feat: worlds starting up on the dashboard; the prestarted worlds are a setting

The dashboard shows worlds master has launched but that aren't connected
yet (Starting) and those shutting down, on the main page's world list
and in /api/worlds (state: starting|stopping), without a shutdown
button. Master's server list now carries each world's state (appended
after the UGC fields, one byte per world) and master pushes the list to
the dashboard whenever a world is launched, becomes ready, is told to
shut down or goes away, instead of the dashboard only seeing it on its
30 second poll. Starting worlds are kept apart from the running ones,
so counts, events and shutdown requests still only see running worlds.

prestart_worlds (masterconfig.ini, zone ids) lists the worlds master
starts when prestart_servers is on, instead of the hardcoded character
select (0) and Venture Explorer (1000), which stay the default when it
is missing or empty. It is on the Settings page as a zone list (restart
only), shown when prestart_servers is on.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

dDashboardServer/DashboardServer.cpp

@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ namespace ServerState {
 	bool g_UgcEnabled{};
 	uint32_t g_UgcPid{};
 	std::vector<WorldInstanceInfo> g_WorldInstances{};
+	std::vector<WorldInstanceInfo> g_PendingWorlds{};
 	std::mutex g_StatusMutex{};
 }
 
@@ -208,6 +209,7 @@ namespace {
 		ServerState::g_UgcPid = list.ugcPid;
 
 		ServerState::g_WorldInstances.clear();
+		ServerState::g_PendingWorlds.clear();
 		for (const auto& instance : list.instances) {
 			WorldInstanceInfo info;
 			info.mapID = instance.mapID;
@@ -219,7 +221,13 @@ namespace {
 			info.isPrivate = instance.isPrivate != 0;
 			info.zoneName = GetZoneDisplayName(info.mapID);
 			AddPropertyDetails(info);
-			ServerState::g_WorldInstances.push_back(info);
+			using eState = MasterPackets::ServerListResponse::eState;
+			if (instance.state == eState::READY) {
+				ServerState::g_WorldInstances.push_back(info);
+			} else {
+				info.state = instance.state == eState::STARTING ? "starting" : "stopping";
+				ServerState::g_PendingWorlds.push_back(info);
+			}
 		}
 
 		LOG_DEBUG("Received server list: auth=%s chat=%s ugc=%s worlds=%u",
@@ -275,6 +283,8 @@ namespace {
 			instances.push_back(info);
 		}
 
+		std::erase_if(ServerState::g_PendingWorlds, [&](const WorldInstanceInfo& w) { return w.mapID == zoneID && w.instanceID == instanceID; });
+
 		LOG("World ready: zone %i instance %i", zoneID, instanceID);
 	}
 

dDashboardServer/routes/LiveWorld.cpp

@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ namespace LiveWorld {
 				JsonSuccess(reply, { {"message", "Shutting it down"} });
 			});
 
-		Route(eHTTPMethod::GET, "/api/worlds", Perm("players_view"), "Every running world with its instance and clone IDs, address, players and, for property instances, the property and owner",
+		Route(eHTTPMethod::GET, "/api/worlds", Perm("players_view"), "Every world with its instance and clone IDs, address, players and, for property instances, the property and owner; worlds still starting or shutting down have state: starting|stopping",
 			[](HTTPReply& reply, const HTTPContext&) {
 				nlohmann::json worlds = nlohmann::json::array();
 				std::lock_guard lock(ServerState::g_StatusMutex);
@@ -254,6 +254,12 @@ namespace LiveWorld {
 						{"isPrivate", w.isPrivate}, {"ip", w.ip}, {"port", w.port}, {"propertyId", w.propertyId}, {"propertyName", w.propertyName},
 						{"ownerId", w.ownerId}, {"ownerName", w.ownerName} });
 				}
+				// Launched but not connected yet, or shutting down
+				for (const auto& w : ServerState::g_PendingWorlds) {
+					worlds.push_back({ {"mapID", w.mapID}, {"zoneName", w.zoneName}, {"instanceID", w.instanceID}, {"cloneID", w.cloneID}, {"players", 0},
+						{"isPrivate", w.isPrivate}, {"ip", w.ip}, {"port", w.port}, {"propertyId", w.propertyId}, {"propertyName", w.propertyName},
+						{"ownerId", w.ownerId}, {"ownerName", w.ownerName}, {"state", w.state} });
+				}
 				JsonSuccess(reply, { {"worlds", worlds} });
 			});
 

