### Summary
- `GenericEntityPersistence` is now a type of `GenericPersistence`. This allows developers to serialize both entities and non-entities in the same system. 🎉
- Each `SerializationThreadWorker` now allocates 1MB of heap for serialization _permanently_. If more memory is needed, that thread will double it's memory, not to exceed increments of 64MB.
- Several bugs with serialization introduced with the pure MMF implementation have been fixed.
- `BinaryFileReader` has been added back. 🎉
- Adds `world.useMultithreadedSaves` to allow disabling threaded saves.
> [!IMPORTANT]
> **Developer Note**
> The split file serialization has been deprecated and is no longer used. We have effectively gone back to the same file writing we had before the pure MMF implementation.
### Summary
Updates the serialization strategy to use `MemoryMappedFile` instead of thick buffers. This has the benefit of being on-par with the current implementation (based on hardware/OS), however won't incur the double-memory issue.
> [!Important]
> **Developer Note**
> The `BinaryFileWriter` and `BinaryFileReader` has been removed in favor of `MemoryMapFileWriter` and `UnmanagedDataReader`
### Summary
Modifying a ValueLinkList using one of the methods will bump the "version". This field is used by iterators (foreach loops) to determine if the link list was modified while iterating. The sector.Items (and in the future other lists), will no longer be safe to modify while iterating. The server will _CRASH_ if the ValueLinkList is modified.
Thanks to @stefanomerotta for help!
### Screenshots
<img width="588" alt="image" src="https://github.com/modernuo/ModernUO/assets/3953314/83ee0b6e-ff4f-4768-9e29-84456e04b1ec">
### Summary
Adds a generic entity persistence. This can be used to create new entity types that have a `Serial`.
Here is an example:
```cs
public class BOBEntries : GenericEntitySerialization<IBOBEntry>
{
public static void Configure()
{
Configure("BOBEntries");
}
}
```
The annotation tells the system what folder to serialize the entries to. The class/interface (`IBOBEntry`) is the root type that implements `ISerializable`.
## MAJOR CHANGE
Added a champion title system to facilitate the existing champion titles. This should make it easier to extend or create other related game content. Champion titles will be saved in a folder called _ChampionTitles_.
### Motivation
The motivation to refactor was two-folder, but mostly related to performance in two ways.
First, every player had a ChampionTitleInfo object with an array of ChamptionTitleInfo. We want to eliminate the need for this information unless a player actually uses it. This should save a considerable amount of memory.
Second, to facilitate the atrophy mechanic, the champion titles would run atrophy post-world save, adding to the time that the server is frozen. Eliminating this post-world save side effect unlocks our ability to further optimize the world save process since there are no direct side effects.
### Bugs fixed
- [X] Fixed titles getting cut off on the paperdoll
- [X] Fixed champion title not displaying overhead (OPL)
### Screenshots
<img width="216" alt="image" src="https://github.com/modernuo/ModernUO/assets/3953314/8916f895-8d68-4fb0-892e-108a0c43be90">
### Changes
* Implements an AfterSerialize method that is executed synchronously.
* Removes `BeforeSerialize` support since it was dangerous in its current implementation.
* Moves PlayerMobile kill/virtual decay to AfterSerialize.
* Adds kill decay to after Deserialize.
## Changes
* Improves type hashing by introducing xxHash3 (64bit)
* Removes individual `tdb` files in favor of a single `SerializedTypes.db` file. This file is only used to identify a type that is being deserialized, which doesn't exist.
* Adds duplicate type alias detection
* Adds `AssemblyHandler.FindTypeByHash`
View changed files whitespaces: https://github.com/modernuo/ModernUO/pull/1172/files?diff=split&w=1
## SerializedTypes.db
The serialized types file is used to get back the original name of a type in case it no longer exists in code. This can easily be necessary if a class is renamed in code and no `TypeAlias` is provided.
