Oolite FAQ - Revision history

Mcarans: /* Getting Started */

2025-07-16T23:54:50Z

‎Getting Started

Another commander: /* System Requirements */

2025-04-21T12:04:42Z

‎System Requirements

Phkb: Updating BB links

2024-02-29T02:18:20Z

Updating BB links

Phkb at 11:34, 6 November 2023

2023-11-06T11:34:15Z

Cholmondely: /* Diagnosing Problems */ Added link

2022-05-13T16:01:42Z

‎Diagnosing Problems: Added link

Cholmondely: Added picture!

2021-07-12T23:22:08Z

Added picture!

Cholmondely: Tagged as Help page

2021-07-12T19:15:28Z

Tagged as Help page

Cholmondely: Updated link

2021-04-23T12:21:45Z

Updated link

Cholmondely: /* Getting Started */ Added ref to Oolite RS

2021-04-23T11:23:36Z

‎Getting Started: Added ref to Oolite RS

Cholmondely: /* Other Questions */ Link!

2021-01-25T20:29:49Z

‎Other Questions: Link!

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:54, 16 July 2025
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−	{{FAQ\|question=How do I configure my joystick or gamepad for Oolite ~~in Linux~~?\|answer=See [[Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up]].}}	+	{{FAQ\|question=How do I configure my joystick or gamepad for Oolite?\|answer=See [[Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up]].}}
		+
		+	{{FAQ\|question=How do I calibrate my joystick or gamepad for Oolite in Linux and map its buttons to keyboard keys?\|answer=See [[Linux Joysticks and Gamepads]].}}

	{{FAQ\|question=Where do I find quick reference pages?\|answer=See '''OoliteRS''' (Reference Sheets) and '''AdviceforNewCommanders''' which came as .pdfs in your original game download. Probably worth printing out!}}		{{FAQ\|question=Where do I find quick reference pages?\|answer=See '''OoliteRS''' (Reference Sheets) and '''AdviceforNewCommanders''' which came as .pdfs in your original game download. Probably worth printing out!}}

