[MUD-Dev] Java and Javascript

[Jon A. Lambert]

On 25 Feb 98 at 19:31, Ben Greear wrote:
>  Jon A. Lambert wrote: 
> > I would bet that more than half of current mud players couldn't make 
> > a symlink if their life depended upon it, let alone a registry 
> > change.  Installation of a client should be totally automated.
> 
> I got the installation for my java appliction down to:  download,
> unzip, type <java path>\java hegemon
> 

"Unzip?  Where do I get that?  What do all these parameters mean?
OK I typed it, now where did it go?"  

You may even get slapped by a user after telling them to unzip.
More often the response these days is "What are you wearing now?"

> That aint so bad...but of course they would have to install the JDK.
>  I found it was almost pittifully easy to install it as well. 
> Basically unzip it and it's good to go.
> 
> However, I'm not aware of any single person downloading my client,
> even though it's quite good.

Hrrmm. Sorry, but I did DL some of your C++ classes. :>
 
> The saving grace is that Java runs as an applet with very little
> tweaking.
> 
> It seems ppl will live with longer download times and limited
> abilities (ie you can't save you're aliases/actions etc) in applet
> mode.  Still, if it gets used at all, it is in this manner..

JavaBeans can be made persistent.  And they are a good idea for 
whole lot of other reasons.  I like modular components like ActiveX, 
JavaBeans, lego kits, erector sets, train sets, etc.  Then again, I 
believe the mud builder and user interface should look more like 
"Widget Workshop" or "The Incredible Machine" rather than the ever-
blinking and oppressive ">".

> I expected the opposite..and the applet thing was even a last minute
> hack I did to help out an imm who uses a mac (ie life sucks and
> JDK's are hard to come by)
> 
> I think ppl have become extremely lazy about software
> installation..if it doesn't have a wizard and automatically download
> itself...who wants it!

It's hard to become lazy about something you've never had to do
before and have no clue as to how to proceed.

> Still, I write for them as much as myself..so gotta start thinking
> more like them....

Right.  You should assume the user knows nothing.  

Or looking on the bright side...  
Assume the potential player attempting to check out your mud 
is none other than J.R.R. Tolkein, lately arisen from the grave.  Old 
J.R. has just learned how to use his browser and happened to stumble 
upon your mud's web page while doing a web search on "hobbitses".  
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to deliver that 
client to J.R. and get him playing on your mud.  Now the Tolkmeister 
knows how to a keyboard, is fairly familar with his browser, and 
doesn't know a damn thing else about computers, although he knows
quite a bit about orcs and hobbitses.  

A challenge, but with the proper UI or GUI this hapless and clueless 
fellow might make a decent player or builder.

I don't favor computer intelligence tests with mud players.
I DO favor tests that require a user to demonstrate reading 
comprehension.  Literature as opposed to technical works.

> Sorry for that rambling verbage, I love just being able to set an
> environment variable or two, put it in my path, or use cool command
> line args....and so few understand their beauty!
> 
> Ben the disgruntled.
> 

I ramble too.  Yet I'm optimistic.  I like users.  They're kinda fun 
to have on your mud.  ;P  

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