Contribute to VASL!

VASL is not the result of a single person's effort, but has grown out of the cooperation of a large number of people over time. There are many niches, large and small, for anybody interested in contributing. The VASL Cooperative is a collection of people who contribute map artwork, counter artwork, scenario setups, web support, and/or Java programming. Or people just interested in an inside or advance view of what's happening with VASL.

Join the discussion list at
http://forums.gamesquad.com/forumdisplay.php?103-VASL.

You may find talents or obsessions you never knew you had!

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Customize VASL!

VASSAL modules are highly customizable. This means that it's possible for anybody to make enhancements to VASL. Got some third-party counters you'd like to contribute? Now it's easy! By using VASSAL's module editor, you can create your own custom extensions, with whatever new counters you like, then post it on the web site for others to enjoy!

For even more ambitious people, VASL source code is publicly available source code. Got a pet feature you'd like to add to VASL? Now you can write your own Java code and plug it straight in! Look at the 'docs' directory in the VASSAL download for documentation on the interface and a tutorial on how to do it. And of course, the VASL developers are more than willing to help you get comfortable. Find a problem or looking for ideas?  Check the VASL Issues List.

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Current Development of VASL!

VASL6.7.0

VASL6.7.0 beta versions will be released here in the coming months.

VASL6.7.0-beta1

Development for VASL6.7.0 is now underway. Our Issues List on Github usually contains about 150 items, a combination of desired features, known bugs, and board related items. Not all are being worked on at any given time.

VASL6.7.0 will be a bug fix version.

In particular, there are a number of LOS bugs that needed to be addressed, along with finishing up the work on having all overlays work with LOS Checking, including those in the VASL Overlays Extension.

The original plan for 6.6.9 was to focus on two new features: reworking AFV popup menus and starting to use SVG images in counters - this work was not ready to be included in 6.6.9 and work on them will continue in 6.7.0

Changes in this beta include:

Top concealment counter can now be made transparent for owner of non-dummy stack. This feature can be turned on/off in preference tab. Changed implementation of concealment counters. Now we try to take into consideration multiple locations within a hex denoted by counters (e.g. building levels)

When a special ammo is selected as depleted, it automatically displays below counter

Implementation of autosave feature. Creates save files every 10 minutes in users "board" directory. Maximum of 20 files created. Can be turned on/off in preferences tab.

Allow players to change the popup menu of a gamepiece when right clicking on a menu item. This sends the menu item to an unwanted submenu.

Reordered the boards when selecing a map and added a searchbox feature

Game Converter Development Plan Overview

In order to preserve the “enduring nature” of the Game Converter process there will be an impact on future VASL development planning and scheduling. After 6.6.6, new VASL versions will only include changes that will not break Setup Files or Saved Games. New features that impact version compatibility will be added only once an enduring Converter is in place.

VASSAL’s development also has an impact on these issues. Changes in VASSAL may affect VASL’s ability to provide backwards compatibility. The current practice of having multiple VASL and/or VASSAL versions installed at one time provides some assurance to VASL users that older games will remain useable.

The plan was to target VASL 6.7.0 for implementing the Game Converter tool in such a way that setup files could be automatically updated in bulk to the next version. Between VASL versions 6.6.7 and 6.7.0, the Game Converter tool would be applied to setup files individually to check for errors. Saved games are best converted individually when they are opened. Players will have the option to update or not.

Revised Plan of Action

Summer 2024 Release Scenario Setup files extension for 6.6.8

This extension is now available and includes 400 Scenario Setup files uppdated to 6.6.8 functionality.

Fall 2024 Release VASL6.6.9

The Scenario Setup files extension will be updated to 6.6.9 functionality and released at the same time as the VASL module. This will be the pattern from now on.

Spring 2025 Release VASL6.7.0

The final version of the Game Converter will provide enhancements and modifications to all of the previous functionality.

It will support checking for and updating of extensions required for the .vsav and additional means to grab and display external content. This work was delayed from 6.6.9.

VASL code development is currently carried out using free software tools provided by Jet Brains as part of it's Open Source Support . We appreciate their on-going assistance to VASL development.