Zugg Software :: View topic

Beginner Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 21

I am trying to write a re-useable chunk off code in zMUD that is self-contained. In Perl i'd do something like this:

sub FatalError( $ ) {
print STDERR "$progname: @_\n";
exit(1);
}

in zMUD i'd like to do something like this:

#FUNCTION HealWiggly {
#VAR wigglyLocation 0
#VAR tellWiggly {"tell Wiggly Where are You?"}
#REGEX "getWigglyLocation" {^Father Wiggly tells you: I am at (.+)$} {#COLOR Blue; wigglyLocation = %1;}

#SEND @tellWiggly;
}

This does not work. Why? How do i call it from command line and a ALIAS/TRIGGER. #CALL HealWiggly;does not work. Please point me to the relevant documentation.

Also, is there a char that i can use to split a long line of code into multiple lines, like so:

#REGEX "getWigglyLocation" \
{^Father Wiggly tells you: I am at (.+)$} {#COLOR Blue; wigglyLocation = %1;}

Where the \ starts a new line. Or can i just insert a newline and continue on the next line?

I tried something with #CLASS like so.

#CLASS {HealWiggly}
#VAR wigglyLocation 0
#VAR tellWiggly {"tell Wiggly Where are You?"}
#REGEX "getWigglyLocation" {^Father Wiggly tells you: I am at (.+)$} {#COLOR Blue; wigglyLocation = %1;}

#SEND @tellWiggly;
#CLASS 0

But the #REGEX line keeps disappearing. Also i can't seem to be able to do #SEND from within a CLASS.

SubAdmin Joined: 18 Nov 2001 Posts: 5182

What you are looking for is an #ALIAS. Most commonly you would create the #REGEX trigger outside of the alias, and then enable and disable it for minor speed gains or spoof resistance.

#CLASS WigglyStuff
#VAR wigglyLocation {} {}
#REGEX "getWigglyLocation" {^Father Wiggly tells you: I am at (.+)$} {#COLOR Blue;#VAR wigglyLocation {%1}}
#ALIAS HealWiggly {#SEND "tell Wiggly Where are you?"}
#CLASS 0

Beginner Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 21

Thanks, the code is looking reasonably pretty. Is the context in which variables exist explained anywhere - Variable scope when used within a CLASS, FUNCTION, TRIGGER, ALIAS? Also, about #REGEX.. within a ALIAS it is created only when the ALIAS is called? In a CLASS, is it created only when i enter the context of that CLASS?

GURU Joined: 23 Dec 2000 Posts: 4834 Location: USA

There is no scope in ZMud but there are rules that are followed:

1)Is a path specified (@../Var1)

2)check the default class (this is set by the #CLASS command, with #CLASS 0 returning the default back to the root class)

3)starting with the root class, check for first-found. Enter subfolders and subfolders of the subfolders before moving on to the next peer:

Beginner Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 21

Thanks for the Help Matt, but what i meant was like so:

#CLASS {Blah}
#VAR MyVar 5

#TRIGGER {^.+$} {#VAR MyVar 10}
#TRIGGER {^.+$} {/Blah/MyVar abcd} ; Which variable is being altered?
#REGEX {^.+$} {#VAR MyVar 20}
#ALIAS boo {#VAR MyVar 30}
#CLASS 0

Now, physically in memory is there like 4 different var's all called MyVar, or is there some other combination of MyVar's. Within a CLASS, how do the elements interact..as in..does the TRIGGER become active only when i switch context to that CLASS or is it active the moment i Import my cfg file. This stuff should be documented somewhere but i can't find it! GRR! It's drving me nuts since i have to sit and research zMUD and delay scripting and the docs have got heaps of verbiage without explaning basic scripting and the zMUD language properly! I mean look at how the Perl/Bash man pages are! *sigh* Mind you i do like zMUD for it's features but the lack of decent docs explaning basics is very irritating..the docs are a mish-mash of tutorials-for-the-noob to get him up and running, they don't really explain anything beyond very basic usage - at least the VAR/CLASS bit. Of cousrse if i've actually missed the section which contained the info then i apologise in advance!

SubAdmin Joined: 18 Nov 2001 Posts: 5182

Actually most of the tutorial sections of the help is written for the "noob". That is why it doesn't explain stuff in programmerese, and is excessively verbose. The reference sections of the help are more meant for programmers that have a concept of how things work, and attempt to include some cross-language referencing so a programmer that is knowledgable in another language can readily find the right function or command in zMud. Discussions about 'scope' and such are pretty much left out.

In it is rather plain to me that your your a trained programmer, versed in current methods and fashions. zMud started back in the early-mid 90's and its language of zScript has grown and developed from there. Scope wasn't an issue then, and threads hadn't even been born yet. zScript has grown quite organically from those roots and still has little to no concept of scope, in fact duplicate names for settings only started to be handled a few versions ago. There really is no reason for duplication of major variable names beyond programmers are lazy.

I have been saying that programmers are lazy for many years, and I happen to have the experience to back it up since I started programming on Apple IIc's in the early 80's. zScript is more of an old school language, and it is far easier to create distinct variables for seperate portions of your script then it is to actually implement scoping in it.

I would suggest that if you wish to see more language features of that type you should consider moving to CMud and starting your learning there.

GURU Joined: 23 Dec 2000 Posts: 4834 Location: USA

To answer your question, Veek, assuming there are no other @MyVar variables contained in other classes, you actually only have one @MyVar variable. The second #TRIGGER's #VAR syntax (where your question is) is simply a more specific way to name the variable you want to edit.

Now, given the way triggers and aliases and so on work, it's possible (not likely, just possible) that the #VAR commands in the first #TRIGGER, regex, and alias may be created elsewhere. This can happen, for instance, if Blah were to be disabled and a #VAR reference to MyVar were made outside of that class.

Beginner Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 21

Thanks guys! Umm, actually i'm just a noob programmer in college etc and not even in Comp Sci, so maybe that's why i found it confusing..anyway thank you. It's clear now!! And i do appreciate all the help! Hopefully i won't bug you guys for the next few months :)

Wizard Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 1269

There are also some articles for advanced stuff in the Support, zMUD Support area from the menu at the top of this page.