[gridmud-developer] Welcome aboard

[Seyed R. <mo...@gm...>]

Hey guys,

Welcome to the new mailing list and a proper kick off to the project. 

-- Tools --

Thanks to Sourceforge we have a good few tools at our disposal but I
thought I'd just highlight the things we're going to use immediately:

gridmud-developer Mailing List: 
This is the main list for our discussion on how to develop the MUD.  Use
this for all communication between us from now on.
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/gridmud-developer

CVS: 
This is the source revision control system.  All the source I've worked
on plus a bunch of other software artifacts are now checked in.  If
you're going to work directly with any source files you need to make
sure you have access to this.
https://sourceforge.net/cvs/?group_id=160294

Website:
The website I've slapped together is using MediaWiki to make it easy to
manage and contribute to.  This is a good place to present information
to non-developers as well as document stuff we will find useful as we go
on.
http://gridmud.sourceforge.net/

File Releases:
The file release system Sourceforge provides makes distributing the Grid
relatively painless.  I've already released 0.1 of the software which is
my work thus far - a working if sparse server.
https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=160294

Tracker:
The bug / feature request tracker will be a useful tool as we test the
code and find things we'd like or don't work as intended.
https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=160294

-- Next Steps --

I've got quite a few things yet to implement from my original ideas of
what the Grid should be so I'm going to carry on that path.

Ide, we should discuss your ideas and a timetable for receiving them.  I
think once the bare bones of the system is finished the major task
besides bug fixing will be getting some content in there to really get a
feel for how this plays.  I think balancing or extending actual
functionality will hinge very much on a having a playable world.

Drew, you need to download the latest source build (from the link above
under File Releases) and make sure you have:
1. A working Java runtime
2. A working mySQL database (I had hoped to make an inbuilt hsql
database part of the distribution but didn't have time to test it)
3. Follow the INSTALL.txt instructions and see if it works ok for you

Then a next step would be to browse the source and see if at least some
of it makes some sense.  The bits you are particularly interested in are
the sample item types, agent types, conversation script and mission
script.  

I'm afraid the documentation of the code is non-existent :S  I've been a
bit lazy on that score but I will be going through it all after the main
list of functionality is done and beefing it up.  

For release 0.2 I would like to have:
* Completed the outstanding major functionality
* Progressed significantly in the world design
* Tested the server

I think we should aim by release 0.5 to have a working and playable
environment which we can open to alpha testers. 

-- Organisation --

I'd like to run this project along the following lines if you're
amenable.

Ide will be the driving force for the world design.  His role as Chief
Builder will be to plan, outline and detail the world of the Grid.  If
in future any other builders join the team, he will coordinate them.

Drew will be the implementer of the builders' vision.  His role as Chief
Designer will be to design the game artifacts (agents, items, locations,
scripts etc) and code them where possible.  Generally, Drew will get his
tasks to accomplish from the output of the builders but of course he's
free to experiment and free think stuff and show the builders what is
possible.  If any future designers come on board, Drew will coordinate
them.

My role will be two-fold: to implement the core system and maintain the
project as a whole.  The first role is pretty much what I've been doing
but going forward much of it will be shaped on feedback from builders
and designers.  The latter role is an administrative role in just making
sure we have the right people and tools for the job.

I'm not, after reflection, going to micromanage tasks or direction of
the project.  I'd much prefer you guys take ownership of your own bit of
the project and drive it forward.  I'm of course here to make that
possible and give direction where possible but the way I see it this is
an equal triumvirate.

Of course, I think we should be working to push the project forward by
doing work thats not exactly in our domain when we can.  For example, I
will be happy to contribute ideas on the world design or design some
items etc

I'd appreciate any feedback / questions / comments you may have.

Seyed