dDashboardServer/routes/ServerState.h

@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ struct WorldInstanceInfo {
 	std::string propertyName{};
 	std::string ownerId{};
 	std::string ownerName{};
+	// "starting" (launched, not connected yet) or "stopping"; worlds that are up are in g_WorldInstances instead
+	std::string state{};
 };
 
 namespace ServerState {
@@ -49,6 +51,8 @@ namespace ServerState {
 	extern bool g_UgcEnabled;
 	extern uint32_t g_UgcPid;
 	extern std::vector<WorldInstanceInfo> g_WorldInstances;
+	// Worlds master launched that aren't connected yet, or that are shutting down (kept apart: not running)
+	extern std::vector<WorldInstanceInfo> g_PendingWorlds;
 	extern std::mutex g_StatusMutex;
 
 	inline nlohmann::json GetServerStateJson() {
@@ -77,6 +81,12 @@ namespace ServerState {
 			});
 		}
 
+		data["startingWorlds"] = nlohmann::json::array();
+		for (const auto& world : g_PendingWorlds) {
+			data["startingWorlds"].push_back({ {"mapID", world.mapID}, {"instanceID", world.instanceID}, {"cloneID", world.cloneID},
+				{"zoneName", world.zoneName}, {"state", world.state} });
+		}
+
 		data["stats"]["onlinePlayers"] = totalOnlinePlayers;
 		data["stats"]["worlds"] = g_WorldInstances.size();
 		return data;
@@ -108,6 +118,13 @@ namespace ServerState {
 			}
 		}
 		state["worlds"] = std::move(worlds);
+		// Starting and stopping worlds without clone IDs (a property instance only says it's a property)
+		nlohmann::json pending = nlohmann::json::array();
+		for (const auto& world : state.value("startingWorlds", nlohmann::json::array())) {
+			pending.push_back({ {"mapID", world.value("mapID", 0u)}, {"instanceID", world.value("instanceID", 0u)}, {"zoneName", world.value("zoneName", "")},
+				{"state", world.value("state", "")}, {"property", world.value("cloneID", 0u) != 0} });
+		}
+		state["startingWorlds"] = std::move(pending);
 		return state;
 	}
 }

dDashboardServer/routes/SettingsCatalog.cpp

@@ -129,6 +129,11 @@ namespace {
 
 		c.AddSection("Startup");
 		c.Add(Bool(MASTER, "prestart_servers", "Start auth, chat and char servers", "Master starts the other servers itself.", true, true));
+		{
+			auto worlds = List(MASTER, "prestart_worlds", "Worlds started with master", "Started when master starts, before anyone asks for them. Empty: character select (0) and Venture Explorer (1000).", eListOf::ZONE, "0,1000");
+			worlds.restart = true;
+			c.Add(When(std::move(worlds), MASTER, "prestart_servers", { "1" }));
+		}
 		c.Add(Bool(MASTER, "enable_dashboard", "Start the web dashboard", "", false, true));
 		c.Add(Bool(SHARED, "skip_account_creation", "Skip the first-account prompt", "For non-interactive setups: master doesn't ask for an account when there are none.", false, true));
 

