Extreme Possibility - If this works, reboots are unnessesar in Design Philosophy

ID:265245
 
Nov 15 2003, 5:04 am
Would it be possible to let certain codes in a single variable to be processed at certain times?

proc/Start_File(var/file)
    set hidden = 1
    for(var/obj/File/O in view(1))
        if(O.name == file)
            if(O.id == "Custom")
                O.coding


The above statement does not work becouse O.coding is processed as a tag, not as a code.
Would it be possible, in any kind of way, to replace O.coding with a code like...

processcode(O.coding)


...or anything in that kind?

If it would, you would be able to make customized programs that will function properly.
#1 Nov 15 2003, 5:45 am
This isn't possible because while Dream Seeker does act as a slight interpreter it sorta like Java compiles the code.
#2 Nov 15 2003, 9:39 am
What exactly are you trying to do? If you are trying to create a scripted language; its already possible, but it takes a bit more than processcode(O.coding) =)

If you want info on creating scripted languages, I'd suggest reading books on compilers, lexical analyzers, mini-languages, and such. They provide a lot of insight into the concepts behind it.
#3 Nov 15 2003, 1:34 pm
If you mean to specify an object's code at run time, then no, it isn't possible. BYOND, like any other programming language (distinct from a scripting language), requires recompilation before new data can be added to a game.

The MUDs and RPGs you see on the internet allow you to code in a scripting language, but those MUDs and RPGs are written in a programming language which is designed to read their special scripting language. To be able to duplicate the same functionality in DM, you'd have to make a soft-coded scripting language interpreter capable of reading DM code inputted at run-time. Considering that BYOND doesn't allow you any flexibility over memory management (and has a fixed-length object table), any such venture would have to be done at extremely small scales, because large scales would be horrendously inefficient, or even impossible.
#4 Nov 18 2003, 3:54 pm
In response to Spuzzum (#3)
#5 Nov 22 2003, 3:23 pm
In response to Exadv1 (#4)
Except that is a *very* non-robust scripting language.