Daily Dev Update: Reliable Lobbies & Playtest Hub - November 26, 2025
Period: November 26, 2025
Total Commits: 2
Hey, here’s what we’ve been working on. Short update today: we tightened up multiplayer reliability with end-to-end tests and spun up a focused playtest hub page so folks can jump in without hunting for links. Nothing flashy, just getting the basics right.
What’s New
- Playtest hub page
- Clear steps for how to join, what to expect, and where to discuss.
- Rewards and recognition laid out up front to reduce guesswork.
- Clean, responsive layout that works on desktop and mobile.
- Direct links into the community so coordination is easier.
Why: coordinating playtests across posts and chats was messy. A single page makes expectations clear and cuts down the back-and-forth.
What Got Fixed
- More reliable lobby entry
- Fixed a timing issue where the client could try to connect to the game server before it was actually authenticated. This sometimes led to silent failures or loops.
- Result: Create Game → Lobby is consistently smooth, and the player list shows up as expected once you land in the lobby.
- Cleaner back navigation
- Moving from lobby back to the main menu is stable and doesn’t leave the session in a weird state.
Under the Hood
- End-to-end multiplayer tests
- Automated browser runs now cover the core path: load, guest in, create a game, see the lobby, and return to the menu.
- The tests orchestrate the auth and game server services from start to stop, so we’re exercising the real flow instead of mocked pieces.
- We capture client console logs during runs to catch silent errors and warnings for faster debugging.
- Tests run sequentially to avoid port collisions and data races, which keeps results predictable.
Why this matters: PvP depends on fast, reliable session setup. These tests act like a tripwire—if a small change breaks lobby creation, we’ll know immediately. It’s not glamorous, but it prevents regressions that ruin matches before they start.
Notes
- No balance changes today. Towers, bots, and matchmaking logic are unchanged.
- Today’s runs are green end-to-end. We’ll keep an eye on any intermittent UI stalls, but the lobby path is in a good place.
Thanks to everyone who’s been stress-clicking Create Game and sending screenshots. It helps a lot.