I am very proud to announce the official launch of Curse Client v4 Early Access Beta!
The New Client is Born
After the launch of Curse Client 3.0, we began taking notes on the most frequent user requests, complaints, and general feedback. The result of this feedback is version 4. In development since May, version 4 of the Curse Client has been redesigned from the ground up. Written in C# and utilizing Microsoft WPF technology, the Curse Client now sports a modern user interface and an entirely new set of features.
- AddonSync - Keep your addons in sync across multiple game installs and computers. Backup and restore addon settings, automatically.
- UI Wizard - Create your own UI packs, and share them with your friends.
- Addon Icons - All addons now have icons for better identification and visual feedback.
- Integrated Bug Reporting - To assist authors in identifying issues and handling feature requests, the new Curse Client now includes an integrated bug reporting module.
- New Scanning Technology - Checking for addon updates now only takes a couple of seconds, and uses a fraction of the CPU as version 3.
- Small Memory Footprint - The new client has been optimized to fit within a tiny 1 to 3 megabyte footprint (when idle) and 1 megabyte when trayed.
- Better Customization - Choose the information you want to see in your addons list, the number of simultaneous downloads and even your UI theme (two in beta, with more to come).
- Better Searching - Search addons by name, category and author, instantly.
- Better Security - The Curse Client is now digitally signed by VeriSign to ensure authenticity. Additionally, all client-to-server communication has been secured with HTTPS-level encryption.
Below are instructions for how you can get into the early access beta, as well as screenshots showcasing the new client.
A native, Cocoa-based Mac client has also been in development, and will soon be entering beta.
Installing the Beta
Simply download the installer from http:clientupdate.curse.com/setup.exe and run it. The installer will verify a compatible version of .Net is on your computer, and update it if necessary. Depending on what version of .Net is installed on your computer, this process can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes.
How to Report Bugs & Feedback
Please report all bugs using the integrated bug reporting tool. This will automatically include a snapshot of the Curse Client log data, as well as your operating system information. We're excited to hear what you think about the new Curse Client.
Curse Client v4 Screenshots
Redesigned User Interface
AddonSync
Customizable List Columns
UI Wizard
Integrated Bug Reporting
New Search Tools
Redesigned Find New Addons Interface
Integrated Download Manager
Is there support any longer to display Unidentified addons? I liked that capability to let me know what addons have lost support on the site or that I need to manually maintain.
Arrowmaster: I guess it will redirect to the external tracker page. But that's just my guessing.
What about for projects that use the external ticket tracker option?
Initial thoughts - awesome! Few more color choices would be nice, such as blue, red, etc. Love the new search features and column selections. Thank you for including the change logs within the client!! In Windows 7 the UI fonts look a little off, not pixelated, but ghosting a bit with ClearType enabled and calibrated. Tried to submit bug report, but gave me error. Great work so far IMO! Thanks!
rasapian,
The client will not install any .Net files on Windows7. It just shows the .Net Client Profile setup wizard for all operating systems. The wizard will detect that you have a compatible version, and will proceed without installing any files.
What are the .net components it is trying to install? I would rather not have older framework files in Windows 7 if possible.
@ZenithanGunn
As far as supporting non Curse addons it already has support for that. If you install Carbonite it should display an updated version and will link you to the page on the appropriate site where it can be updated from as to not steal their bandwidth. As far as what addons are supported for this I do not know but more should be added.
Only thing I don't like about it is you're stuck installing a full addon's suite. Like auctioneer or zomgbuffs you don't always neeed all of it, just pieces of it and the client just dumps the whole thing on there.
What does one do about addons on curse that are not properly updates? For example PowerAura is actually being updated just not on curse. Can we get a way that it will see "non curse" addons. Doesnt' need to update them but at least make a entry line for them so we can remember "oh hey I need to look up itemrack." Maybe Add custom addon feature or something that will create a new addon line with a generic icon. Then you could also put in the addon's website for your own convience.
I know we have plans for a 'native' skinned planned.
As far as the beginner mode it's not a bad idea, and it's definitely possible. I'd suggest making a suggestion to the bug tracker :)
Is a skin with less colors for better readability planned (Win-95-Style) ? And a "beginner" mode where 90% of the buttons are hidden so that I can install/recommend it to my "clients" who would never understand what all the buttons are for ?
@squeedps: We're hoping people will find it useful, it may eventually get fleshed out withother features. Usage and feedback will depend a lot. Requests for columns should be done via the issue tracker (the little but in the bottom left of the screen).
@yambob666: We're going to be considering options to try to support linux natively (no promises!) however, there is also no plan on completely shelving the 3.0 version, although it won't be receiving further updates.
@incith :)
This is really nice. Noticed sorting by Status doesn't seem to work, in that it has no apparent order when clicking on the Status column to sort. (not alphabetical or anything)
I was about to say, "I'd just lke to see a better option for whether I want to install libs or not", but I see that is also taken care of already. Truly a lot of great ideas and work in this client. Keep it up.
looking good, but with the switch to .net is there any chance there will be a native linux client or atleast that the old client wont be removed as it works on linux under wine.
the ui wizard will definitely help out those ppl who make packs like the guys at elitistjerks.com
not sure if they use the curse client but if at least one of them does, then the word will probably spread about this feature
edit: after playing with the client a little bit and updating a few mods i noticed there is no column for game version compatibility. Any chance this can get added in a future update? It would be good to know what game version the addon i have installed is compatible with and what the latest version of an addon is compatible with.
@Jaliborc the report bug feature gets posted directly to the curseforge or wowace issue tracker.
@Borlox that is exactly our intent long term
@Aiiane Neither can we, and we hope this will be the last major rewrite.
@Nevermindz I'm still a few weeks out from a full open test, unfortunately the mac client won't be as feature rich as the windows one. At least not yet.
Will the "Report Bug" feature be redirected to CurseForge, or is it done right on the client?
EDIT: I agree with the custom icons idea.
Looks very nice, thanks for the work.
Will there be the possibility to add custom icons for an addon (as the addon author) ?
One of these days the Curse Client will stop getting "redesigned" and start getting "developed and maintained". I'm looking forward to that day. :P
Hey Adamar!
Great news! Any ETA on the beta client for Mac? Like soon *soon* or soon like Blizzard's *soon*™? :) And hopefully the annoying bug will be fixed.
Cheers.