Add cl_localTime: PLL-based local rendering clock for smooth gameplay#65
Merged
neyoneit merged 1 commit intoDefrag-racing:mainfrom Apr 3, 2026
Merged
Add cl_localTime: PLL-based local rendering clock for smooth gameplay#65neyoneit merged 1 commit intoDefrag-racing:mainfrom
neyoneit merged 1 commit intoDefrag-racing:mainfrom
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Phase-locked loop for cl.serverTime: instead of jumping to network-derived values each frame (causing micro-stutters from snapshot arrival jitter), serverTime advances at a constant local rate and softly tracks the server (max 2% rate adjustment). Hard clamp at 100ms prevents excessive drift. cl_localTime 0 = standard network-synced time (default) cl_localTime 1 = smooth local clock, eliminates rendering jitter Based on clean oDFe (origin/main) with no other modifications. Only client-side change — server needs no modification. Files: code/client/cl_cgame.c, cl_main.c, client.h Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Garux
reviewed
Apr 24, 2026
| lastRealtime = cls.realtime; | ||
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| targetTime = cls.realtime + cl.serverTimeDelta - CL_TimeNudge(); | ||
| error = targetTime - cl.serverTime; |
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variable name is error, while value is time difference with previous frame
| error = targetTime - cl.serverTime; | ||
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| // soft rate adjustment: speed up/slow down max 2% to track server | ||
| if ( error > 2 ) |
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| // soft rate adjustment: speed up/slow down max 2% to track server | ||
| if ( error > 2 ) | ||
| cl.serverTime += (int)( frameDelta * 1.02f ); |
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frameDelta is typically 8, (int)( 8 * 1.02f ) = 8
'soft rate adjustment' is missing
practically, if time drifts away, additional weapon knockback lag is experienced, and this is visible on lagometer, until time resets by >100ms lag
| cl.serverTime += frameDelta; | ||
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| // hard clamp: never diverge more than 100ms from server | ||
| if ( error > 100 || error < -100 ) |
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in case if ping spike this will add two lags by forth and back adjustments
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Summary
cl_localTime(0/1, default 0, archived) - opt-in smooth local rendering clockcl.serverTimeadvances at a constant local rate instead of jumping to network-derived values each frameclc.demoplaying)Technical Details
PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) approach: each frame, the local clock advances by
frameDelta(wall time between frames). The error between local clock and network-derived target is measured. If error > 2ms, the clock runs slightly fast (1.02x). If error < -2ms, slightly slow (0.98x). If error exceeds 100ms (e.g. after a lag spike), it snaps directly to the target.This produces visually smooth rendering while maintaining network accuracy within a few milliseconds.