Furrymuck MPI - The Holodeck

The holodeck is basically a description which sits on a special room, designed to appear like the Holodecks from Star Trek. Anyone can call out to the computer to run a certain program. The scene in the room will then be changed to match. As well as allowing anyone to change the scene currently being run, programs can be added by people too, which in theory allows it to be used collaboratively. I've included some of the original sample 'programs' created for this here.

Room Description

This is the main room description. It handles pulling in the current description, as well as listing the available exits (remember to create one called 'out' to get out of the room!) @desc here=xxx is used to describe a room you're currently in.

@desc here=Running: {prop:currentprog}{nl}{prop:_holograms/{prop:currentprog}}{nl}{nl}Obvious Exits:{nl}Out <O>{nl}{nl}Available Environments:{nl}<runprog name> to execute or <holohelp> for info on adding new ones{nl}{subst:{listprops:_holograms},_holograms/,}{nl}{nl}
@propset $tmp/room1=str:/_holograms/off:Currently an empty room with rather dull grey walls, this room is fitted with holographic generators. There is a list of programs on the walls which can generate rooms and environments via holotechnology.

Exits / Actions

There are 4 main actions (aka exits which don't go anywhere) used in this program. As actions are just doors which don't go to another room, they have to always be linked to the muck's 'go-nowhere' program to work. In most mucks this is usually something like @link exitname=$nothing (this works for FM and a few others). In this program, runprog runs a new program, addprog is the action for adding a new scene, delprog deletes a scene (but can only be done by owner) and holohelp brings up a helpfile for users.

#****** in this code Should be replaced with the database reference for the holodeck room, which can be found out by doing the command ex here in the room (eg #12345).

@action runprog=here
@link runprog=$nothing
@succ runprog=You call out 'Computer, run program {&arg}'. The computer beeps in response and tries to generate a holographic reproduction of what you've asked (look here).{null:{store:{&arg},currentprog,#******}}
@osucc runprog=calls out 'Computer, run program {&arg}'. The computer beeps in response and tries to generate a holographic reproduction of it (look here).

@action addprog=here
@link addprog=$nothing
@desc addprog=Type 'addprog description of the environment'. The very first word of the description will be the name of the environment, and will be stripped from the stored description.{nl}{nl}eg - 'addprog Fire A firey scene' - Will add a new program called fire with the description 'A Firey scene'.{nl}{nl}IMPORTANT: All commas in the description ',' MUST be preceeded with a backslash '\\'.
@succ addprog={null:{if:{eq:{strip:{&arg}},},{tell:No program specified},{with:progname,{strip:{midstr:{&arg},1,{instr:{&arg}, }}},{if:{eq:{prop:_owners/{&progname}},},{with:remainingname,{strip:{midstr:{&arg},{instr:{&arg}, },{strlen:{&arg}}}},{store:{&remainingname},_holograms/{&progname},#******}{store:{ref:me},_owners/{&progname},#******}}{tell:You add a new program to the computer.}{otell:{name:me} adds a new program to the computer},{tell:Programname is already in use. Please choose another}}}}}

@action delprog;deleteprog=here
@link delprog=$nothing
@succ delprog={null:{if:{eq:{prop:_owners/{&arg}},{ref:me}},{delprop:_holograms/{&arg},#******}{delprop:_owners/{&arg},#******}{tell:You delete the program {&arg}}.,{tell:You do not have permission to delete this program.}}}

@action holohelp=here
@link holohelp=$nothing
@desc holohelp=***Holodeck program by Entei-rah - Aug/Sept 2004***{nl}{nl}There are currently 3 commands which can be used in this holodeck. <addprog>, <delprog> and <holohelp>. They work as follows...{nl}{nl}* 'addprog description of the environment' - This adds a new program. The very first word of the description will actually be the name of the environment, and will be stripped from the stored description.{nl}(eg - 'addprog Fire A firey scene' - Will add a new program called 'Fire' with the description 'A Firey scene'){nl}{nl}* 'delprog programname' - will delete an environment from the system. You can only delete ones you own.{nl}(eg - 'delprog Fire' - Will delete a program called 'Fire').{nl}{nl}* 'holohelp' - This helpfile.
@succ holohelp=***Holodeck program by Entei-rah - Aug/Sept 2004***{nl}{nl}There are currently 3 commands which can be used in this holodeck. <addprog>, <delprog> and <holohelp>. They work as follows...{nl}{nl}* 'addprog description of the environment' - This adds a new program. The very first word of the description will actually be the name of the environment, and will be stripped from the stored description.{nl}(eg - 'addprog Fire A firey scene' - Will add a new program called 'Fire' with the description 'A Firey scene'){nl}{nl}* 'delprog programname' - will delete an environment from the system. You can only delete ones you own.{nl}(eg - 'delprog Fire' - Will delete a program called 'Fire').{nl}{nl}* 'holohelp' - This helpfile.

Sample Scenes

If you manage to get the above working, try adding the following sample scenes:-

addprog Off Currently an empty room with rather dull grey walls, this room is fitted with holographic generators. There is a list of programs on the walls which can generate rooms and environments via holotechnology.
addprog Silverlake You suddenly find the ground beneath disappears, yet you don't fall. Instead you appear to be standing on a fluffy white cloud. There are several more dotted about like stepping stones, all surrounding a much larger shape in the middle which glistens in the sunlight, almost blinding you for a second. You hop a few clouds nearer and marvel as your eyes adjust to the sight in front of you. It is a large lake, floating suspended in mid air on a bed of cloud. How the clouds can support the weight of it is not clear, but then you soon note this isn't any ordinary lake. The water is silver in colour, and clearly lighter in weight than normal. Why not take a dip in it, as it is bound to have a fantastic effect on your fur too, or you could just float on the surface under the bright sunlight. You could even stay on this cloud if you wish, and just admire the beautiful view. Somehow you can tell there is no pressure on you to make a decision on what you wish to do
addprog Snow A very wintery scene. Soft snow several inches deep covers the ground all around, whilst more large flakes are gently falling, resting on your fur and feeling so realistic they send a shiver down your spine. There is a small wooden chair you can sit on to admire the huge pine tree, the centrepiece of the area. Alternatively you could go sledging on the nearby hill, skating on the frozen lake, or just throw snowballs at your unsuspecting fellow furs.

... and if you followed everything on this page, well done. MPI is one of those things that is best learnt through doing (it's quite a restricted language so you can't do too much damage thankfully).