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=== What is OpenSimulator? ===
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OpenSimulator is an open source multi-platform, multi-user 3D application server. It can be used to create a virtual environment (or world) which can be accessed through a variety of clients, on multiple protocols. It also has an optional facility (the [[Hypergrid]]) to allow users to visit other OpenSimulator installations across the web from their 'home' OpenSimulator installation.  In this way, it is the basis of a nascent distributed Metaverse.
  
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OpenSimulator allows virtual world developers to customize their worlds using the technologies they feel work best - we've designed the framework to be easily extensible. OpenSimulator is written in [http://www.ecma-international.org/publications/standards/Ecma-334.htm C#], running both on Windows over the [http://www.microsoft.com/net/ .NET Framework] and on Unix-like machines over the [http://www.mono-project.com/ Mono] framework. The source code is released under a [[BSD License]], a commercially friendly license to embed OpenSimulator in products. If you want to know about our development history, see [[History]].
<center>'''FYI:''' We've migrated the main source repository to git, most of the English documentation is updated, but other languages may be behind. See [[Using_Git]] for more information.</center>}}
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=== What is OpenSimulator? ===
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Out of the box, OpenSimulator can be used to simulate virtual environments similar to [http://www.secondlifegrid.net Second Life™], given that it supports the core of [http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Protocol SL's messaging protocol]. As such, these virtual worlds can be accessed with the regular [http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Alternate_viewers SL viewers]. However, OpenSimulator does not aim to become a clone of the Second Life server platform. Rather, the project aims to enable innovative feature development for virtual environments and the Metaverse at large.
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OpenSimulator is a 3D Application Server. It can be used to create a virtual environment (or world) which can be accessed through a variety of clients, on multiple protocols. OpenSimulator allows you to develop your environment using the technologies you feel work best - we've designed the software to be easily extendable through [[Getting Started with Region Modules|loadable modules]] to build completely custom configurations. OpenSimulator is released under a [[BSD License]], making it both open source, and commercially friendly to embed in products.
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OpenSimulator is getting more stable over time but is still a high complex software system that can suffer various bugs and quirks; handle with care!
  
Out of the box, OpenSimulator can be used to simulate a virtual environment similar to Second Life™ (including client compatibility).  Other environments, protocols and features are supported via add on modules.  For a list of available modules check out our [http://forge.opensimulator.org/gf/ forge site].
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=== Features ===
  
Although OpenSimulator is still considered '''alpha software''', many people are [http://technorati.com/search/opensim?authority=a4&language=en doing exciting things with it].
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* Supports online, multi-user 3D environments as small as 1 simulator or as large as thousands of simulators.
 
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* Supports 3D virtual spaces of variable size within one single instance.
=== Features ===
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Even though OpenSimulator is relatively young software it already has many useful features
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* Supports creating multiple 'worlds' in a single application instance.
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* Supports multiple clients and protocols - access the same world at the same time via multiple protocols.
 
* Supports multiple clients and protocols - access the same world at the same time via multiple protocols.
* Extensive ability to customize your avatar, both with custom clothing, skins, and attached objects.
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* Supports realtime Physics Simulation, with multiple engine options including Bullet and ODE.
* Realtime Physics Simulation, with multiple engine options including ODE, PhysX, Bullet and more.
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* Supports clients that create 3D content in real time.  
* The ability to create content real time in the environment using in world building tools. What you see is what you get.
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* Supports inworld scripting using including LSL/OSSL and C#.
* In world application development using a number of different languages, including LSL/OSSL, C#, JScript and VB.NET
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* Provides unlimited ability to customize virtual world applications through the use of [[IRegionModule|scene plugin modules]].
  