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
-{{FAQ|question=What's the latest version?|answer=The last stable release is 1.90. The last stable and latest test versions can be downloaded from [http://oolite.org/download Oolite's homepage]. More information can be found through the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=1 Oolite forums].}}
+{{FAQ|question=What's the latest version?|answer=The last stable release is 1.90. The last stable and latest test versions can be downloaded from [https://oolite.space/download Oolite's homepage]. More information can be found through the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=1 Oolite forums].}}
-{{FAQ|question=Is there a port for the PC or Linux?|answer=Yes. Both ports are stable and are at the same level of development as Oolite for the Mac. You can download Oolite for Windows and for Linux PCs from [http://oolite.org/download Oolite's homepage] (click on "show all platforms" if you can't see the version you're looking for). Information on test releases can be found through the Oolite forums, for the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=9 Linux version], and for the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=8 Windows version].}}
+{{FAQ|question=Is there a port for the PC or Linux?|answer=Yes. Both ports are stable and are at the same level of development as Oolite for the Mac. You can download Oolite for Windows and for Linux PCs from [https://oolite.space/download Oolite's homepage] (click on "show all platforms" if you can't see the version you're looking for). Information on test releases can be found through the Oolite forums, for the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=9 Linux version], and for the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=8 Windows version].}}
 == Writing OXPs ==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 == Getting Started ==
-{{FAQ|question=Where do I get the program? And what about the different versions that exist?|answer= The latest 'official' stable release is version 1.90, available on the [https://oolite.space/download oolite.space download page] for OS X, Windows, and Linux(x86). You can download the latest nightly (development version) from [http://terrastorage.no-ip.info/oolite/status_win64.html here], More detailed information can be found on the [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board], in the respective sections for [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=10 Oolite-Mac], [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=9 Oolite-Linux] and [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=8 Oolite-PC].
+{{FAQ|question=Where do I get the program? And what about the different versions that exist?|answer= The latest 'official' stable release is version 1.90, available on the [https://oolite.space/download oolite.space download page] for OS X, Windows, and Linux(x86). You can download the latest nightly (development version) from [http://terrastorage.no-ip.info/oolite/status_win64.html here], More detailed information can be found on the [https://bb.oolite.space/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board], in the respective sections for [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=10 Oolite-Mac], [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=9 Oolite-Linux] and [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=8 Oolite-PC].
 The last stable release made by the original programmer, Giles Williams (a.k.a. Aegidian) was 1.65 and is best available from his website [http://oolite.aegidian.org/ oolite.aegidian.org].}}
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
-{{FAQ|question=Are there any OXPs that are highly recommended? Or can I get a list of 'must-have' OXPs?|answer=This is a difficult one to answer, because it depends so much on personal taste. There is no list of 'must-have' or necessary OXPs that could be agreed upon by all—or even most—players or contributors. But if you have a look at the [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board], especially the [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=2 Discussion]- and the [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=4 Expansion Pack]-forums, you will surely find some topics about this question, and the personal answers of a couple of board members.}}
+{{FAQ|question=Are there any OXPs that are highly recommended? Or can I get a list of 'must-have' OXPs?|answer=This is a difficult one to answer, because it depends so much on personal taste. There is no list of 'must-have' or necessary OXPs that could be agreed upon by all—or even most—players or contributors. But if you have a look at the [https://bb.oolite.space/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board], especially the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=2 Discussion]- and the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=4 Expansion Pack]-forums, you will surely find some topics about this question, and the personal answers of a couple of board members.}}
 == Why does this and that not exist? ==
-{{FAQ|question=Will there ever be an Oolite Massive Multi-player Online Role-Play Game (MMORPG)?|answer=At present Ahruman and Co. (the developers) have no plans to develop either Oolite or a separate branch to accommodate either an MMORPG or an MOG (Multi-player Online Game). This, however, doesn't mean one of you clever bods out there can't try ;-) We suggest you read [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6173 this Bulletin Board thread] before you commence though, it may save you a lot of hair-tearing!}}
+{{FAQ|question=Will there ever be an Oolite Massive Multi-player Online Role-Play Game (MMORPG)?|answer=At present Ahruman and Co. (the developers) have no plans to develop either Oolite or a separate branch to accommodate either an MMORPG or an MOG (Multi-player Online Game). This, however, doesn't mean one of you clever bods out there can't try ;-) We suggest you read [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?t=6173 this Bulletin Board thread] before you commence though, it may save you a lot of hair-tearing!}}
@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
-{{FAQ|question=What's the latest version?|answer=The last stable release is 1.90. The last stable and latest test versions can be downloaded from [http://oolite.org/download Oolite's homepage]. More information can be found through the [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=1 Oolite forums].}}
+{{FAQ|question=What's the latest version?|answer=The last stable release is 1.90. The last stable and latest test versions can be downloaded from [http://oolite.org/download Oolite's homepage]. More information can be found through the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=1 Oolite forums].}}
-{{FAQ|question=Is there a port for the PC or Linux?|answer=Yes. Both ports are stable and are at the same level of development as Oolite for the Mac. You can download Oolite for Windows and for Linux PCs from [http://oolite.org/download Oolite's homepage] (click on "show all platforms" if you can't see the version you're looking for). Information on test releases can be found through the Oolite forums, for the [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=9 Linux version], and for the [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=8 Windows version].}}
+{{FAQ|question=Is there a port for the PC or Linux?|answer=Yes. Both ports are stable and are at the same level of development as Oolite for the Mac. You can download Oolite for Windows and for Linux PCs from [http://oolite.org/download Oolite's homepage] (click on "show all platforms" if you can't see the version you're looking for). Information on test releases can be found through the Oolite forums, for the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=9 Linux version], and for the [https://bb.oolite.space/viewforum.php?f=8 Windows version].}}
 == Writing OXPs ==
-{{FAQ|question=I would like to contribute to Oolite and write my own OXP, but unfortunately my knowledge in scripting/programming is limited. How can I get started?|answer=First of all the Oolite community welcomes all efforts to enhance and enrich their favorite game, so be our guest! Many of us have started with very little knowledge, but over time were able to write and release astonishing OXPs, so why shouldn't you? Anyway, scripting can be learned. Currently there are two scripting languages in use for Oolite, plist-scripting (sometimes referred to as legacy-scripting) and JavaScript. For any serious OXP-plans you will have to learn them. A general starting point is the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto OXP howto]-page, which will link you to further documentation. For plist-scripting you should read the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto_plist OXP howto plist]-page, and also the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Property_list Property list]-intro. Information on the ongoing implementation of scripting with JavaScript can be found in the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Category:Oolite_scripting Category page for scripting] (work in progress). If you want to design a new ship, you should have a look at the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto_model OXP howto model]-page and the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto_texture OXP howto texture]-page. And if you want to give it a behavior of its own, you should consult the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto_AI OXP howto AI]-page. I suggest you try to read and understand these first. If you still have questions afterwards, there is always the [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board], where lots of friendly people usually are very willing to lend a helping hand and to answer lots of questions.}}
+{{FAQ|question=I would like to contribute to Oolite and write my own OXP, but unfortunately my knowledge in scripting/programming is limited. How can I get started?|answer=First of all the Oolite community welcomes all efforts to enhance and enrich their favorite game, so be our guest! Many of us have started with very little knowledge, but over time were able to write and release astonishing OXPs, so why shouldn't you? Anyway, scripting can be learned. Currently there are two scripting languages in use for Oolite, plist-scripting (sometimes referred to as legacy-scripting) and JavaScript. For any serious OXP-plans you will have to learn them. A general starting point is the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto OXP howto]-page, which will link you to further documentation. For plist-scripting you should read the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto_plist OXP howto plist]-page, and also the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Property_list Property list]-intro. Information on the ongoing implementation of scripting with JavaScript can be found in the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Category:Oolite_scripting Category page for scripting] (work in progress). If you want to design a new ship, you should have a look at the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto_model OXP howto model]-page and the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto_texture OXP howto texture]-page. And if you want to give it a behavior of its own, you should consult the [http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/OXP_howto_AI OXP howto AI]-page. I suggest you try to read and understand these first. If you still have questions afterwards, there is always the [https://bb.oolite.space/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board], where lots of friendly people usually are very willing to lend a helping hand and to answer lots of questions.}}
-{{FAQ|question=I want to write an OXP or add content to the Wiki, but some (or all) of the content was written by another author. What copyright issues do I face?|answer=Anything submitted to the Wiki is on the basis that anyone else may edit or fiddle with it. OXPs are submitted under the creative commons licence. The author (strictly speaking) owns the copyright, but licenses users to use or distribute the OXP as long as they don't sell or charge for it. In practice virtually all OXP authors don't assert copyright and are pleased and flattered that somebody thinks their stuff is worth writing about or pinching to use in another OXP (it is good manners to credit the original author in the readme though). I expect the author will be pleased if you want to add some background, but if you are in doubt, send him or her a PM asking him for permission. At the end of the day, Oolite is a fun project and everybody is doing stuff for it on that basis. (nicked wholesale from [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=44813#44813 Little_Bear's] post on the [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board])}}
+{{FAQ|question=I want to write an OXP or add content to the Wiki, but some (or all) of the content was written by another author. What copyright issues do I face?|answer=Anything submitted to the Wiki is on the basis that anyone else may edit or fiddle with it. OXPs are submitted under the creative commons licence. The author (strictly speaking) owns the copyright, but licenses users to use or distribute the OXP as long as they don't sell or charge for it. In practice virtually all OXP authors don't assert copyright and are pleased and flattered that somebody thinks their stuff is worth writing about or pinching to use in another OXP (it is good manners to credit the original author in the readme though). I expect the author will be pleased if you want to add some background, but if you are in doubt, send him or her a PM asking him for permission. At the end of the day, Oolite is a fun project and everybody is doing stuff for it on that basis. (nicked wholesale from [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?p=44813#44813 Little_Bear's] post on the [https://bb.oolite.space/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board])}}
 == Diagnosing Problems ==
@@ Line 119: / Line 119: @@
 {{FAQ|question=I have a question not answered here, where can I get help?|answer=Try one of these:
-*Post your queries onto [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php the friendliest board this side of Riedquat™]. Satisfaction is not guaranteed, but then what is, in this mixed-up universe? Help keep the board friendly by making sure your question isn't already answered here!
+*Post your queries onto [https://bb.oolite.space/index.php the friendliest board this side of Riedquat™]. Satisfaction is not guaranteed, but then what is, in this mixed-up universe? Help keep the board friendly by making sure your question isn't already answered here!
 *Check [[How do I ...]] a collection of Help and guide pages on this wiki.
-*If you want to report a bug, please read [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3778 this]. Yes, all that work is a drag, but if nobody reports the bug it probably won’t get fixed.
+*If you want to report a bug, please read [https://bb.oolite.space/viewtopic.php?t=3778 this]. Yes, all that work is a drag, but if nobody reports the bug it probably won’t get fixed.
 *Or join us in #oolite, or #oolite-dev if you're working on Oolite or OXPs, on irc.oftc.net or ipv6.oftc.net.}}
 [[Category:Oolite]][[Category:Help pages]]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 == Getting Started ==
-{{FAQ|question=Where do I get the program? And what about the different versions that exist?|answer= The latest 'official' stable release is version 1.90, available on the [http://oolite.org/download oolite.org download page] for OS X, Windows, and Linux(x86). You can download the latest nightly (development version) from [http://terrastorage.no-ip.info/oolite/status_win64.html here], More detailed information can be found on the [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board], in the respective sections for [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=10 Oolite-Mac], [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=9 Oolite-Linux] and [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=8 Oolite-PC].
+{{FAQ|question=Where do I get the program? And what about the different versions that exist?|answer= The latest 'official' stable release is version 1.90, available on the [https://oolite.space/download oolite.space download page] for OS X, Windows, and Linux(x86). You can download the latest nightly (development version) from [http://terrastorage.no-ip.info/oolite/status_win64.html here], More detailed information can be found on the [http://aegidian.org/bb/index.php Oolite Bulletin Board], in the respective sections for [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=10 Oolite-Mac], [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=9 Oolite-Linux] and [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewforum.php?f=8 Oolite-PC].
 The last stable release made by the original programmer, Giles Williams (a.k.a. Aegidian) was 1.65 and is best available from his website [http://oolite.aegidian.org/ oolite.aegidian.org].}}