dDashboardServer/templates/index.jinja2

@@ -124,6 +124,17 @@ $(function () {
 
 	// Staff get the detailed list (address, which property a clone is); everyone else the basic one from the status
 	var detailedWorlds = DASH.can('players_view');
+	// Worlds master launched that haven't connected yet, and those shutting down
+	function stateBadge(row) {
+		if (row.state === 'starting') return ' ' + fmt.badge('Starting', 'info');
+		if (row.state === 'stopping') return ' ' + fmt.badge('Shutting down', 'secondary');
+		return '';
+	}
+	function withPending(data) {
+		return (data.worlds || []).concat((data.startingWorlds || []).map(function (w) {
+			return { zoneName: w.zoneName, mapID: w.mapID, instanceID: w.property ? '' : w.instanceID, cloneID: w.cloneID || 0, players: 0, state: w.state };
+		}));
+	}
 	var worlds = $('#worldInstancesTable').DataTable({
 		paging: false,
 		searching: false,
@@ -133,7 +144,7 @@ $(function () {
 			{ data: 'zoneName', render: function (d, t, row) {
 				// Staff who read chat can open this world on the Chat Log: its chat, players and stats
 				var name = DASH.can('chat_view') && row.mapID ? fmt.link('/chat_log#world=' + row.mapID + ':' + row.instanceID, d) : esc(d);
-				return name + ' <span class="text-body-secondary">(' + esc(row.mapID) + ')</span>'; } },
+				return name + ' <span class="text-body-secondary">(' + esc(row.mapID) + ')</span>' + stateBadge(row); } },
 			// Without players_view, property instances come merged per zone ({properties: n}) and without clone IDs
 			{ data: 'instanceID', render: function (d, t, row) { return row.properties ? esc(row.properties) + ' propert' + (row.properties === 1 ? 'y' : 'ies') : esc(d); } }
 		].concat(detailedWorlds ? [{ data: 'cloneID' }, { data: 'propertyName', defaultContent: '', render: function (d, t, row) {
@@ -142,6 +153,7 @@ $(function () {
 		} }] : []).concat([
 			{ data: 'players', render: function (d) { return fmt.badge(d, 'primary'); } }
 		]).concat(detailedWorlds ? [{ data: 'isPrivate', render: function (d) { return d ? fmt.badge('Private', 'warning') : fmt.badge('Public', 'success'); } }, { data: 'port', defaultContent: '', render: function (d, t, row) { return '<code class="small">' + esc((row.ip || '') + ':' + d) + '</code>'; } }] : []).concat(DASH.can('worlds_manage') ? [{ data: null, orderable: false, className: 'text-end', render: function (d, t, row) {
+			if (row.state) return '';
 			return '<button class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-danger text-nowrap" data-shutdown-zone="' + esc(row.mapID) + '" data-shutdown-instance="' + esc(row.instanceID) + '">Shut down</button>';
 		} }] : []),
 		language: { emptyTable: 'No active world instances' }
@@ -211,7 +223,7 @@ $(function () {
 		if (data.worlds) {
 			setText('world-count', data.stats && data.stats.worlds !== undefined ? data.stats.worlds : data.worlds.length);
 			if (detailedWorlds) loadDetailedWorlds();
-			else worlds.clear().rows.add(data.worlds).draw(false);
+			else worlds.clear().rows.add(withPending(data)).draw(false);
 		}
 		if (data.stats) {
 			setText('online-players', data.stats.onlinePlayers);

dMasterServer/InstanceManager.cpp

@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ const InstancePtr& InstanceManager::CreateInstance(LWOMAPID mapID, LWOCLONEID cl
 	StartWorldServer(mapID, port, m_LastInstanceID, maxPlayers, cloneID);
 
 	m_Instances.push_back(std::move(newInstance));
+	if (m_OnInstancesChanged) m_OnInstancesChanged();
 
 	if (m_Instances.back()) {
 		LOG("Created new instance: %i/%i/%i with min/max %i/%i", mapID, m_LastInstanceID, cloneID, softCap, maxPlayers);
@@ -146,6 +147,7 @@ void InstanceManager::AddInstance(InstancePtr& instance) {
 	if (instance == nullptr) return;
 
 	m_Instances.push_back(std::move(instance));
+	if (m_OnInstancesChanged) m_OnInstancesChanged();
 }
 
