Arguments are the input a MOO command takes. They often describe what object
you are referring to, and what will happen to it.
Ex: @describe me as A describing character.
Where `@describe' is the command, and `me as A describing character.' all are arguments.
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Applications are programs that perform a work-related task for a computer user.
The applications run on top of the operating system and call
lower level programs to perform the actual tasks. MOO server is one such
application. Many applications can run
simultaneously on a multi-tasking server, competing
for its time.
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Backups are saved versions of code or database.
Saving different versions of the database
is vital for the health of a MOO in case of unexpected incidents where the files might be corrputed.
See also database backups.
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Bugs are errors in code, usually unwanted, since they make the program do something different from what was intended.
Jargon File
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A MOO server is said to be checkpointing when it is in the process of saving the MOO database, stored in its RAM, to the server computer's hard disk for more permanent storage. This is necessary to ensure that the database' contents are
permanently stored on disk, in case the contents of RAM are lost due to server shutdown,
server problems, power outage or other incidents.
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The Unix chmod command is used to change permissions on Unix files and directories.
Refer to `man chmod' at your Unix prompt.
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Code is the text of a program, verb-code.
Verb-code can be a simple one line announcement or a 500 line computation.
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Compilation changes code into an executable program.
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A database is a file stored permanently on disk on the server computer, and also held in
memory while MOO is executing. The database reflects every piece of information
about the virtual world that is the MOO.
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When you connect to an internet provider using a modem, you are said to have a dialup connection, clearly from the way you have to dial to get from one modem to another :)
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Emotes (originally emoticons) are the verbal commands such as smile, wave,
and other verb phrases indicating tone of voice, and other offline
physical manifestations which transmit a speaker's "unspoken" physical
language. Emotes contextualize a user's virtual text. InMOO these are made
easier by short, simple "macros" called Feature Objects or by typing a verb
phrase prepended by a colon. For example, typing :smiles and waves would
produce:
Your_character smiles and waves.
There is extensive inMOO and webby help for acquiring emotive functionality.
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A feature object has programs that extend the players ability to do short hand commands. Eg. A feature object verb command "smile" returns:
Character smiles.
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Forking is splitting one task into two. To be able to fork a task, your operating system must have the ability to multi-task, do two tasks at once.
In context of checkpoints, forking means saving the database to disk ("checkpointing") while
simultaneously continuing to run the MOO server and interact with connected users.
If the MOO does not fork the checkpoint, it
stops responding to users until the checkpoint is completed.
A MOO checkpoints by default every hour, although wizards can change this. It is desirable for the MOO to fork at checkpoints since not forking would would mean that all users would have to wait for response until after the MOO has finished the checkpoint.
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@gender is a MOO command which enables players to set a gender for their character. Some of the gender options are: female, male, neuter, plural, Spivak.
The gender command determines all the character's pronouns.
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The MOO hub is the "first room" object of the MOO data base, #11 on LambdaMOO.
The hub is the central public room on most MOOs.
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This term is used in a variety of ways and is evolving.
Some basic definitions:
Some examples:
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A delay between the typing of a command to the MOO on a user's terminal and
the receipt by the user's terminal.
- "Netlag" is a delay in transmitting the signals from user's terminals to the
MOO server and back, due to congestion of Internet link connecting the two.
- "Server lag" is a delay in execution of users' commands by MOO, caused by an
overburdened server.
If extreme, lag can be very annoying to the users of the MOO. Even a few
seconds delay can make conversations disjointed.
For more on lag see Yduj's
MOO Lore Pamphlet
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LambdaMOO, the first MOO, is a large social MOO designed by Pavel Curtis and run by the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in California.
It is accessible via telnet to
lambda.xerox.com 8888
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- A file the MOO server automatically keeps, archiving records of
important actions the MOO has performed, such as accepting/rejecting users' connections,
accepting/rejecting users' logins, checkpointing, starting/stopping
the server.
- A conversation or other action on a MOO that a user has recorded and saved, for later perusal.
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In this context a mainframe is simply a computer running as a server for a number of users.
See also the extended and historic meaning in the
Jargon File
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One megabyte is aproximately 1,000,000 bytes. A byte is a measure of the memory size used to store one character.
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A term for a newbie MOOer, new MOO user, MOObait, kludged by Mick Doherty.
Some things MOObies might want to know about.
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MUDs, interactive multiuser programs, are usually run over the Internet to allow users from all over the world to share a common space.
MOOs are Object Oriented MUDs.
WOOs are MOOs with a web interface allowing more or less interaction with the objects of the MOO through a web connection.
