[MC-174] RFE: Better integration with Linux desktop Created: 24/Oct/12  Updated: 08/Nov/12  Resolved: 08/Nov/12

Status: Closed
Project: Minecraft: Java Edition
Component/s: None
Affects Version/s: Minecraft 1.4.2
Fix Version/s: None

Type: Bug
Reporter: Elad Alfassa Assignee: Unassigned
Resolution: Invalid Votes: 1
Labels: linux
Environment:

Linux


Confirmation Status: Unconfirmed

 Description   

There are few things that can be done (and can be easily done) to improve integration of Minecraft with the Linux desktop.

Launcher Distribution - Package Management

At the moment, the Minecraft Linux launcher is distributed as a jar file. It is worth considering packing said jar file in rpm and deb to ease installation of Minecraft on Linux systems.

Benefits of Package Management

  • Package files include a list of dependencies, thus you can make sure users won't have to install Java manually to play Minecraft on Linux – The package manager will install it for them
  • Packages are installable globally, for all users of the system. Thus, if the system is shared by more than one user, they would only need to download and install Minecraft once.
  • Packages can be automatically updated using the system's native update manager. Having official Mojang repositories for rpm and deb packages will allow updating the launcher automatically for Linux users should the need to update the launcher ever arise

Desktop File – ie. A Menu Icon to Start Minecraft

This is not needed on windows, where double clicking on an exe file will launch it. But in Linux, a jar file will be opened with the system's default archive manager.

In order to add a usable menu icon, one should create a desktop file which include meta-data such as path to icon file (if Minecraft will ever be packaged as deb or rpm, such icon should be installed in /usr/share/icons/hicolor/256x256/icon-name-here.png), tags for search, application name, executable path and parameters.

Having a desktop file that'll put itself in the applications menu (system wide: /usr/share/applications or per-user: ~/.local/share/applications) will make it easier for novice Linux users to actually start Minecraft.

I can help

I know Linux has never been a high priority platform for Mojang, and I know your time is valuable. Therefore, if you want to implement my suggestion, I can make the desktop file and the rpm spec file for you (for free), as well as give you pointers on how to create software repository.



 Comments   
Comment by Talven81 [ 07/Nov/12 ]

Excellent, glad to hear from a Mojang employee on this. I might consider doing something similar for personal use.

Comment by [Mojang] Grum (Erik Broes) [ 06/Nov/12 ]

See: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/minecraft/

Comment by [Mojang] Grum (Erik Broes) [ 06/Nov/12 ]

You can just distribute the launcher which would download the client. just saying

Comment by Do [ 31/Oct/12 ]

If your rpm doesn't contain (any version of) the client (because it downloads it from the "central source"), how can it possibly contain/be a hacked client?

Anyway, I'm not here to give you legal advice; do what you like, but please use this issue tracker for bug reports only, not requests for enhancement.

Comment by Elad Alfassa [ 31/Oct/12 ]

from Wikitionary:
Hack (verb) (computing) To make a quick code change to patch a computer program, often one that is inelegant or that makes the program harder to maintain.
Hack (noun) (computing) An expedient, temporary solution, meant to be replaced with a more elegant solution at a later date.

The EULA prevents me from redistributing "hacked" versions of the minecraft client, and making an rpm myself without it being supervised, signed and distributed by Mojang is clearly a hack by that definition. Since lawyers are usually keen on dictionary definitions, and an EULA is a legal document, I refuse to take any action which is against the EULA in any sense, I don't have the time and money to get sued for trying to help.

Comment by Do [ 31/Oct/12 ]

Talven, good point, I thought about that before posting, and read that section... the way I read it, as long as your script is downloading it from the "central source," it should be legit, but I could be wrong. Obviously there would be issues with trademarks too, so the launcher icon would probably suck.

Comment by Talven81 [ 31/Oct/12 ]

A user created .rpm is on the cusp between redistribution and 3rd party tool. I would verify one way or another with Mojang themselves.

Source: MineCraft EULA

In order to ensure integrity of the game, we need all game downloads to come from a single central source: us. We hope you understand. It's also important for us that 3rd party tools/services don't seem "too official" as we can't guarantee their quality. Make sure to read through our brand guidelines. If you wish to make something pertaining to anything we've made we're humbled, but please make sure that it can't be interpreted as being official.

Basically, mods (or plugins, or tools) are cool (you can distribute those), hacked versions of the Minecraft client or server are not (you can't distribute those).

We reserve the final say regarding what constitutes a tool/plugin and what doesn't.

If there's anything legal you're wondering about that isn't answered from this page, don't do it and ask us about it. Basically, don't be ridiculous and we won't.

Comment by Elad Alfassa [ 31/Oct/12 ]

Because the Minecraft EULA prevents me from doing so

Comment by Do [ 31/Oct/12 ]

This is clearly not a bug, it's a feature request at best, if not an entirely separate project.

Linux is clearly supported, and instructions for launching the game are right there on the download page.

If you know people who could benefit from something like this, why not just make a deb or rpm with a little script that downloads the launcher and installs all the shortcuts and share it with them?

Comment by Cloudy (Aaron Mills) [ 31/Oct/12 ]

This IS a feature request. Minecraft does work on Linux systems. That is "supported". This is something which would make it easier for new users - which is nothing like a bug, and as such shouldn't be on this bug tracker.

Comment by Elad Alfassa [ 31/Oct/12 ]

This is not a feature request. The lack of proper desktop launcher in Linux is a problem.

Assume the use case of a new person who is not familiar with the operation system:

1) Download .jar file from mojang
2) double click the .jar file
3) Archive Manager opens. User can't play the game.

If you still think this is not a bug then you can't claim you support Linux when you actually don't support it.

Comment by Cloudy (Aaron Mills) [ 24/Oct/12 ]

This is a feature request, not a bug report. Only bug reports are supported at this time. Sorry!

Comment by Yoann Petremann [ 24/Oct/12 ]

@Nathan Workman : as a bug report can contain details for missing non-programming features ( such as support, social, econommy, art ... ) to make the program experience better, this can be considered as a bug report.

Comment by Nathan Workman [ 24/Oct/12 ]

This is not a bug and as such should not be posted here.

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