=== Using OpenSimulator ===
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For a more extensive list, see the [[Feature Matrix]].
The fastest way to get started using OpenSimulator is to create an account on [http://osgrid.org OSGrid], then download the [http://opensim-viewer.sourceforge.net/ Hippo Viewer] or [http://secondlife.com/support/downloads.php Linden Lab's Second Life viewer] (amongst others) to connect to OSGrid.  This process should take no longer than 10 minutes, and will give you a flavor for what OpenSimulator is like.
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You can also easily connect to any one of the many [[Grid_List|public grids]] on the internet.
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=== Running an OpenSimulator-Based World ===
  
Or you could run a simple standalone OpenSim on your Windows desktop to create and preview content. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8fwqdaCTrc Here is a tutorial showing how to get opensimulator running in stand-alone mode.].
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*[[Download|Downloading OpenSimulator]]  
 
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*[[Dependencies|Required Dependencies]]
=== Running your own OpenSimulator ===
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*[[Build Instructions|Building OpenSimulator]]  
If you are interested in running your own OpenSimulator server, to host your own 3D environments you'll want to check out the following links:
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*[[Configuration|Configuring and Running OpenSimulator]]  
* [[Download|Getting OpenSimulator]]
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*[[Server Commands]]  
* [[Build_Instructions|Building OpenSimulator]]
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*[[FAQ|Frequently Asked Questions]]
* [[Configuration|Configuring OpenSimulator]]
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* [[Running|Running OpenSimulator]]
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* [[FAQ|Frequently Asked Questions in Running OpenSimulator]]
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* [[Technical Reference | Technical Reference Pages]]
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=== Participating in the OpenSimulator Community ===
 
=== Participating in the OpenSimulator Community ===
 
OpenSimulator is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source open source] project, and is powered by the community members that devote time and energy to the effort.  There are many ways to participate and contribute to the community:
 
OpenSimulator is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source open source] project, and is powered by the community members that devote time and energy to the effort.  There are many ways to participate and contribute to the community:
* Participate via [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat IRC] - [irc://irc.freenode.net/opensim #opensim] (for users) and [irc://irc.freenode.net/opensim-dev #opensim-dev]
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* Participate via [[IRC]]. There are channels for users and developers.
* Participate via the mailing lists - [https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/opensim-users opensim-users] (for users) and [https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev opensim-dev] (for developers).
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* Participate via the [[Mailing Lists]].  There are mailing lists for OpenSimulator use and development, as well as broader topics such as education and the Hypergrid.
* [[WikiStructure|Contribute to this wiki]], making the OpenSimulator documentation even better.
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* [[WikiStructure|Contribute to this wiki]], making the OpenSimulator documentation even better.  Don't be afraid of making mistakes - they can be easily corrected.
* Report [[bugs]], submit [[Submitting_code_to_OpenSim|patches]] or submit content contributions via our [http://opensimulator.org/mantis/ mantis bug tracker]
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* Report [[bugs]] or submit [[Submitting code to OpenSim|patches]] via our [http://opensimulator.org/mantis/ mantis bug tracker].  If you're submitting code, please read through the [[Contributions Policy]] before starting.
* Create an OpenSimulator related project hosted on the [http://forge.opensimulator.org Forge] or [http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Related_Software elsewhere] on the web.  In the forge there are over a dozen registered projects, and it's a great way to further extend the OpenSimulator community.
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* Create an OpenSimulator related project hosted on the [http://forge.opensimulator.org Forge] or [[Related Software|elsewhere]] on the web.  In the forge there are over a dozen registered projects, and it's a great way to further extend the OpenSimulator community.
 
* Participate to open content creation for OpenSimulator. More details at [[Artist Home]].
 