### Format
byte[4] - version
byte[4] - count
--array--
byte[8] - xxHash
byte[1] - flag, 0 - null, 1 - not null
byte[n] - Full class name in UTF8
### Example
<img width="472" alt="SerializedTypes_Example" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/3953314/195255429-31d24293-6bd1-419e-811b-07874dd0f78d.png">
## Benchmarks
Serialized 500 Type fields. The 8192bytes comes from the _ConcurrentQueue_ that would later be used for SerializedTypes.
Note that the queue is never cleared, so it's size grew considerably.
```cs
| Method | Mean | Error | StdDev | Allocated |
|--------------------- |---------:|---------:|---------:|----------:|
| BenchmarkXXHash | 18.44 us | 0.278 us | 0.260 us | 8192 B |
| BenchmarkTypeStrings | 25.09 us | 0.292 us | 0.259 us | - |
```
TODO:
* Add support in the Serialization Generator for `ReadType()` and `Write(Type)`
* Remove `SetTypeRef` from Serialization Generator
**Only one functional change**
* Fixes a bug in LogFactory where `Warning` is being logged as `Information`
Non-functional changes:
* Updates/Fixes copyright headers
* Removes namespace scopes for core files.
View with [whitespace off](https://github.com/modernuo/ModernUO/pull/1187/files?w=1).
* Adds `BeforeSerialized` for entities to handle cleanup.
* Adds `Created` and `LastSerialized` fields to all entities. While this is a big bloat, this will be necessary for identifying dangling references to other invalid entities.
* Changes formula for determining a valid reference to be _not null, not deleted, and reference's created date must be at or before the entities last serialized date_.
* Adds versioning to idx file and serializes `Created` and `LastSerialized`.
* Fixes Save Stats and also disables it by default.
### Changes/Fixes:
* Adds timer pooling.
* Allows pool to be configurable in ModernUO.json
* Pool replenishes itself asynchronously if depleted.
* Fixes an issue with barkeeps and town criers
* Fixes an issue with incognito buff icons not being removed
* Fixes an issue with polymorph name mod not being removed
* Fixes several places where timers go on forever even after an object is deleted, keeping a reference (memory leak)
* Eliminates the timer for MiningCart altogether.
* Deletes `AcidSlime` since it is a duplicate of `PoolOfAcid`
* Fixes HonorableExecution and standardizes the code for other Bushido moves.
## Changes to the Timer API:
```cs
public class Timer
{
// Creates a timer that will be returned to the pool once execution stops.
public static void StartTimer(Action callback);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, Action callback);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, Action callback);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback);
// Creates a timer and returns a token for more control. Requires manual cancellation in order for the timer to be returned to the pool.
// If the token is dereferenced, the timer will be dereferenced too. While not returning a timer to the pool is not considered hazardous, it does defeat the purpose of pooled timers.
public static void StartTimer(Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
public static void StartTimer(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback, out TimerExecutionToken token);
// If you aren't sure how to use the API above, or you don't care about performance, then you can use the old RunUO Timer.DelayCall
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(Action callback);
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(TimeSpan delay, Action callback);
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, Action callback);
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback);
public static DelayCallTimer DelayCall(TimeSpan delay, TimeSpan interval, int count, Action callback);
}
public struct TimerExecutionToken
{
public bool Running { get; }
public int Index { get; }
public int RemainingCount { get; }
public DateTime Next { get; }
}
```
## When to use `TimerExecutionToken`?
Use tokens when you want to gain the performance benefit of using a pooled timer, but you need one of the following:
* Access to the next time the timer will tick:`token.Next`
* Access to which interval, how many intervals there are, or how many are remaining: `token.Index`, `token.Count`, and `token.RemainingCount`
* Stop a timer manually.
* Determine if the timer is running: `timer.Running`
* See notes below about requirements for using tokens!
## Notes about using the TimerExecutionToken:
When you opt-in to receive a token, you must call `Cancel()` to return the timer. This can be done inside of the callback, or outside of the callback at any time.