 void InstanceManager::RemoveInstance(const InstancePtr& instance) {
@@ -156,6 +158,7 @@ void InstanceManager::RemoveInstance(const InstancePtr& instance) {
 			if (!Game::ShouldShutdown()) RedirectPendingRequests(instance);
 
 			m_Instances.erase(m_Instances.begin() + i);
+			if (m_OnInstancesChanged) m_OnInstancesChanged();
 
 			break;
 		}
@@ -164,6 +167,7 @@ void InstanceManager::RemoveInstance(const InstancePtr& instance) {
 
 void InstanceManager::ReadyInstance(const InstancePtr& instance) {
 	instance->SetIsReady(true);
+	if (m_OnInstancesChanged) m_OnInstancesChanged();
 
 	auto& pending = instance->GetPendingRequests();
 
@@ -288,6 +292,7 @@ const InstancePtr& InstanceManager::CreatePrivateInstance(LWOMAPID mapID, LWOCLO
 	StartWorldServer(mapID, port, m_LastInstanceID, maxPlayers, cloneID);
 
 	m_Instances.push_back(std::move(newInstance));
+	if (m_OnInstancesChanged) m_OnInstancesChanged();
 
 	if (m_Instances.back()) return m_Instances.back();
 	else LOG("Failed to create a new instance!");

dMasterServer/InstanceManager.h

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
+
+#include <functional>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include "SpareBackoff.h"
 #include <map>
@@ -138,6 +140,9 @@ public:
 
 	const std::vector<InstancePtr>& GetInstances() const;
 	void AddInstance(InstancePtr& instance);
+
+	// Called on the main thread whenever a world is launched, becomes ready or is removed (for the dashboard's list)
+	void SetOnInstancesChanged(std::function<void()> callback) { m_OnInstancesChanged = std::move(callback); }
 	void RemoveInstance(const InstancePtr& instance);
 
 	void ReadyInstance(const InstancePtr& instance);
@@ -187,4 +192,5 @@ private:
 	int GetSoftCap(LWOMAPID mapID);
 	int GetHardCap(LWOMAPID mapID);
 	const InstancePtr& CreateInstance(LWOMAPID mapID, LWOCLONEID cloneID);
+	std::function<void()> m_OnInstancesChanged;
 };

dMasterServer/MasterServer.cpp

@@ -88,6 +88,38 @@ SystemAddress ugcServerMasterPeerSysAddr;
 uint32_t ugcServerPid = 0;
 
 namespace {
+	// Every server for the dashboard: auth, chat, the UGC server and the worlds, including those launched but not
+	// connected yet (starting) and those shutting down
+	MasterPackets::ServerListResponse BuildServerList() {
+		using eState = MasterPackets::ServerListResponse::eState;
+		MasterPackets::ServerListResponse response;
+		response.authOnline = authServerMasterPeerSysAddr != UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS ? 1 : 0;
+		response.chatOnline = chatServerMasterPeerSysAddr != UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS ? 1 : 0;
+		response.ugcEnabled = Game::config->GetValue("enable_ugc_server") == "1" ? 1 : 0;
+		response.ugcOnline = ugcServerMasterPeerSysAddr != UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS ? 1 : 0;
+		response.ugcPid = ugcServerPid;
+		if (!Game::im) return response;
+		for (const auto& inst : Game::im->GetInstances()) {
+			if (!inst || inst->GetShutdownComplete()) continue;
+			auto& entry = response.instances.emplace_back();
+			entry.mapID = inst->GetMapID();
+			entry.instanceID = inst->GetInstanceID();
+			entry.cloneID = inst->GetCloneID();
+			entry.players = static_cast<uint32_t>(inst->GetCurrentClientCount());
+			entry.ip = LUString(inst->GetIP());
+			entry.port = inst->GetPort();
+			entry.isPrivate = inst->GetIsPrivate() ? 1 : 0;
+			entry.state = inst->GetIsShuttingDown() ? eState::STOPPING : inst->GetIsReady() ? eState::READY : eState::STARTING;
+		}
+		return response;
+	}
+
+	// Tells the dashboard at once when a world is launched, connects or goes away (it also asks every 30 seconds)
+	void PushServerListToDashboard() {
+		if (dashboardServerMasterPeerSysAddr == UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS) return;
+		MasterPackets::SendTo(dashboardServerMasterPeerSysAddr, BuildServerList());
+	}
+
 	// Dashboard player actions waiting for world servers to answer
 	struct PendingPlayerAction {
 		ePlayerAction action{};
@@ -418,6 +450,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 
 	//Create additional objects here:
 	Game::im = new InstanceManager(Game::server->GetIP());
+	Game::im->SetOnInstancesChanged(PushServerListToDashboard);
 
