People advertising they're running Parsers

[LittleImp]

So when people parse in game, they aren't doing it via a third-party plugin, but rather taking log files and uploading it into a program?

So do you guys just review it after a savage/extreme run is over?

Actually, yeah, that's usually how it's done.

FFLogs re-parses the completed log-file after the fact and provides significantly more indepth analysis about runs, where ACT's real-time output is considered pretty primitive and often unhelpful.

[Esper56]

Actually, yeah, that's usually how it's done.

FFLogs re-parses the completed log-file after the fact and provides significantly more indepth analysis about runs, where ACT's real-time output is considered pretty primitive and often unhelpful.

See now this is the information I seem to have been missing or overlooked through this entire thread/articles I've read on what parsers are. The whole time it seemed like everyone was talking about a plug-in/addon that was constantly doing it in real time and not something done after the fact to review your mistakes.

[Menriq]

See now this is the information I seem to have been missing or overlooked through this entire thread/articles I've read on what parsers are. The whole time it seemed like everyone was talking about a plug-in/addon that was constantly doing it in real time and not something done after the fact to review your mistakes.

That's because LittleImp is incorrect. ACT is the plugin that writes out the logs in a format that is used not only for the plugin, but also FFLogs. The two developers often work together to ensure they are in sync with changes.

[LittleImp]

That's because LittleImp is incorrect. ACT is the plugin that writes out the logs in a format that is used not only for the plugin, but also FFLogs. The two developers often work together to ensure they are in sync with changes.

I skimmed over the first line of their post, my bad.

ACT generates a log file by reading memory or network packets, using a plugin created by a third party developer. FFLogs DOES NOT use log files generated by the game itself, and relies upon the log files generated via said ACT plugin. That said, this program is read-only, and is essentially impossible for SE to detect without adding intrusive anti-cheat that may run afoul of the law in certain regions where the game is available. They don't enforce their policies around it because they feel they can't.

ACT does allow you to view figures in real time, but is generally considered primitive and difficult to navigate in order to derive meaningful information from, so many players decide instead to upload the logfile and focus on the post-game analytics provided by FFLogs.This means that many people who interact with parsing don't actually run the software themselves, but can still make use of the analytics.