If this is not called and your timer is an infinite interval, then you will create a potential memory leak, or null pointer exception in your callback.
If the timer ends and is stopped, but cancel is not called, then the timer will never return to the pool and stay referenced until the token is deleted or cancel is called. (Memory leak)
## Is this thread safe?
No. The ModernUO timer system is not thread safe at all. If you require a thread safe timer system, contact me and I'll help adapt this system. Keep in mind that there is a massive performance hit to make this thread safe when there are literally no use cases for it.
If you need to synchronize execution, meaning you want to execute code from another thread on the core thread. Let's say you have a discord bot that is pushing commands to the game server. Then use `EventLoopContext.Post(SendOrPostCallback callback, object state);`.
- Adds `[ManualDirtyChecking]` for anyone that adds it themselves.
- Adds detection of `[Serializable]` and `[ManualDirtyChecking]` at startup to help identify scripts that need migration.
### Additions
- Automatically opts-out `Item/Mobile/Guild/Accounts` from dirty checking with a new property `UseDirtyChecking`
- Codegen now enables `UseDirtyChecking` via getter. This requires that the property is `virtual` for derived types.
### Fixes
- Fixes `EncodedInt` being broken
- Fixes issues with new custom serializable types that are not derived from Item/Mobile/etc.
- Removes double dirty checking.
### Example of a brand new serializable type that isn't an Item/Mobile/etc.
User created code:
```cs
using System;
namespace Server.Items
{
[Serializable(0)]
public partial class NewTestEntityObject : ISerializable
{
[EncodedInt]
[SerializableField(0)]
private int _someProperty;
public NewTestEntityObject()
{
SetTypeRef(GetType());
// Add to serial tracking like World.Item
/*
Serial = World.NewEntity;
World.AddEntity(this);
*/
}
[AfterDeserialization]
private void AfterDeserialization()
{
Console.WriteLine("This ran!");
}
public int TypeRef { get; }
public Serial Serial { get; }
public void Delete()
{
}
public bool Deleted { get; set; }
public void SetTypeRef(Type type)
{
// Type tracking for persistence goes here
/*
TypeRef = World.NewEntityTypes.IndexOf(type);
if (TypeRef == -1)
{
World.NewEntityTypes.Add(type);
TypeRef = World.NewEntityTypes.Count - 1;
}
*/
}
}
}
```
Generated code:
```cs
namespace Server.Items
{
public partial class NewTestEntityObject
{
#pragma warning disable 0414
private const int _version = 0;
#pragma warning restore 0414
public int SomeProperty
{
get => _someProperty;
set
{
if (value != _someProperty)
{
_someProperty = value;
((ISerializable)this).MarkDirty();
}
}
}
long ISerializable.SavePosition { get; set; } = -1;
BufferWriter ISerializable.SaveBuffer { get; set; }
bool ISerializable.UseDirtyChecking => true;
public NewTestEntityObject(Serial serial)
{
Serial = serial;
SetTypeRef(typeof(NewTestEntityObject));
}
public void Serialize(IGenericWriter writer)
{
writer.WriteEncodedInt(_version);
writer.WriteEncodedInt(SomeProperty);
}
public void Deserialize(IGenericReader reader)
{
var version = reader.ReadEncodedInt();
SomeProperty = reader.ReadEncodedInt();
Timer.DelayCall(AfterDeserialization);
}
}
}
```
### Features
* Fully abstracts serialization by using compile-time attributes.
* Supports serializing the following:
- Primitives (integers, strings, etc)
- IP Addresses
- BigDecimal
- DateTime, Delta DateTimes
- TimeSpan
- Server.Race
- Server.Map
- Point2D, Point3D, Rect2D, Rect3D
- Existing/New `ISerializable` references
- Lists/Sets of serializable types
- Type with a `Serialize` method and constructor that takes an `IGenericReader`
* Supports forward-only migration
* Supports existing RunUO deserialization for older versions by changing to the following signature:
- `public void OldDeserialize(IGenericReader reader, int version)`
- Must remove deserializing the version since this is already done
* Supports serializing from private fields or custom made properties.