 	//Get CDClient initial information
 	try {
@@ -442,8 +475,17 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 	if (Game::config->GetValue("prestart_servers") != "0") {
 		StartChatServer();
 
-		Game::im->GetInstance(0, false, 0);
-		Game::im->GetInstance(1000, false, 0);
+		// The worlds started with master (prestart_worlds, zone ids; missing or empty: character select and Venture Explorer)
+		for (auto part : GeneralUtils::SplitString(Game::config->GetValue("prestart_worlds", "0,1000"), ',')) {
+			std::erase_if(part, [](const char c) { return std::isspace(static_cast<unsigned char>(c)); });
+			if (part.empty()) continue;
+			const auto zoneId = GeneralUtils::TryParse<LWOMAPID>(part);
+			if (!zoneId) {
+				LOG("prestart_worlds: '%s' isn't a zone id; skipped", part.c_str());
+				continue;
+			}
+			Game::im->GetInstance(*zoneId, false, 0);
+		}
 		StartAuthServer();
 	}
 
@@ -804,6 +846,7 @@ namespace {
 
 		LOG("Got shutdown response from zone %i clone %i instance %i port %i", instance->GetMapID(), instance->GetCloneID(), instance->GetInstanceID(), instance->GetPort());
 		instance->SetIsShuttingDown(true);
+		PushServerListToDashboard();
 	}
 
 	void OnShutdownUniverse(const ShutdownUniverse& request, const SystemAddress& sysAddr) {
@@ -937,25 +980,7 @@ namespace {
 	void OnRequestServerList(const RequestServerList& request, const SystemAddress& sysAddr) {
 		LOG("Dashboard requested server list");
 
-		ServerListResponse response;
-		response.authOnline = authServerMasterPeerSysAddr != UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS ? 1 : 0;
-		response.chatOnline = chatServerMasterPeerSysAddr != UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS ? 1 : 0;
-		response.ugcEnabled = Game::config->GetValue("enable_ugc_server") == "1" ? 1 : 0;
-		response.ugcOnline = ugcServerMasterPeerSysAddr != UNASSIGNED_SYSTEM_ADDRESS ? 1 : 0;
-		response.ugcPid = ugcServerPid;
-
-		for (const auto& inst : Game::im->GetInstances()) {
-			if (!inst || !inst->GetIsReady() || inst->GetIsShuttingDown()) continue;
-			auto& entry = response.instances.emplace_back();
-			entry.mapID = inst->GetMapID();
-			entry.instanceID = inst->GetInstanceID();
-			entry.cloneID = inst->GetCloneID();
-			entry.players = static_cast<uint32_t>(inst->GetCurrentClientCount());
-			entry.ip = LUString(inst->GetIP());
-			entry.port = inst->GetPort();
-			entry.isPrivate = inst->GetIsPrivate() ? 1 : 0;
-		}
-
+		const auto response = BuildServerList();
 		MasterPackets::SendTo(sysAddr, response);
 	}
 

dNet/MasterPackets.cpp

@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ namespace MasterPackets {
 		bitStream.Write(ugcEnabled);
 		bitStream.Write(ugcOnline);
 		bitStream.Write(ugcPid);
+		for (const auto& instance : instances) bitStream.Write(static_cast<uint8_t>(instance.state));
 	}
 
