[Freeciv-Dev] Freeciv server/client communication protocol

[Teemu Kurppa <tkurppa@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Freeciv server/client communication has some pecularities. To me, it seems
that the client/server communication has evolved to a working whole,
instead of being a well-defined communication protocol.

For example, this afternoon I found that the server doesn't always send
REMOVE_UNIT packet, when I disband my unit. Server sends it only, if I can
see the tile unit was on after the removal. However, server sends
TILE_INFO packet of the just-fogged tile, and the client updates it's unit
data structures appropriately in handle_tile_info. Aargh.

I've done some initial attempts to start implementing my own AI client,
and most of the time I've been hunting these pecularities. I expect that
others have tried to do AI clients also. This problems may not pop up, if
one uses C and existing client code. But I use different language. 

I would be glad of any information on your attempts, even of anectodal
information such as the example above.  I could collect a list of
problems, which could later be used to implement a cleaner communication
protocol.

Teemu Kurppa