* Types do not require inheriting Item/Mobile. Code gen will fully create `ISerializable` information.
- This is not recommended yet, since it requires wiring to `Persistence` which will cause lots of unresolved symbol errors until code gen is built.
### Example
```cs
using System.Collections.Generic;
namespace Server.Items
{
[Serializable(1)]
public partial class TestItem1 : Item
{
[SerializableField(1)]
[SerializableFieldAttr("[CommandProperty(AccessLevel.Administrator)]")]
private List<Item> _someProperty;
private void Deserialize(IGenericReader reader, int version)
{
}
}
}
```
Generates this:
```cs
namespace Server.Items
{
public partial class TestItem1
{
#pragma warning disable 0414
private const int _version = 1;
#pragma warning restore 0414
[CommandProperty(AccessLevel.Administrator)]
public System.Collections.Generic.List<Server.Item> SomeProperty
{
get => _someProperty;
set
{
if (value != _someProperty)
{
((ISerializable)this).MarkDirty();
_someProperty = value;
}
}
}
public TestItem1(Serial serial) : base(serial)
{
}
public override void Serialize(IGenericWriter writer)
{
var savePosition = ((Server.ISerializable)this).SavePosition;
if (savePosition > -1)
{
writer.Seek(savePosition, System.IO.SeekOrigin.Begin);
return;
}
writer.WriteEncodedInt(_version);
writer.Write(_someProperty);
}
public override void Deserialize(IGenericReader reader)
{
var version = reader.ReadEncodedInt();
if (version < 1)
{
OldDeserialize(reader, version);
((Server.ISerializable)this).MarkDirty();
return;
}
SomeProperty = reader.ReadEntityList<Server.Item>();
}
}
}
```
And this:
```json
{
"version": 1,
"type": "TestItem1",
"properties": [
{
"name": "SomeProperty",
"type": "System.Collections.Generic.List\u003CServer.Item\u003E",
"rule": "ListMigrationRule",
"ruleArguments": [
"Server.Item",
"SerializableInterfaceMigrationRule"
]
}
]
}
```
- [X] Fixes an issue where a buffer smaller than 8 bytes would not double with enough space in some cases.
- [X] Fixes an issue with dupe copying the savebuffer reference (ugh).
- [X] Streamlines the IGenericWriter API to use better generics.
- [X] Streamlines the IGenericReader API to use better generics.
- [X] Forces `tidying` of a List/HashSet to be done externally since Writers/Readers should not have side effects.
- [X] Fixes an issue where Tidying a list didn't TrimExcess, causing memory leaks.
- [X] Reverted the meaning of `World.Running` to specifically refer to any world state post world loading.
- NOTE: Do not use this if you want to block on world saves. Instead use checks against `WorldState.Saving` states.
- [X] Fixes an issue with serializing negative DateTime deltas.
- [X] Fixes a potential issue with serializing non-UTC DateTime.
Bumps release version
- [X] Fixes bugs in the buffer writer
- [X] Removes background save commands
- [X] Avoids calling Serialize() on deserialization
- In a future optimization I will copy the entire object to a buffer, deserialize using a SpanReader, then use that buffer for the SaveBuffer
- [X] Fixes issue with decay queue.
Bumps release version
- [X] Removes all save strategies
- [X] Removes duplicate file writer that won't be used
- [X] Removes persistence (it will become a duplicate system)
- [X] Add a save position variable to skip serializing a clean item/mobile
- [X] Update Guilds/Accounts to be IEntity types
- Because guilds are abstract, this may make serialization tricky.
- [X] Update the generalized IEntity writing
- [X] Update the load/save to write to buffers then to files in background
Bumps release version
