The next server version, Second Life Server 1.38, is now up on the Preview Grid (Aditi) and available for testing.  Server 1.38 is scheduled to be deployed to Second Life the first week of April.

What is in this release?

This server version includes new LSL features and a look at script memory usage if you are using Second Life Viewer 2.0.  Check out the release notes here, which are a work in progress.

The script memory reporting will allow anyone to see summary data for the script memory used by all objects on a parcel - that is the cumulative total amount of memory used by all objects on the parcel.  Parcel owners will get a detailed list of memory used by each object on their parcel including the ability to track and find the objects or return them directly from the interface.  Estate owners and managers will be similarly able to view the details for the entire region.  Every resident will be able to get a detailed look at the memory used by their own avatar, down to the individual attachments.

The new LSL functions are generally new versions of existing functions with no script delays and the ability to work on other prims in the object.  The aim here is to make it easier to manipulate entire objects from a single script and reduce the need to add a script to every prim.  Many complex systems should be able to use these functions to reduce the number of scripts required and thus reduce the amount of memory needed and even their overall complexity.

An important bug fix.

There is also a much anticipated bug fix in this server version.  The short of it is that we found and fixed a bug that would cause some Mono scripts to sometimes take a really long time to load when rezzed or when entering a region.  The long, and technical, of it is that there is a bug in the Mono version we use that causes what should be an instant and free action (asking mono to load an assembly it has already loaded) to instead stall for about 20ms.  This most frequently happens when rezzing an object or objects with many identical scripts.  We have fixed this in our code by only loading assemblies that have not already been loaded and hooking scripts up to existing assemblies directly if they were already loaded.  This issue is in jira as SVC-3895.

How do I get to the preview?

To test this server version you will need to log into Aditi.  At the login page use the shortcut Ctrl-Shift-G to toggle the grid drop down box next to the login button.  Choose Aditi from this drop down box.  Accounts created in the last year will need to contact Oskar Linden in world, in the main Second Life, to get their accounts ported over to Aditi.  Older accounts should be able to access, with whatever password was being used around a year ago, otherwise they too will need to contact Oskar for a fresh import.

Once on Aditi head to one of the Beta Server regions - 98 out of 115 regions on Aditi are running the Server 1.38 beta.  Some good bets are: Sandbox Goguen, Sandbox Island Extension, Sandbox Newcomb, Sandbox Wanderton, Sandbox Cordova, Sandbox - Weapons Testing and the Teen Grid Sandbox Islands.  If in doubt check in Help -> About Second Life for the server version, about 5 lines down in Viewer 2, which should start with 1.38. There is an automated list that tracks regions that are up with their server versions here: http://aditi.99k.org/ADITI/aditi_sims.php

What to do there?

Our greatest benefit from public Beta testing comes from residents doing what we don’t expect and from residents testing their own content.  There is amazing diversity in the scripted content in Second Life and as hard as we try we can never replicate all of it.  Content creators should test their products to ensure they still work and maybe even to see if the new features can help them improve their products.

If you find any bugs, let us know!  Please file a Jira bug in the project 2. Second Life Service - SVC and set the Affects Version to 1.38 Server.

Oskar leads our server QA efforts.  To become more inolved check out:

Original post by kelly@lindenlab.com