What is it?
Getdown (yes, it's the funky stuff) aims to provide a system for
downloading and installing a collection of files on a user's machine
and upgrading those files as needed. Though just any collection of
files would do, Getdown is mainly intended for the distribution and
maintenance of the collection of files that make up an application.
It was designed as a replacement for Java Web Start due to limitations in Java Web Start's architecture which are outlined in the rationale section.
How does it work?
The main design and operation of Getdown is detailed on the
design page. You can also browse the
javadoc documentation if you're
interested in implementation details.
How do I use it?
Tutorials for creating a sample project will be made available
shortly. For now, check the examples on the
design page and post questions to the
Game Gardens forums.
Is it free?
Yes! Getdown is released under the
GPL. Stop whining, it's
good for you. The most recent version should always be available
here.
Where can I see it in action?
Getdown was originally written by developers at
Three Rings Design for the
deployment of their Java-based massively multiplayer game
Puzzle Pirates. You can
download and install Puzzle Pirates to see Getdown in use in a production
environment.
Obtaining Getdown:
The latest version of Getdown can be checked out from Subversion
or you can download a pre-built distribution:
svn checkout svn://code.threerings.net/getdown/trunk getdown
getdown-snapshot.zip
Getting Involved
Check the forums listed above, or send email to
Michael Bayne. Contributions and bug
fixes are always welcome.