Add experimental build for evaluating new gameplay/map features

[Robyt3]

Build the https://github.com/ddnet/ddnet/tree/experimental branch containing new gameplay/map features, to make it easier for mappers/testers to evaluate the experimental features.

The experimental branch is updated manually when the next iteration of the experimental features is ready to be tested. Rebuilding the experimental release once per week should be enough, as the branch is not expected to change frequently. Alternatively, rebuilding daily but only if the git revision has changed would also make sense.

Upload the experimental build to the Steam branch experimental, which needs to be created in the Admin panel first.

CC ddnet/ddnet#9801.

[KebsCS]

@def- 😃

[def-]

Do we really need that? I'm not a big fan of it living in a separate branch that we now also have to maintain (and build)

[KebsCS]

What's the alternative to a separate branch?

[def-]

Test the maps on "demo servers" we run with the PR for the feature directly.

[KebsCS]

Test the maps on "demo servers" we run with the PR for the feature directly.

But the problem is we don't have a map. The branch is in here so people can use the feature to crate the map

[fokkonaut]

What's wrong with providing one experimental version based on the PR directly only for the purpose to create a map with that feature?

[def-]

You can just get the version from the GitHub build from the specific PR, then make the map.

[KebsCS]

Please read the linked issue ddnet/ddnet#9801 (comment)

The problem is that majority of players don't use github, don't know about the features, or don't know how to download them.

Of course we can download the artifacts, but it's 5 of us contributors vs thousands of players that do not even have a github account

[Robyt3]

You can just get the version from the GitHub build from the specific PR, then make the map.

Artifacts are not accessible to map testers. They require a GitHub account to download. On some platforms the artifacts are not runnable at all. The artifact download links also expire after some time. We also have no debugging symbols for them.

Test the maps on "demo servers" we run with the PR for the feature directly.

We need experimental test servers in any case. This way we can test all experimental features by hosting 5-10 of the same kind of server instead of having to compile and host 5 different servers.

[heinrich5991]

You can just get the version from the GitHub build from the specific PR, then make the map.

Artifacts are not accessible to map testers. They require a GitHub account to download. On some platforms the artifacts are not runnable at all. The artifact download links also expire after some time. We also have no debugging symbols for them.

We could theoretically also try to fix these issues.

Test the maps on "demo servers" we run with the PR for the feature directly.

We need experimental test servers in any case. This way we can test all experimental features by hosting 5-10 of the same kind of server instead of having to compile and host 5 different servers.

Yea, that's annoying.