## Problem
A creature equipped with two items that resolve to the **same layer** can crash the legacy EA 2D client (use-after-free). Equipment `Layer` comes from tiledata (`Layer = (Layer)ItemData.Quality`), so a **two-handed weapon and a shield both resolve to `Layer.TwoHanded`**. `Mobile.FindItemOnLayer` even documents the invariant: *"We only allow 1 item per layer. Its an implicit contract."*
## Root cause
- `SendMobileIncoming` (0x78) **dedupes by layer** (the `layers` span) and sends only the first item per slot — so a static creature is fine.
- But the per-item **`SendEquipUpdate` (0x2E)** and the item **OPL** sends do **not** dedupe. On any equip/property delta (`Item.ProcessDelta`) they fire per item and leak the second same-layer item on its own.
- The client then holds two items on one equipment slot; when that slot is torn down (e.g. a large group of such creatures and the player runs out of range → mass remove) the legacy 2D client frees one and dereferences it → UAF. ClassicUO bounds-checks and is unaffected, but the server is emitting an invalid, self-contradictory stream either way.
## Fix
Make per-item equip/OPL sends honor the same first-item-per-layer rule `SendMobileIncoming` already uses:
- `Item.IsDupedEquipLayer()` — `m_Parent is Mobile m && m.FindItemOnLayer(m_Layer) != this` (reuses the existing helper; true when an earlier item already holds this items layer).
- `Item.ProcessDelta`: early-return before the per-client loop for a duped equipped item (skips the EquipUpdate and OPL to everyone).
- `Mobile` lift-reject re-show: skip the EquipUpdate and OPL for the dupe.
No behavioral change for valid equipment (distinct layers → never duped). For the invalid duped-layer case the second item was already omitted by the 0x78 packet; this just stops it leaking back via the per-item paths.
## Summary
Phase 3.1 of the message-interpolation optimization series. Fixes 9 of the 28 sites flagged in the Phase 2 audit (PR #2435):
| File | Fix |
|---|---|
| `Commands/StaffAccess.cs:88,99` | Drop redundant `.ToString()` on enum holes |
| `Commands/Handlers.cs:102` | `builder.ToString()` -> `builder.AsSpan()` |
| `World Saves/SaveCommands.cs:71-75` | Merge 3 concatenated `$"..."` into one literal |
| `Server/Items/Item.cs:4213` | Hoist nested ternary `$"..."` to if/else |
| `Engines/Factions/Mobiles/Guards/BaseFactionGuard.cs:140-150` | Convert switch expression to switch statement |
| `Mobiles/Monsters/LBR/Jukas/JukaLord.cs:85` | Restructure `string.Format(toSay.RandomElement(), ...)` into switch |
| `Misc/AttackMessage.cs:30-41` | Inline `AggressorFormat`/`AggressedFormat` constants |
No functional changes. Each site emits identical text; the only difference is that the message string is now built into a pooled char buffer instead of being allocated as a `string` first.
## Summary
Phase 1 of a multi-phase optimization to eliminate intermediate string allocations between `$"..."` interpolation and the packet text region for ModernUO's player-facing message APIs.
- Adds `[InterpolatedStringHandler]` overloads to every `Send*`/`Public/Local/Private/NonlocalOverheadMessage`/`Say`/`Emote`/`Whisper`/`Yell`/`SendLocalizedMessageTo` API in `OutgoingMessagePackets`, `Mobile`, and `Item`. Each overload is a 3-line shim that forwards `handler.Text` to the existing span-based path then calls `handler.Clear()` to return the rented `STArrayPool<char>` buffer (matches the established `SpanWriter.WriteAscii(ref RawInterpolatedStringHandler)` precedent).
- Converts `string text/args/affix/name` parameters to `ReadOnlySpan<char>` for consistency with the handler path. `lang` intentionally stays `string` (it's never interpolated and the `??= "ENU"` fallback stays cleaner).
- Adds `int charCount` overloads of the three `GetMaxMessage*Length` helpers so stackalloc sizing can avoid the redundant `ROS<char>` round-trip.
- Moves `Mobile` (17 methods) and `Item` (4 methods) message methods into new partial-class files (`Mobile.Messages.cs`, `Item.Messages.cs`) for organization.
No UOContent call sites change in this PR — existing `string`/`ROS<char>` calls compile unchanged via implicit conversion. Phase 2 (intermediate-string audit) and Phase 3 (cleanup PRs) follow.
