Long compile times out of nowhere

[GroovyGray]

Hi, I’ve been working on a project for a long time and I’m nearing completion. For most of me mapping, I’ve used a temporary skybox, the classic giant box hollow around the map technique. My map was relatively big But it did not take long to compile. Until recently I added a new permanent skybox and removed the old a temporary one. Right after that I compiled at roughly 9 o’clock, and it’s been compiling ever since. I can’t get a compile log because I haven’t been able to compile it since the changes. It is stuck on wrightBSP. I’m fine with long compile times, since I hear this is normal. But I have no idea if my map is suffering from the infinite compile time, or if it’s just compiling really slow. If anyone has any information as to what’s going on it’d be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[GroovyGray]

PS, it appears to be stressing my computer to the point where I can hear the fan. Leaving me a little skeptical if I should leave this on overnight

[Wazanator]

I'm fine with long compile times, since I hear this is normal.

It is not normal. What you need to do is read up on optimization if you haven't yet.

http://www.optimization.interlopers.net/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swBfUW-Bsxs

[GroovyGray]

That’s Interesting, I’m not denying your point but every other post I’ve seen such maps my size will take up to five hours or even overnight compiling. I don’t have much optimization, only visclusrers. I guess a lack of area portals are to blame for the long compile time?

[Wazanator]

On the upper end of maps that go all out with detail a properly optimized map takes roughly 20 minutes on a final compile with full HDR.

It sounds like the kind of map you are trying to make is one that is quite open. If that's the case you're fighting the engine as it wasn't meant for those kinds of maps.

[GroovyGray]

Yeah my map is open, though I can condense it and plan to do just that, any recommendations?

[GroovyGray]

This also doesn’t explain how i was able to load the same map with a different skybox setup perfectly fine with a decent load time and well within the limits of the engine

[Wazanator]

You said you were using visclusters which means you probably were not doing any vvis at all. If you have an older version compile it then in game turn on wireframe and see what all renders from different areas of the map. You'll probably find it is rendering most of the map.

[Peter Brev]

Valve did make updates on their compile tools so that big open maps do not take as long to compile as they did before. I know this for a fact because a previous open map of mine that would take an hour on VVIS for 25 minutes on VRAD has turned to 2 minutes of VVIS out of nowhere until I noticed the date on VBSP, VVIS and VRAD.

However, for us to guide you properly, we will need a log, even if the log is not complete, it will at least help us help you.

[GroovyGray]

Alright, I’ll see what I can do for a log.

[GroovyGray]

Alright so here’s an update, I loaded my backup of my map, way before I began experiencing the problem I mentioned above, and it too is now all of a sudden stuck compiling on simply loading the file (at least that’s what the log says, it is frozen). I decided to test compiling some small Un detailed maps I’ve made and so far I’ve been able to get them to compile. However I can’t load my backup now, when I could load the same file with everything the same as it was weeks ago with no issue at all. I speculated that’s because I disabled some options when compiling to check for leaks, before I began experiencing this all, and right when I was done I set everything to normal again and then the issue started.

I’m so confused right now.

[GroovyGray]

I’m beginning to think this doesn’t have anything to do with my map at all, seeing that old backups of it have this issue too. I’m opening a new thread about what I think the problem is.

[Wazanator]

It sounds like you probably disabled VVIS on your compiles or were doing fast.