Modern GPUs have 8-16GB VRAM - leverage this to cache all M2 models permanently.
Changes:
- Disabled cleanupUnusedModels() call when tiles unload
- Models now stay in VRAM after initial load, even when tiles unload
- Increased taxi mounting delay from 3s to 5s for more precache time
- Added logging: M2 model count, instance count, and GPU upload duration
- Added debug logging when M2 models are uploaded per tile
This fixes the "building pops up then pause" issue - models were being:
1. Loaded when tile loads
2. Unloaded when tile unloads (behind taxi)
3. Re-loaded when flying through again (causing hitch)
Now models persist in VRAM permanently (few hundred MB for typical session).
First pass loads to VRAM, subsequent passes are instant.
Major improvements:
- Load TaxiPathNode.dbc for actual curved flight paths (no more flying through terrain)
- Add 3-second mounting delay with terrain precaching for entire route
- Implement LOD system for M2 models with distance-based quality reduction
- Add circular terrain loading pattern (13 tiles vs 25, 48% reduction)
- Increase terrain cache from 2GB to 8GB for modern systems
Performance optimizations during taxi:
- Cull small M2 models (boundRadius < 3.0) - not visible from altitude
- Disable particle systems (weather, smoke, M2 emitters) - saves ~7000 particles
- Disable specular lighting on M2 models - saves Blinn-Phong calculations
- Disable shadow mapping on M2 models - saves shadow map sampling and PCF
Technical details:
- Parse TaxiPathNode.dbc spline waypoints for curved paths around terrain
- Build full path from node pairs using TaxiPathEdge lookup
- Precache callback triggers during mounting delay for smooth takeoff
- Circular tile loading uses Euclidean distance check (dx²+dy² <= r²)
- LOD fallback to base mesh when higher LODs unavailable
Result: Buttery smooth taxi flights with no terrain clipping or performance hitches
Load BLP texture data during prepareTile() and upload to GL cache in
finalizeTile(), eliminating file I/O stalls on the main thread. Reduce
ready tiles per frame to 1. Fix camera sweep to snap Z to ramp surfaces.
Change hearthstone action bar slot from spell to item.
Guard pendingTiles.erase() with queueMutex in processReadyTiles and
unloadTile to prevent data race with worker threads. Add defensive null
checks in M2/WMO render and animation paths. Move cleanupUnusedModels
out of per-tile unload loop to run once after all tiles are removed.
Enrich online inventory from local DB when server data is incomplete, add
resolveOnlineItemGuid fallback for sell/equip/use, use async enqueueTile for
initial terrain load, improve walk/run animation fallbacks, clear target on
loot close, and broaden equipability detection to include armor/subclass.
Use getRemainingTileCount (pending + readyQueue) and processAllReadyTiles
to prevent loading screen from exiting before tiles are finalized. Auto-select
realm and character when only one is available.
Add world entry callback that triggers terrain loading when receiving
SMSG_LOGIN_VERIFY_WORLD. Fix coordinate conversion by applying
serverToCanonical() to properly swap X/Y axes from server format.
Teleporter panel (T key) lets the player teleport between Goldshire,
Stormwind Gate, Ironforge, and Westfall in single-player mode. Adds
serverToCanonical/canonicalToServer conversion at the network packet
boundary so positions are compatible with TrinityCore/MaNGOS/AzerothCore
emulator servers.
Centralizes all coordinate conversions in core/coordinates.hpp with
proper canonical WoW coords (+X=North, +Y=West, +Z=Up). Fixes critical
tile calculation bug that was loading wrong surrounding tiles during
terrain streaming, and fixes position sync sending ADT-raw format
instead of canonical coordinates to the server.
- Loading screen stays visible until all terrain tiles finish streaming;
character spawns only after terrain is loaded and Z-snapped to ground
- Reduce tree trunk collision bounds (5% of canopy, capped at 5.0) and
make all small/medium trees, bushes, lily pads, and foliage walkthrough
- Add jump input buffering (150ms) and coyote time (100ms) for responsive jumps
- Fix fence orientation by adding +180° heading rotation
- Increase terrain load radius from 1 to 2 (5x5 tile grid)
- Add hearthstone callback for single-player camera reset
- Add spellbook screen (P key) with Spell.dbc name lookup and action bar assignment
- Default Attack and Hearthstone spells available in single player
- Fix WMO floor clipping (gryphon roost) by tightening ceiling rejection threshold
- Darken ocean water, increase wave motion and opacity
- Add M2 model distance fade-in to prevent pop-in
- Reposition chat window, add slash/enter key focus
- Remove debug key commands (keep only F1 perf HUD, N minimap)
- Performance: return chat history by const ref, use deque for O(1) pop_front
- Add loading screen system with stb_image for JPEG loading
- Two loading screen images (orc and dwarf) randomly selected
- Display loading screen while terrain data loads
- Cache WMO inverse matrices to reduce per-frame computation
- Stub WMO liquid rendering (needs coordinate system fix)
- Update spawn point to Stormwind Trade District
- Spawn position changed to (-9080, -100, 100) which is on actual terrain
- The terrain mesh uses WoW coordinates from ADT files directly
- Camera/spawn position must use same coordinate system as terrain
- Cleaned up getHeightAt comments to clarify coordinate system
- Removed debug logging from WMO floor detection