## Files
- `Projects/Server/Network/Packets/OutgoingMessagePackets.cs` — `string` → `ROS<char>` for text params, `int charCount` length helpers added, class made `partial`
- `Projects/Server/Network/Packets/OutgoingMessagePackets.Interpolated.cs` (new) — 3 `ref RawInterpolatedStringHandler` extension overloads
- `Projects/Server/Mobiles/Mobile.cs` — message methods extracted (-262 lines)
- `Projects/Server/Mobiles/Mobile.Messages.cs` (new, 463 lines) — moved + ROS-converted methods + 25 handler overloads
- `Projects/Server/Items/Item.cs` — message methods extracted (-93 lines)
- `Projects/Server/Items/Item.Messages.cs` (new, 142 lines) — moved + ROS-converted methods + 4 handler overloads
- `Projects/Server.Tests/Tests/Network/Packets/Outgoing/MessagePacketTests.cs` — 3 new regression tests verifying byte-equivalence for the handler overloads
## Summary
Removes per-call heap allocations from `Container`'s consume / find / group hot paths and from `BaseCreature.OnDeath`'s fame/karma tracking. The headline wins: kill the `List<List<Item>>` + `Item[][]` + `int[]` grouping bridges in `ConsumeTotal*` / `ConsumeTotalGrouped*` / `GetBestGroupAmount*`, and kill the per-call `Predicate<Item>` allocations in `FindItemsByType(Type)` / `FindItemsByType(Type[])`.
### `Container.cs`
- `ConsumeTotal`, `ConsumeTotalGrouped`, `GetBestGroupAmount` now share four streaming helpers (`HasAmount`, `TryFindGroupMeetingAmount`, `BestGroupTotal`, `ConsumeSlice`) backed by `PooledRefList` instead of allocating per-group lists and jagged arrays. Two-phase validate-then-consume pattern preserved — all-or-nothing semantics for spell reagents, vendor pay, and crafting still hold.
- `(Type)` / `(Type[])` / `(Type[][])` overload trios collapsed to single `ReadOnlySpan<Type>` + `ReadOnlySpan<int>` implementations. Implicit `T[] → ReadOnlySpan<T>` conversion means UOContent callers compile unchanged.
- Unused overloads deleted: `ConsumeTotalGrouped(Type)`, `ConsumeTotalGrouped(Type[][])`, `GetBestGroupAmount(Type)`, `GetBestGroupAmount(Type[][])`, plus the never-called `TryDropItems` hook and its private `ItemStackEntry` struct.
- Fixes a `PooledRefList` leak in `GetBestGroupAmount(Type[], …)` (missing `using`).
- `m_ContainerData` / `m_Items` / `m_TotalGold` / `m_TotalItems` / `m_TotalWeight` / `ContainerData.m_Table` / `ContainerData.logger` renamed to the underscored convention. `m_Items` cross-file rename for the Container-side references in `Item.cs`; `Item.CompactInfo.m_Items` deliberately left alone (separate effort).
- `CheckHold` parent walk simplified; trivial dispatch methods (`CheckHold` overloads, `OnItemAdded`, `OnItemRemoved`, `OnStackAttempt`) get `[MethodImpl(AggressiveInlining)]`; `Destroy` and `DisplayTo` cache `Items` outside the loop; dead comments removed.
### `Item.Enumerable.cs`
- `FindItemsByType(Type)` previously allocated a `Predicate<Item>` per call (method-group conversion). `FindItemsByType(Type[])` allocated a closure capturing `types`. Both now construct the enumerator with a `Type` / `ReadOnlySpan<Type>` field directly, no delegate.
- `FindItemsByTypeEnumerator<T>` gains two constructors plus a `Matches(T)` helper that picks the right filter inline. Constructor chaining via a private 2-arg seed constructor incidentally fixes a pre-existing bug where `PooledRefQueue` was always rented at capacity 0 because `_recurse` hadn't been assigned yet.
- `(Type[])` overload of `FindItemsByType` becomes `(ReadOnlySpan<Type>)`.
- `EnumerateItemsByType(Type)` / `EnumerateItemsByType(ReadOnlySpan<Type>)` / `ListItemsByType(Type)` / `ListItemsByType(ReadOnlySpan<Type>)` simplified to delegate to the new alloc-free overloads instead of filtering manually.
### `Utility.cs`
- `InTypeList<T>(this T, Type[])` and `InTypeList(this Type, Type[])` switched to `ReadOnlySpan<Type>`.
### `BaseCreature.cs`
- `OnDeath` per-death `List<Mobile>` / `List<int>` / `List<int>` for fame/karma tracking switched to `PooledRefList`.
## Summary
- Adds `public virtual bool Murderer => Kills >= 5` property to `Mobile`, replacing ~30 scattered `Kills >= 5` / `Kills < 5` magic-number checks across the codebase
- `BaseCreature` overrides `Murderer` to also return `true` when `AlwaysMurderer` is set
- Updates `Corpse` serialization to v15, storing `_murderer` as a `bool` field (migrated from `int Kills >= 5` in earlier versions)
### Summary
Adds the command [TrackLeaks to enable tracking item/mobiles that have been deleted but still have dangling references. Requires adding the _TRACK_LEAKS_ define constant during build.
