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Copyright 1999 David Vivash



Introduction

Smudj is a general purpose MUD Server. It has been designed to be an extremely flexible base on which to build a MUD, and its ease of use means you don't need to be an experienced programmer to set it up.

Ideally, when Smudj is complete, it shouldn't require any programming knowledge to use at all. This is to allow people who do not wish to learn C to set up, build, and run a MUD server.

Overview of Features

Currently, its features include:
  • Platform Independent: Smudj is written in Java and so will work on any machine that can run Java.
  • Pre Compiled: The MUD engines floating around are written in C generally, and are designed to be built upon by programmers and then compiled. The Smudj engine is flexible enough to be built upon in its compiled state - you don't need to be a programmer to set up Smudj.
  • Smudj-Script: This is a powerful, interpreted, easy to use language that is built in to Smudj. You don't have to learn this to create a world, but it gives you the flexibility to add player commands, implement quests, construct a battle system, manage clans and generally do anything you want to the central Smudj database.
  • Dynamic: Make changes to your world whilst it is running - it's easy to correct little bugs and typos without having to shut down the server.
  • No need to Reset: Lost items are automatically respawned into the world (after a set time limit for that object).
  • Unique: What Smudj offers is unique - 2 worlds created in Smudj can be very different due to the flexibility Smudj-Script offers.
  • Multi-threaded: Each player that enters your world has their own 'thread' - which means other players don't get lagged when somebody decides to start racing through your world. Also, it means there will be significant perfomance gains when Smudj is run on a multi-processor system.
  • Well Documented: As well as the documentation to set up Smudj and how to build a world, there's also extensive documentation on how to use Smudj-Script along with worked examples to get you going.


Smudj is meant to be easy to use but offer complex worlds. One of its key features is that Smudj-Scripts can be attached to almost anything - such as a zone, a player, a room, an item etc. This allows anyone building zones for your world the freedom to create any sort of environment they want - their zone can follow completely different rules to the rest of your world. Builders can actually 'build' rather than just fill in room descriptions.

Release Dates

Smudj is still undergoing development, but it should be ready for general release in late '99. Currently the central Smudj-Script code is 90% complete, with general Smudj coding about 50% through. Documentation is following along in parallel with the coding so as soon as Smudj is ready for release the documentation will be supplied with it. If all goes to plan, the schedule for release is:
  • November 1999: First release of Smudj - mainly for testing purposes. It is not expected that all of the features of Smudj will be present in this release, but anybody wishing to test the system and learn Smudj-Script will have the opportunity. Also, the full Smudj website will be uploaded (to this address) with the full Smudj documentation and downloads.
  • December 1999: First full release of Smudj. This should include anything that was missing from the first release (either by accident or on purpose...) This release is not meant just for testing purposes, but for developing a large MUD on.
  • During 2000: Updates and bug fixes will appear as needed. Example worlds and tutorials should start appearing on the Smudj website too, to help beginners learn by example.


As with all programming projects the above dates are liable to change. If you come back to this web address during November and the full Smudj website doesn't appear then Smudj is not ready yet. Be patient though - it will appear!

Credits & Contact Information

Smudj is being developed entirely by David Vivash (ie. me) on a P200 MMX running Redhat Linux 5.2 and Kaffe. I am currently studying Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Sheffield and I have been MUDding for 'quite a while.'

If you would like to contact me for any reason then just chuck an email in the direction of doga@smudj.iwarp.com .

Please don't email me asking when Smudj will be ready, because the answer to that is written above... And don't ask to help with the coding, as Smudj is getting quite large now and I don't have the time to explain my dodgy coding practices to others right now. Maybe after the initial releases are out of the way, but not at the moment... If you have any questions regarding Smudj or Smudj-Script then feel free to email and ask though.
last page update monday 4th October 1999