@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 == Diagnosing Problems ==
-{{FAQ|question=Someone asked me for my log file. What is that, and where is it?|answer=While Oolite runs, various diagnostic information is written to a file called Latest.log. Where it is depends on your operating system:
+{{FAQ|question=Someone asked me for my log file. What is that, and where is it?|answer=While Oolite runs, various diagnostic information is written to a file called [[Latest.log]]. Where it is depends on your operating system:
 * '''Mac OS X''': Restart Oolite, and select “Show Previous Log” from the “'''Oolite'''” menu in the menu bar. Alternatively, in the Finder, select “Go to Folder…” from the Go menu, and enter “~/Library/Logs/Oolite/”, and find Latest.log.
 * '''Windows''': in Oolite’s folder (typically in C:\''Oolite''), there is a folder called ''oolite.app'', which contains a folder called ''Logs''. A shortcut to this folder is created at Oolite's Start Menu entries during installation. If you have installed the game in a folder subject to file virtualization like C:\Program Files\Oolite and encounter difficulty in locating the log files, then please refer to the Known Issues section of this FAQ for information on how to access them.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:22, 12 July 2021
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		+	[[File:Oolite-IconBW.png \| right \| width=90px \| height=90px ]]
	== Getting Started ==		== Getting Started ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:15, 12 July 2021
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−	[[Category:Oolite]]	+	[[Category:Oolite]][[Category:Help pages]]

