Question : "Center-info-close" ? what about ?

[Gilletarom]

About weather routing :

An old bug in the weather routing window remains active: Opening of WR. the window is small. If you click on the button that should enlarge it, it does not enlarge. You have to enlarge it manually, to begin with.

[bcn]

Sending routes:
Network with macOS, W11, W10, W8.1, Ubuntu 22.04


Can send between all parties.
Placing the W10 and the W8.1 PC on WiFi instead of cabled network, those will see and are able to send to the rest, however the other systems don't see the the WiFi systems.
Swapping from cable to WiFi is not noticed inmediately by the others: after swapping to WiFi and selecting for example on the Mac the still shown system with its cable IP, will end up with a time out and the message "Server HTTP response is: -1".


The other way around placing a system on cable will take some time to be visible.

On the Mac there is still a just on letter box for the PIN when acting as receiver for the route. The other direction when acting as server is ok.

[bdbcat]

Gilleterom...
"Question : "Center-info-close" ? what about ?"
Show target info, centered on screen, and also close the list dialog.


We will do a translation cycle before the next Beta, but crowdin not updated yet. Soon.


Dave