InterMOO: a high-power MOO server (fwd)

[coder at ibm.net]

Just to keep an eye on what is around:

> From: Mark Waks <justin at inmet.com>
> Subject: InterMOO: a high-power MOO server
> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 16:14:43 -0400
> To: vworlds-biz at lists.best.com
> 
> This verges on advertisement, but since the subject of MOO Servers
> came up:
> 
> Those who are interested in commercial-grade MOO environments should
> give Intermetrics a call. For the past couple of years, we're been
> working on InterMOO, a ground-up rewrite of the MOO server, designed
> specifically for serious applications.
> 
> InterMOO is based on a real object-oriented database system, so it is
> intrinsically persistent -- the bulk of the database is *not* kept in
> core. This also helps it scale; since much of the database is on disk,
> you don't need as much RAM and virtual memory as comparably-sized
> traditional MOOs require. And although the system isn't currently
> distributed, the distributed version is designed (it was part of the
> plan from the beginning), and will be implemented soon. The server
> currently runs on Solaris, with an NT port expected in the
> not-too-distant future.
> 
> Reliability is already high, since the thing was carefully designed
> from the start instead of just evolving, and is improving steadily as
> we get some betas deployed and tested; performance already exceeds the
> LambdaMOO server, and planned enhancements should boost it by another
> 50% or so.
> 
> We have one reasonably substantial world running on InterMOO so far:
> Wyndhaven, an educational MUD designed for elementary school kids. It
> can be found at:
> 
> 	http://www.wyndhaven.com/
> 
> Wyndhaven is a WOO, and is primarily designed for use with a Web
> Browser. It is specifically currently targeted for client PCs running
> Netscape 3.0 and Java, with at least 800x600 resolution. (Macs will
> usually run, but bugs in Java sometimes cause communication problems;
> Internet Explorer can run with Wyndhaven, but requires a stripped-down
> client; lower resolution screens will work fine, but the graphics will
> be clipped a bit.) 
> 
> Wyndhaven is highly multimedia, so it's not lightning-fast over a 28.8
> connection; it's designed to use some clever tricks, so that the
> multimedia content can be optionally distributed on CD-ROM or in local
> uploaded files, which are automatically detected and used if present.
> And some of the fancier rooms require particular plugins (eg, Shockwave).
> 
> Wyndhaven is based on a highly extended JHCore; we're in the process
> of writing a very lean, high-performance core from scratch, to get the
> kind of speed a commercial multimedia system wants.
> 
> If anyone's interested in more information, please write to me and I'll
> send it along, or put you in touch with the appropriate folks. (I'm not
> much involved with the server per se; I've mainly been doing the server/
> browser architecture.) We're definitely looking for more serious
> commercial applications, particularly for multimedia and multimodal
> virtual world apps, and applications that stretch the boundaries of
> what you can do with the MOO environment...
> 
> 				-- Justin / Mark Waks
> 				   Intermetrics, Inc.
> 
> Random Quote du Jour:
> 
> "The phased approach to implementation could be described in the following
>  manner:
>     1. Design, code, and test each module by itself (this is commonly known
>        as unit test).
>     2. Throw all the modules into a large bag.
>     3. Shake the bag very hard (this is commonly known as systems
>        integration and test).
>     4. Cross your fingers and hope that it all works (this is commonly known
>        as field test)."
> 		-- Yourdon & Constantine

--
J C Lawrence                               Internet: claw at null.net
----------(*)                              Internet: coder at ibm.net
...Honourary Member of Clan McFud -- Teamer's Avenging Monolith...