Lime not mature enough for Android devices?

Lime
#1

I bought Lime thinking I could create a platform game but I’m having problems with running the examples in the simulator and on my Samsung Galaxy S phone running android 2.2.

Simulator complains it is missing ui.lua file. The examples have lines same as an issue already posted with no confirmed solution. Also when I run some examples I get a black screen and nothing happens until I get error message saying application is corrupted which has also been posted in the forum with no solid solution or fix.

So what I’m getting at is it doesn’t look like Lime is ready for android devices at all. If I’m wrong what are the solutions with code fixes. [import]uid: 38820 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 315238[/import]

#2

I’m currently running lime on Android with little issue except for a couple of weird slowdown.

As far as I remember i just grabbed ui.lua from this example: C:\Program Files (x86)\Ansca\Corona SDK\Sample Code\Interface\MultitouchButton

And it worked for me.

[import]uid: 64835 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 56704[/import]

#3

And also on Lime sites it is clearly written:

Lime is now in a Pre-Release Beta!

Before purchasing you must be fully aware that currently there are performance issues when running Lime on hardware. These issues are getting looked at by myself and Ansca so that they can get sorted as soon as possible. [import]uid: 64835 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 56706[/import]

#4

fstrudelbenoit you’re a genius.

So performance issues are missing files, spaces between tiles and completely crashing with absolutely no workarounds or fixes and no customer support or anything. Got it.

I think until Lime is usable on Android I’m going to have to be creative and write all my own code for my own platform game so I won’t have any of the above issues.
[import]uid: 38820 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 56734[/import]

#5

Hum well I’m using lime every day on one of my project and I don’t have any issue with space between tile and/or crashing. I was just trying to help for the missing file but whatever.

Also I have contacted the creator of lime several time and he answered my email.

[import]uid: 64835 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 56737[/import]

#6

Hi glennbjr, as has been stated Lime is still in Beta with known performance issues. I am working on it as much as I can but as any corona tool developer will tell you, the work is a niche of a niche so you still have to do other things to earn money. This means I don’t necessarily have as much time as I would hope.

As for customer support, again I try to offer as much as I can and I am sure that 99% of the people who have emailed me have been happy with the support provided. The main issue is that I get a very high number of emails a day ( which I am very happy for, just means people are using Lime, so please no one stop sending them in ) so if I ever have a break for a day or so to do other work the emails get backlogged and it takes me a while to get to all of them.

The missing file has been fixed for the next version, I didn’t realise Android would have such a problem with the missing file as iOS doesn’t mind ( unless naturally you tried to use that file ).

Spaces between tiles has usually been a problem with the content scale settings in a developers config.lua so you may want to have a look into that and ensure you are using artwork designed for your resolution.

Are you getting any errors when your app crashes? Is it reproducible at all? [import]uid: 5833 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 56919[/import]

#7

Graham thank you for responding to my email and this post. I’ll try what you suggested in the email and this post.

I forgot what Lime example caused the black screen and then the app crashed saying it was corrupted. It’s probably a problem with not having a delay with loading the tiles.

I’m going to give Lime another try tomorrow and report back to you about what I find. [import]uid: 38820 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 56969[/import]

#8

It does seems strange that it says it gets corrupted, Lime doesn’t do anything all that fancy that I think could actually corrupt a build. If the ui.lua or delay don’t fix it we may need to call in Ansca. [import]uid: 5833 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 56973[/import]

#9

I now know how to get rid of the annoying lines on my tile maps. Make sure you use letterbox for scale in your config.lua file like the following.

application =   
{  
 content =   
 {   
 width = 320,  
 height = 480,  
 fps = 60,  
 scale = "letterbox"  
 }  
}

As I work using Lime today I will post more updates and tips as I come across them.
[import]uid: 38820 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 57094[/import]

#10

never mind that didn’t fix everything. In the simulator Ipad and Droid showing lines :o|

what seems to work best on all android devices is aligning x to left and y to top using the following config settings with letterbox. The only thing that will produce lines are the Ipad simulator which is ok for me right now since I’m only developing for android right now.

application =   
{  
 content =   
 {   
 width = 320,  
 height = 480,  
 xAlign = "left",  
 yAlign = "top",  
 scale = "letterbox",  
 fps = 60  
 }  
}

[import]uid: 38820 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 57097[/import]

#11

lol

Forget it. Lime works in simulator without lines then when I run it on my Galaxy S it has a few lines between the tiles. It looks like I can’t get rid of the stupid lines.

Looks like I’ll have to set Lime aside for now until these things are fixed. Sorry Graham.

Time to start writing my own code for my platform game. Oh well :expressionless: [import]uid: 38820 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 57104[/import]

#12

The lines are caused by the scaling and rounding issues, I thought I had fixed all the rounding issues but I guess there must be one more which I will keep searching for. Would be great if spritesheets supported dynamic assets too to make it easier to have different assets for different resolutions. [import]uid: 5833 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 57154[/import]

#13

You’ll find Graham Ranson is very responsive and helpful to his product, lime. I appreciate the fact that when people ask about certain applications of Lime to their own project, he’ll give it to you straight. Lime is wonderful, and admittedly I am not utilizing it as I’m very very new to coding (june 2011 lol) I am learning how to do everything natively in Lua/Corona sdk.

Lime has some very good potential, it makes basic prototyping very quick. Since I have so much to learn, I’m just waiting around until the next version of Lime hits and maybe jump back into it now.

-ng [import]uid: 61600 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 57164[/import]

#14

Hey Nicholas, I thank you very much for your kind words! I really can’t wait for the day when performance is at the level that it really should be to be able to entice you back into it :slight_smile: [import]uid: 5833 topic_id: 15238 reply_id: 57172[/import]