### Summary
* Bumps to .NET 9 with updated dependencies
* Comparing a value type against null is no longer allowed
* CI/CD now uses the version specified in global.json
* Serialization generator updated to .NET 9 with bug fixes, fixes to turkish language, and parallelization
### 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
- Removes allocation of a `List<ContextMenuEntry>` every time a context menu is created.
- Moves packet/context menu creation logic out of the core
- Fixes tame entry
## BREAKING CHANGE
> [!Important]
> **Developer Note**
> ```cs
> public virtual void GetContextMenuEntries(Mobile from, List<ContextMenuEntry> list)
> ```
> and similar functions changed to
> ```cs
> public virtual void GetContextMenuEntries(Mobile from, ref PooledRefList<ContextMenuEntry> list)
> ```
### 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
- Removes copying private setters
- Fixes duping containers
- Adds public `Dupe.DoDupe` functions for external scripts to hook into the existing logic.
## Summary
### Changes
- Adds `[IgnoreDupe]` and `[SerializedIgnoreDupe]`
- Updates all _known_ classes that need the attribute. Some might be missing, please helps us find them!
- Adds `Item.Dupe()` command and encapsulates `CopyProperties` and `OnAfterDuped`. This is also overridable.
- Updates Dupe command to use the new logic.
- Fixes duping multiple kinds of objects that used to be outright broken.
### Bug Fixes
- Fixes issue with durability after duping
- Fixes issue with hue after duping
> [!Note]
> **Developer Note**
> Customizing how duping an item works now requires two steps:
> 1. Add `[IgnoreDupe]` or `[SerializedIgnoreDupe]` to the property/field
> 2. Add custom logic in an `OnAfterDuped` override
>
> When do you need to do this?
> *When the property being copied is not a primitive, and you need to manually deep-clone the contents of the property such as with Lists, Dictionaries, or sub classes.*
### Summary
* Adds logging if Amount goes to zero. It should never go to zero!
* Deletes an item if it mutates with zero amount.
* Eliminates possible allocation from `params` for `Type[][]` loot pack construction.
* Renames `Loot.ChestOfHeirloomsContains` to `Loot.RandomChestOfHeirloomsContent`.
### Summary
* Refactors getting static/multi tiles to not use allocations.
* `TileList` is now only used during bootstrapping and uses rented buffers to eliminate extra allocations.
* Replaces `StaticTile[] GetStaticTiles` with:
```cs
Map.StaticTileEnumerable GetStaticTiles(int x, int y);
Map.StaticTileEnumerable GetStaticAndMultiTiles(int x, int y);
Map.StaticTileEnumerable GetMultiTiles(int x, int y);
```
* Removes `Synchronized` and `lock` from TileMatrix. It is no longer considered a multi-thread safe system.
### Summary
- Removes old death packet that isn't used. Doubtful this causes issues with clients that are v4+.
- Removes duplicate incoming packets. Again, probably to fix some old client issues, doubtful it affects clients v4+.
- Fixes setting serials and entities in props/commands. Note: Disabled setting `Parent` since the new sector code has issues. We shouldn't rely on it anyway!
- Reverts a recent change to healthbars that should not have been made. Oops!
## BREAKING CHANGE
- Deletes `map.GetObjectsInRange` and `map.GetObejctsInBounds`
### Notes
Developers are expected to enumerate mobiles and items separately now using `map.GetMobilesInRange` and `map.GetItemsInRange`. This helps keep the code streamlined so we don't have to maintain multiple copies of ref struct enumerators that do the same thing.
### Fixes
- [X] Fixes bug with planks closing
- [X] Fixes issue with iterating items/mobiles from a null map
### Summary
Eliminates `IPooledEnumerable<NetState>` and `eable.Free()` from `Map` for clients. This drastically simplifies code that iterates in range, for example:
```cs
foreach (var m in m.GetClientsInRange(5))
{
}
```
The code above no longer requires an eable and calling `Free()`.
### Summary
Eliminates `IPooledEnumerable<T>` and `eable.Free()` from `Map` for mobiles. This drastically simplifies code that iterates in range, for example:
```cs
foreach (var m in m.GetMobilesInRange(5))
{
}
```
The code above no longer requires an eable and calling `Free()`.
- [X] Fixed several locations where an NPC that was damaged would cause a server crash.
- [X] Removed an unnecessary allocation in guard fake calls (NPCs calling guards on you)
- [X] Fixes damage precision loss in Poison Strike Spell
- [X] BogThing no longer attempts to "search" for boglings to eat when it is at full health
### 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
Eliminates `IPooledEnumerable<T>` and `eable.Free()` from `Map` for items. This drastically simplifies code that iterates in range, for example:
```cs
foreach (var item in m.GetItemsInRange(5))
{
}
```
The code above no longer requires an eable and calling `Free()`.
### 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">
* Fixes a major bug where players can stack items into their backpack infinitely even if they get a message saying they can't.
* Fixes other minor issues and cleans up code.