 	bool ServerListResponse::Deserialize(RakNet::BitStream& bitStream) {
@@ -265,6 +266,12 @@ namespace MasterPackets {
 		VALIDATE_READ(bitStream.Read(ugcEnabled));
 		VALIDATE_READ(bitStream.Read(ugcOnline));
 		VALIDATE_READ(bitStream.Read(ugcPid));
+		for (auto& instance : instances) {
+			uint8_t state{};
+			VALIDATE_READ(bitStream.Read(state));
+			if (state > static_cast<uint8_t>(eState::STOPPING)) return false;
+			instance.state = static_cast<eState>(state);
+		}
 		return true;
 	}
 

dNet/MasterPackets.h

@@ -249,6 +249,9 @@ namespace MasterPackets {
 		// More than this many worlds is a broken packet
 		static constexpr uint32_t MAX_INSTANCES = 10000;
 
+		// Where a world is: connected, launched but not connected yet, or shutting down
+		enum class eState : uint8_t { READY = 0, STARTING = 1, STOPPING = 2 };
+
 		struct Instance {
 			LWOMAPID mapID{};
 			LWOINSTANCEID instanceID{};
@@ -257,6 +260,7 @@ namespace MasterPackets {
 			LUString ip{};
 			uint32_t port{};
 			uint8_t isPrivate{};
+			eState state{ eState::READY }; // written after the UGC fields, one byte per instance
 		};
 
 		uint8_t authOnline{};

resources/masterconfig.ini

@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ world_port_start=3000
 # 0 or 1, should autostart auth, chat, and char servers
 prestart_servers=1
 
+# The worlds (zone ids, comma separated) started with master when prestart_servers is on. Empty: 0,1000
+prestart_worlds=0,1000
+
 master_password=3.25DARKFLAME1
 
 # Enable the web dashboard (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)

tests/dGameTests/dNetTests/MasterPacketsTests.cpp

@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ TEST(MasterPacketsTests, ServerListMatchesLegacy) {
 			entry.ip = LUString(instance.ip);
 			entry.port = instance.port;
 			entry.isPrivate = instance.isPrivate ? 1 : 0;
+			entry.state = static_cast<MasterPackets::ServerListResponse::eState>(i % 3);
 		}
 		response.ugcEnabled = 1;
 		response.ugcOnline = count % 2;
@@ -362,6 +363,7 @@ TEST(MasterPacketsTests, ServerListMatchesLegacy) {
 			b.Write<uint8_t>(1);
 			b.Write<uint8_t>(count % 2);
 			b.Write<uint32_t>(4242 + count);
+			for (size_t i = 0; i < count; i++) b.Write<uint8_t>(static_cast<uint8_t>(i % 3)); // each world's state
 		}), StructPacket(response));
 
 		RakNet::BitStream stream; LoadPayload(stream, response);
@@ -373,6 +375,7 @@ TEST(MasterPacketsTests, ServerListMatchesLegacy) {
 			EXPECT_EQ(legacy.instances[i].players, copy.instances[i].players);
 			EXPECT_EQ(legacy.instances[i].ip, copy.instances[i].ip.string);
 			EXPECT_EQ(legacy.instances[i].isPrivate, copy.instances[i].isPrivate != 0);
+			EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<size_t>(copy.instances[i].state), i % 3);
 		}
 		EXPECT_EQ(copy.ugcEnabled, 1);
 		EXPECT_EQ(copy.ugcOnline, count % 2);

tests/dWebTests/ServerStateTests.cpp

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ namespace ServerState {
 	bool g_UgcEnabled{};
 	uint32_t g_UgcPid{};
 	std::vector<WorldInstanceInfo> g_WorldInstances{};
+	std::vector<WorldInstanceInfo> g_PendingWorlds{};
 	std::mutex g_StatusMutex{};
 }