MUD programming

[Desolator]

figured this would go into the software topic but could probably fit into the AmigaOS programming section too... but since I want to do this on multiple platforms...here goes:

Could anyone point me to a site that takes up the basics of MUD programming? Tutorial sites even better.  I've been interested in starting one or creating for one ever since I played NannyMUD in the old days... is there any programs that ease up the programming parts or creates maps automatically after you created a room or a region, stuff like that..?

[YttriumOx]

I don't know of any decent MUD servers for Amiga I'm afraid.  I saw one once that had potential, but I don't remember what it was called and I do remember that when I looked into it, it made me shudder with dread at the idea of (necessary) customizations.
I'd strongly advise against running a MUD on your personal machine though - they tend to be pretty intensive on the system - especially if you've got a reasonably large world with lots of wandering mobs.
If you really want to do one on the Amiga, you've got three options:
1 - write one from scratch and hook it into a telnet server
2 - write one from scratch including it's own transport
3 - port one from somewhere else.  If you go this route, I may be willing to help with porting one of the Diku family since that's my preferred MUD system.

Regards,
Ben de Waal.

[pteppic]

Hi.

On aminet you can find two reasonably good solutions for hosting on an amiga.  Realms which I think is an amiga specific mud, and a port of Envy which works well.  I have used them both from time to time on my A1200.

Search mudconnector for details of coding and building, they have good forums too.

If you want to run a mud for real ( ;-) ) then you would be better off forgetting the amiga and finding a linux host..... Oh by the way I just happen to run a free mud hosting server at xtramud1.mud-dns.com where you can host any of the wide variety of linux flavour mud servers you like.

If you just want to learn a bit about area building, etc. then I could always do with the extra hands on my own mud Istari  ( telnet to istari.mud-dns.com port 8990 ) http://istari.mud-dns.com


Pteppic

[SlimJim]

Have you checked through every nook and corner of
Aminet? I seem to recall (although I admit that I haven't
actively looked specifically for it) the term 'MUD' appearing
numerous times.
 I remember because I didn't know what it was and had to
load the readme:s ('mud' sounding kinda odd if you don't
know what it stands for).
 
I'm sure you can find some included sources to peek at if
you look long and hard enough.
.
SlimJim

Hmm, cruising pretty close to one of my favourite subjects here. I'm not really into MUDs, I'm more interested in MUCKs. Can't really help with setting up one for yourself, but if you're still interested in "creating for one" (run by someone else) I can direct you to a couple of nice places and help you get into the basics. (The same goes for others who just want to play and explore other people's works.)

[Cymric]

@Desolator:

MUD programming is very dependent on the type of driver and mudlib you want to code for. You say you've played NannyMUD: I recall this MUD one uses LPC as its underlying language. You will want to look for Descartes' Basic and Intermediate LPC guides. They are a bit hard to find, but I found them here. There a few hands-on guides scattered throughout the Internet, try Google-ing for them. There is no real tutorial for the language itself: a sound knowledge of C and OO principles will get you very far, though. (Think Objective C rather than C++ here.)

Coding your own LP-type driver is not easy. It comes down to creating your own compiler and bytecode interpreter. You might want to try coding a mudlib first. I know that MudOS works just fine on (classic) Amigas, and that there are a few native MUDs available on Aminet. I do not know whether these are of the LP-type, though. Finally, the Pike language was originally based on LPC. I don't know how much of LPC remains in Pike, and whether it runs on Amigas at all. But you might want to check it out nonetheless.

Anyway, be prepared for a lot of coding: it takes a lot of effort to get a MUD going. But good luck!

[Ivan]

Aminet:

LPMud-321_140.lha  game/role  803K  274  Amylaar-LPMud 3.2.1 beta 140 (OS 2.0)


Ivan