* Participate to open content creation for OpenSimulator. More details at [[Artist Home]].
* Blog about OpenSimulator, and let us know about that blog on [irc://irc.freenode.net/opensim #opensim] so it can be added to [http://planet.opensim.us Planet OpenSim]
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* Participate in the weekly [[Office Hours]] for OpenSimulator development.  
* Participate in one of the weekly [[Office Hours]] for OpenSimulator.  We currently have weekly office hours for development, wiki work, and testing.
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* Secure project infrastructure by [[Donations|donating]] to the [[Donations|OpenSim Project Infrastructure Fund]].
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[[:Category:Getting_Started | Getting Started]] , [[:Category:Support | Support]] , [[:Category:Tech Reference|Technical Reference Pages]] , [[:Category:Help|Help]] , [[:Category:Configuration|Configuration Pages]] , [[:Category:Users|User's Pages]] , [[:Category:Development | Development Pages]] , [[:Category:Scripts|Scripts]] , [[:Special:Recentchanges| Recent Wiki Changes]]</b><br />
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Revision as of 11:09, 2 August 2017

What is OpenSimulator?

Image of past Moment:
Opensimulator Community Conference 2013
Downloads:

Windownload.png Binaries Zip (0.9.2.2)
Linuxdownload.png Binaries Tarball (0.9.2.2)
Windownload.png Source Zip (0.9.2.2)
Linuxdownload.png Source Tarball (0.9.2.2)
Download.png Diva distro (0.9.2.1). Binary, all OSs

sha1 hashes

Other downloads may be found at either the Download page, or the OpenSim Release Repository

OpenSimulator is an open source multi-platform, multi-user 3D application server. It can be used to create a virtual environment (or world) which can be accessed through a variety of clients, on multiple protocols. It also has an optional facility (the Hypergrid) to allow users to visit other OpenSimulator installations across the web from their 'home' OpenSimulator installation. In this way, it is the basis of a nascent distributed Metaverse.

OpenSimulator allows virtual world developers to customize their worlds using the technologies they feel work best - we've designed the framework to be easily extensible. OpenSimulator is written in C#, running both on Windows over the .NET Framework and on Unix-like machines over the Mono framework. The source code is released under a BSD License, a commercially friendly license to embed OpenSimulator in products. If you want to know about our development history, see History.

Out of the box, OpenSimulator can be used to simulate virtual environments similar to Second Life™, given that it supports the core of SL's messaging protocol. As such, these virtual worlds can be accessed with the regular SL viewers. However, OpenSimulator does not aim to become a clone of the Second Life server platform. Rather, the project aims to enable innovative feature development for virtual environments and the Metaverse at large.

OpenSimulator is getting more stable over time but is still a high complex software system that can suffer various bugs and quirks; handle with care!

Features

  • Supports online, multi-user 3D environments as small as 1 simulator or as large as thousands of simulators.
  • Supports 3D virtual spaces of variable size within one single instance.
  • Supports multiple clients and protocols - access the same world at the same time via multiple protocols.
  • Supports realtime Physics Simulation, with multiple engine options including Bullet and ODE.
  • Supports clients that create 3D content in real time.
  • Supports inworld scripting using including LSL/OSSL and C#.
  • Provides unlimited ability to customize virtual world applications through the use of scene plugin modules.

For a more extensive list, see the Feature Matrix.

Running an OpenSimulator-Based World

Participating in the OpenSimulator Community

OpenSimulator is an open source project, and is powered by the community members that devote time and energy to the effort. There are many ways to participate and contribute to the community:

  • Participate via IRC. There are channels for users and developers.
  • Participate via the Mailing Lists. There are mailing lists for OpenSimulator use and development, as well as broader topics such as education and the Hypergrid.
  • Contribute to this wiki, making the OpenSimulator documentation even better. Don't be afraid of making mistakes - they can be easily corrected.
  • Report bugs or submit patches via our mantis bug tracker. If you're submitting code, please read through the Contributions Policy before starting.
  • Create an OpenSimulator related project hosted on the Forge or elsewhere on the web. In the forge there are over a dozen registered projects, and it's a great way to further extend the OpenSimulator community.
  • Participate to open content creation for OpenSimulator. More details at Artist Home.
  • Participate in the weekly Office Hours for OpenSimulator development.



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