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 {{FAQ|question=If I believe that sizes and distances in [[Oolite]] are given in meters, it is so ''unrealistic''. The planets have a diameter of only 30–50 kilometers, and the suns are only 1000 kilometers away. Can't we get a little more realism in space, please?|answer=First of all, remember that Oolite is a ''game'', not a ''space simulation''. This is because it ''wants to'' be a game, not a sim. So yes, sizes and distances are all messed up. Ships and stations are too big, planets and suns are too small, and too close to each other. But this is ''deliberately'' so, and we are not going to change it.
-The reason is simple: Realistic sizes and distances don't make a good game. In reality space is so huge that you never would meet anybody else on your journey. Imagine the dozen or so ships you meet in the 500 or so kilometers between witchpoint and planet spread over the realistic 150 '''million''' kilometers between Sun and Earth. Even if your direction is only one degree off the perfect line, you would miss them all. And how interesting would that be for the gameplay? And finally, if you had a realistically sized station in front of a realistically sized planet, how would you ever even notice it? A grain of sand in front of a, well, '''planet'''. The result would be players in complete loneliness and virtually no interaction with NPCs. An utterly, utterly boring game. Therefore it was the right decision to screw realism in the layout of the planetary systems in Elite and Oolite. But you may care to look [[User:Stranger|here]] and [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20730 here]}}
+The reason is simple: Realistic sizes and distances don't make a good game. In reality space is so huge that you never would meet anybody else on your journey. Imagine the dozen or so ships you meet in the 500 or so kilometers between witchpoint and planet spread over the realistic 150 '''million''' kilometers between Sun and Earth. Even if your direction is only one degree off the perfect line, you would miss them all. And how interesting would that be for the gameplay? And finally, if you had a realistically sized station in front of a realistically sized planet, how would you ever even notice it? A grain of sand in front of a, well, '''planet'''. The result would be players in complete loneliness and virtually no interaction with NPCs. An utterly, utterly boring game. Therefore it was the right decision to screw realism in the layout of the planetary systems in Elite and Oolite. But you may care to look here: [[Distance (Oolite)]]}}
 == Expanding the Game ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:23, 23 April 2021
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	{{FAQ\|question=How do I configure my joystick or gamepad for Oolite in Linux?\|answer=See [[Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up]].}}		{{FAQ\|question=How do I configure my joystick or gamepad for Oolite in Linux?\|answer=See [[Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up]].}}
		+
		+	{{FAQ\|question=Where do I find quick reference pages?\|answer=See '''OoliteRS''' (Reference Sheets) and '''AdviceforNewCommanders''' which came as .pdfs in your original game download. Probably worth printing out!}}

	== Gameplay ==		== Gameplay ==