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<H1>RE: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</H1>
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<LI><em>To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI>
<LI><em>Subject</em>: RE: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</LI>
<LI><em>From</em>: "Jon A. Lambert" <<A HREF="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</A>></LI>
<LI><em>Date</em>: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 16:15:07 -5</LI>
<LI><em>Reply-To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#kanga,nu">mud-dev#kanga,nu</A></LI>
<LI><em>Sender</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev-admin#kanga,nu">mud-dev-admin#kanga,nu</A></LI>
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<PRE>
On 2 Jun 99,, Koster, Raph wrote:
> This whole thread begs the question of whether English-language commands are
> the way to go at all. :) Granted, I am biased as I am currently working in a
> graphical environment. Then again, it's interesting to see what elements are
> made text commands and what elements are made graphical interfaces in the
> various graphical projects too.
>
> Is it desirable, even in text environments, to have the command interface be
> words?
>
Not at all. At least those aren't my desires. Consider, for the sake of
argument, that FTP servers are text muds with rather limited command
sets. There any number of ways to implement client interfaces to FTP.
Many of these clients resemble those traditional telnet interfaces to
muds. That is a blinking command prompt, and the requirement that the
user type the commands (verbs) followed by parameters
(nouns/adjectives/adverbs). There are also many ways to implement
graphical interfaces to the FTP text mud server. At the heart of most
graphical interfaces to text servers is the parsing of server text into
selectable bounded objects client side. Once you have selectable bounded
objects, be they pictures or words, a number of options open up. For an
FTP client one can stuff these word objects into list or treeview
controls and allow the user to select, drag, drop, and otherwise
manipulate them in ways which may be clumsy to express in text. There
are also a number of operations which are much easier to do in the text
interface.
Instead of:
cd /pub/programs --> enter vault
lcd c:\incoming --> open bag
binary --> <adverb?>
get game.tgz --> get red ruby into bag
One:
Click on local dir tree to set --> Click on avatar's bag to open
Click on server dir tree to list --> Click on vault to list contents
Select binary radio button
Drag game.tgz and drop on local tree --> drag red ruby and drop on bag
I suspect many in this group prefer the command interface over the
graphical interface and I do too in many cases. The nice about my FTP
client is that there is a command line box at the bottom of the screen
which can be used just like the vanilla text interface. Maximize the
command window or dismiss the graphical windows and you can't tell the
difference.
It seems to me there are better ways to interface to a text mud.
"He who controls the client, controls their virtual universe"
--with apologies to Frank Herbert :)
--
--* Jon A. Lambert - TychoMUD Email:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com *--
--* Mud Server Developer's Page <<A HREF="http://pw1.netcom.com/~jlsysinc">http://pw1.netcom.com/~jlsysinc</A>> *--
--* To fight the empire is to be infected by its derangement. Whosoever *--
--* defeats part of the empire becomes the empire; it proliferates like a *--
--* a virus... thereby it becomes its enemies." -- P.K. Dick *--
_______________________________________________
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<LI><STRONG><A NAME="00390" HREF="msg00390.html">RE: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</A></STRONG>
<UL><LI><EM>From:</EM> "Koster, Raph" <rkoster#origin,ea.com></LI></UL></LI>
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<ul><li>Thread context:
<BLOCKQUOTE><UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00417" HREF="msg00417.html">[MUD-Dev] IndustrialMUD</A></strong>,
J C Lawrence <a href="mailto:claw#varesearch,com">claw#varesearch,com</a>, Thu 03 Jun 1999, 02:13 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00439" HREF="msg00439.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] IndustrialMUD</A></strong>,
Greg Miller <a href="mailto:gmiller#classic-games,com">gmiller#classic-games,com</a>, Thu 03 Jun 1999, 05:59 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00382" HREF="msg00382.html">[MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</A></strong>,
Cynbe ru Taren <a href="mailto:cynbe#muq,org">cynbe#muq,org</a>, Wed 02 Jun 1999, 10:44 GMT
<UL>
<li><Possible follow-up(s)><br>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00390" HREF="msg00390.html">RE: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</A></strong>,
Koster, Raph <a href="mailto:rkoster#origin,ea.com">rkoster#origin,ea.com</a>, Wed 02 Jun 1999, 14:38 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00394" HREF="msg00394.html">RE: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</A></strong>,
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Wed 02 Jun 1999, 20:17 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00400" HREF="msg00400.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</A></strong>,
Greg Miller <a href="mailto:gmiller#classic-games,com">gmiller#classic-games,com</a>, Wed 02 Jun 1999, 23:24 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00406" HREF="msg00406.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</A></strong>,
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Wed 02 Jun 1999, 23:58 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00413" HREF="msg00413.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</A></strong>,
Greg Miller <a href="mailto:gmiller#classic-games,com">gmiller#classic-games,com</a>, Thu 03 Jun 1999, 01:31 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="00435" HREF="msg00435.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Languages (slightly offtopic, was Text Parsing)</A></strong>,
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Thu 03 Jun 1999, 05:39 GMT
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