Re: [Alephmodular-devel] General status overview

[Joe A. <av...@fm...>]

Br'fin wrote:
> Well, the hardest part of saying 'no code' on the Bios is in the areas 
> where current code links definitions to external resources. The second 
> hardest part involves 'How do we set up one copy of AlephModular to 
> handle M2 files versus Minf files versus M1 files?' Each one is a 
> mildly different Bios. So even if the specific map loader isn't coded 
> right into the Bios file, there still needs to be a way to specify 
> which Map Loading object to apply. Similar details surround terminal 
> rendering.

Hmmm... that's true. I've been thinking of a Bios as a glorified 
physics model. But I don't think that data format code should be in the 
same place as gameplay definitions. We should have separate modules for 
data formats. I'm not going to work any more on this now because I just 
got back from a massive LAN party and I'm exhausted and high on 
caffeine and my brain just doesn't want to do anything. =\
(catching up slowly and painfully on archives) looks like Mark already 
mentioned this...
Bios should be completely separate from everything else. You should be 
able (ultimately) to play an MInf+B&B map with Minf bios and, say... TI 
shapes (as much as possible) with enhanced textures. It would be 
extremely strange, but it should be possible except for 
incompatibilities between the formats (e.g., M1 shapes doesn't have 
VacBobs - but if it DID have VacBobs, by golly they would look right!). 
The net effect here would be while everything looks like Irae, it plays 
like straight Inf, on a map with B&B. This is doable now, it's just an 
example to show how little dependence there should be between Bios and 
everything else.

> But you have the most thorough rundown so far. And for that I 
> certainly thank you. :)

You're very welcome ;). This is what I'm discovering I do best. I'm 
nothing special as a coder, but I'm good at problem solving. I guess I 
get it from my father (programmer for 25 years, at Apple for 20 or so 
of that (employee #283 :)

I forgot to include:
-Map file reading and management
-Shapes management (possibly divided into sprites, textures, and/or 3d 
models)
-Sound
-Prefs

Joe Auricchio ~ av...@fm...

Some of the above may make no sense, or may only be half thought-out. 
See above disclaimer about LAN party and tired. =\