[MUD-Dev] Clients

[Vadim Tkachenko]

JC Lawrence wrote:
> 
> On Sun, 11 Jan 1998 21:48:43 PST8PDT
> Matt Chatterley<root at mpc.dyn.ml.org> wrote:

[skipped]

> > I'm interesting in hearing not only which software you folks use,
> > but also *why you use it* - what does the software have that you
> > like? What is missing? Personally I use tf since it is
> > straightforward to use and has a nice, uncluttered display
> > (something I will strive to recreate!).
> 
> Per George Reese I am a craven dinosaur.  I use raw telnet.

Couldn't resist: and implement at least half of its options? In this
case, worth a lot of respect...

> > On the protocol side, one thing in my mind is to allow my mud to
> > communicate its menus (currently done using the input_to() features
> > of MudOS/LPC) to the client so that they appear in 'pop-up' windows
> > which are clickable, and easy control of features, such as a 'spell
> > selection window' for using special skills and magic, but again,
> > considering this in a general fashion is harder:
> 
> Idea:
> 
>   Have a generically configurable feature in your client that allows
> commands to be constructed and entered in the MUD via GUI selections.
> 
>   Now allow that same construction to be user configurable.
> 
> Whazzat?
> 
> Imagine RMB clicking on your client window to have a menu of various
> preset command that you have selected appear in a GUI menu.  Selecting
> an entry sends that command to the MUD (configurable if it hits ENTER
> or not to allow subsequent editing).
> 
> Now extend that concept such that menu entries change dynamically
> based on parsing of the current world context.  ie you can pick
> objects from your local environ to add to the current command under
> construction.
> 
> Next allow certain entries to pop-up basic dialog boxes with simple
> radio buttons and selection lists (keyed off the environment again) to
> construct more tailored commands.
> 
> Make the entire thing based of a user-written text file ala the .rc
> for your root window menu under X (just done right instead).

Smalltalk?

Two more notes:

- Don't forget to provide the good old way of typing the command. BTW,
speaking about
JP Soft, why didn't anyone provide a good command/context completion in
the MUD? I understand, that's a lot of work, but you just have to do it
once... Getting back, whatever fancy graphical point-and-click interface
you provide, text input (especially with word completion) is much more
efficient (GUI is more flexible, though).

- .rc file - I'm going to allow players to specify the RC URL and/or to
upload user-written anything to be accessible provided that user is able
to specify the URL.

In one of soviet science fiction books I've seen a theme - individuals
able to create the simplified look-alike clones of themselves, to
perform some routine work, like grocery shopping or sitting at the work
nine to six - the abovementioned is a good way to allow user to program
something complicated in the comfortable customized environment and
easily upload it.

The unfortunate side effect of those clones was, though, that seeing
their picture IDs, they were becoming outrageous and tried to reach and
tear apart the mentioned picture IDs.

It may not be funny for you, but you know, in the xSU the very life
depended on picture IDs...

> J C Lawrence

--
Still alive and smile stays on,
Vadim Tkachenko <VadimT at 4CS.Com>
--
UNIX _is_ user friendly, he's just very picky about who his friends are