Jargon File: MUD
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Multi-tasking is running more than one program simultaneously by an operating system.
UNIX has very good multi-tasking abilities. An example is a UNIX
server simultaneously running a MOO server program and one or more
UNIX operating-system sessions, shells, for other users.
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A newbie is a new user to the internet, characterized by certain responses to interaction with others. Newbies come in different flavors.
Innocent, Apologizing Blunderer
Arrogant Bully
Gleeful Hacker's Apprentice
While newbies, at times, can seem to be *complete* morons, they usually just need a helping hand and LOTS of patience. It's always nice to keep in mind that we all started somewhere...
Jargon File
See also MOObie
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An operating system is a basic program running on a server that provides a way for the user and his/her
applications to interface with the server's hardware. UNIX, Linux, DOS, OS/2,
MAC OS, Windows NT and Windows 95 are all operating systems.
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In the context of a server parsing a command, parsing means the server splits
up the command string, received from a player, and decides where to send the
request.
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- A program can often be understood as code, a collection of text that describes what will happen when this program is executing.
- To program means to type in and/or change the aforementioned text.
- A program might also describe the result from sending the aforementioned text through a compiler.
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Qooc is an acronym for quoted out of context. This is one instance
where most MOOers agree that text might be used without the
speakers prior permission.
Qooc is one of many public mailing lists found on most MOOs.
DaMOO's *Qooc
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Quota is a measure for the limitations in a player's creations.
It is measured either as object quota, where each player cannot create more
than a given number of objects, or as byte quota, where the limitations are
the amount of bits and bytes a person can use.
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Memory space in server computer used by server program for storing MOO database
while MOO is running. Stored on RAM chips inside server computer. Capacity measure
in "megabytes" (about 1 million characters). Generally costs circa $30-40/MB.
Contents of RAM lost when power shut off/interrupted, so if contents are to be
saved, must be written to hard disk.
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Server scripts are commonly known in the Unix world as usually small programs run on the server to do simple server operations.
They are prewritten and can often run by themselves with a timed delay to do a certain operation over and over again.
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Security holes are programming errors in a program which can allow for unauthorized use of the program itself, and use of that program to gain access to other parts of the database.
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- The computer that the MOO server program runs on is usually a medium-size
to large machine running some form of UNIX, although
IBM-compatible PCs running Linux (a variant of UNIX) and even
Macintoshes have run
MOOs reasonably sucessfully. There must be a way for users of the MOO to
access the server to communicate with the MOO;
usually this entails connecting the server to the Internet. A dialup
account is barely adequate to connect the server to the Internet; a permanent connection is very desirable.
- The program running on the server computer that receives input from users,
processes that input, and sends the resulting output to users, modifying
the database as necessary.
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This name taken from the canned meat product refers to the production
of numerous text lines produced by a user to fill the screen of another user.
There are several "flavors" of Spam.
Harmless Spam
Ignorant Spam
Malicious Spam
Dangerous Spam
See also J. Cobbs version
Jargon File
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Swapping is the process of saving unused portions of data in RAM to a hard disk, thus
freeing the RAM memory to perform other tasks. After completion of these other
tasks, "swapped" data on disk is then read back into RAM, restoring the original state.
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@toading is the process of permanently removing a player's access to the MOO
by removing the player bit. This process is generally used only in extreme cases
and is seldom reversed.
@newting is the process of temporarily removing a player's access to the MOO by not allowing the player to connect.
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UNIX is an operating system developed by many different companies and individuals.
UNIX is available in various versions designed for different server types, from huge
mainframe computers to small desktop machines.
UNIX is very widely used, allows multi-tasking, and offers
very good support for
networks, eg the Internet.
Jargon File
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A verb is a program defined on a MOO object. A command
on a MOO is built up by verbs.
See the Lambda Programmer's Manual for a programmer's version of what a MOO verb is.
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Virtual memory is the hard disk space used to simulate RAM when RAM space is insufficient.
Virtual memory is slower than RAM because hard disks are slower to read and write data from than RAM.
Jargon File
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Jargon File
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Wizards are players within the MOO who are not subject to normal user restrictions.
They are all-powerful, corresponding to a UNIX super-user.
Power brings with it duty and
responsibility; wizards need, generally, to know how to fix the inevitable
problems that any MOO will face, avoid (as far as possible) causing more problems
through accidents/inexperience, and need to be responsible, so as not to abuse
their power and potentially destroy the MOO. Wizards may often need to help
users with different problems.
Jargon File
WebWeavers for this document are:
Janet Cross,
Kristian Fuglevik, and
Matthew Sanderson
except for linked material.
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