[PUB] Python Universe Builder
Terry Hancock
Python Universe Builder (PUB) is an interactive fiction module
for Python. It basically provides an environment similar to
what you get with Inform (and I assume TADS, but haven't tried
that). The big difference is, the code is Python, which is
a widely available scripting language, and it therefore has
none of the limits placed on you by the Z-Interpreters that
Inform is targeted for. Also, it is easy to hook in new features
to the system, since they can be implemented in Python, for
which all kinds of bells and whistles are available for those
who want them.
PUB already has some extra features, like support for multiple
players over TCP/IP connections and the ability for Non-Player
and Player characters to be represented similarly and interact
with each other (i.e. the rudiments of agent-based design).
These happen to be requirements of a project I'm working on
called "The Light Princess" which will actually be a graphic
game using the IF engine as its game-logic core. I'll
need to tie in multimedia elements to the IF module and
I'd like to add agent-based code, using the design papers
from the Carnegie Mellon Oz Project (I see this is mentioned
in the FAQ for this list, so I assume some of you have
heard of that).
The author of PUB, Joseph Strout, developed the code, and
wrote a demo game for it, and it appears to work. However,
there is not that much documentation of the code or how to
use the system. There are extensive comments in the source
code, but the automatic documentation tools I've tried out
don't capture them very well, and the author has moved on
to other things. The original website says the code is
non-free, but the author notified me that he's "freed" it.
So I adopted PUB, and set up a Source Forge site for it. The
code is in the CVS, and you can download the source package
from the site below. You just need a Python 1.5.2 interpreter
to run it (it might work with Python 2.0, but we haven't
tried it). My time is pretty deeply split though, and I
am by no means an experienced IF writer -- I've only worked
through the "Alice" tutorial with Inform. So I have some
idea how it's done, but I haven't done anything sizeable
yet.
What I'd like to do is find out if there's anyone who'd
be willing to try out PUB by running the demo game and
writing some short IF pieces using it -- then help me with
writing the documentation for it. I can probably find
a Python programmer to help extract the comments and
convert them to a form the automatic documenters will
catch -- this will give us a map of the object oriented
structure of PUB and some brief explanatory text. But,
to write a tutorial, we'll need to consult with people
actually using the system.
This might be a great opportunity for someone who's
already written IF games to try out a new system that
might have some new capabilities, or for someone who's
just starting out and would like to work with a system
that runs without the virtual-machine limitations.
I think PUB could be a really great new IF environment
if we can give it a little TLC.
If you're interested, please check out the links
below, and you can e-mail me if you think you'd
like to help. Thanks!
Light Princess: http://light-princess.sourceforge.net/
New PUB site: http://sourceforge.net/projects/py-universe/
Original PUB: http://www.strout.net/python/pub/index.htm
--
Terry Hancock
han...@earthlink.net
James R. Goodfriend
Terry Hancock <han...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3A9C8635...@earthlink.net...
> Hi all,
>
> Python Universe Builder (PUB) is an interactive fiction module
> for Python
Excellent, anyone who adds to the community is an asset.
Now...please, please, puhleeeeeze implement it for Perl...and I will have
your children!
-Bob
Field Marshall Stack
I think you've inadvertently stumbled upon one of the few flame
wars this group hasn't already had...
--
Field Marshall Stack
"Nobody ever lends money to a man with a sense of humor."
-Peter Tork
wo...@one.net
Hi Terry,
You might also be interested in checking out PAWS, the Python
Adventure Writing System. It's nearing release and has extensive
documentation:
http://w3.one.net/~wolf/PAWS.shtml
Respectfully,
Wolf
"The world is my home, it's just that some rooms are draftier than
others". -- Wolf
Stark
hi...@news.speakeasy.org wrote:
> In article <Tw_m6.2$Qr2.2...@den-news1.rmi.net>, James R. Goodfriend
> wrote:
>>
>>Terry Hancock <han...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>news:3A9C8635...@earthlink.net...
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Python Universe Builder (PUB) is an interactive fiction module for
>>> Python
>>
>>Excellent, anyone who adds to the community is an asset.
>>
>>Now...please, please, puhleeeeeze implement it for Perl...and I will
>>have your children!
>>
>
> I think you've inadvertently stumbled upon one of the few flame wars
> this group hasn't already had...
>
People curious about both languages might want to compare and contrast.
This page demonstrates general programming functions as written in both
languages:
http://starship.python.net/~da/jak/cookbook.html
As with everything, different languages all have good and bad points, so
there's no point in arguing which is best... <grin>
Cheers,
Stark
David Thornley
Field Marshall Stack <hi...@news.speakeasy.org> wrote:
>In article <Tw_m6.2$Qr2.2...@den-news1.rmi.net>, James R. Goodfriend wrote:
>>
>>Terry Hancock <han...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>news:3A9C8635...@earthlink.net...
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> Python Universe Builder (PUB) is an interactive fiction module
>>> for Python
>>
>>Excellent, anyone who adds to the community is an asset.
>>
>>Now...please, please, puhleeeeeze implement it for Perl...and I will have
>>your children!
>>
>
>I think you've inadvertently stumbled upon one of the few flame
>wars this group hasn't already had...
>
controversial myself.
--
David H. Thornley | If you want my opinion, ask.
da...@thornley.net | If you don't, flee.
http://www.thornley.net/~thornley/david/ | O-