A patch to improve the server command line - rp@xxxxxxxxxx

Patch against the May 22 CVS snapshot.

This patch provides the ability for civclients to execute server commands.
Every line that starts with '/' is interpreted as a server command.
The resulting output is written both to the client chatline and to the
server command line.

The patch works fine with regular 1.8.0 clients, but patched clients
have a new Help->Chatline menu option explaining the feature, and a new
Game->Message Option item to filter the output.  (Don't enable popups,
each line of output will appear in a separate popup window!)

The following changes were made to the server:

  + chatlines from clients starting with '/' are interpreted as commands
  + commands may be prefixed with '/' on the server cmdline (for consistency)
  + commands issued by clients are echoed on the server command line
  + command names can be abbreviated; when ambiguous, a warning is issued
  + 'show optionname' works as expected now
  + with 'show', the status of options is shown in a different way
  + command output still fits into 80 columns (uneasily)
  + setting the AI level now provides feedback in all cases
  + a new command, 'cmdlevel', is used to control access to commands

Before the game starts, command levels cannot be assigned to individual
players; this is something to rectify in a later version.

There are four access levels: 'none', 'info', 'ctrl', and 'hack'.
With 'none', the default, no commands are allowed from civclients at all.
With 'info', only informational commands are allowed.  With 'ctrl',
commands are allowed that can be used to control the game, including
starting the game, removing or adding players, and setting options.
The 'hack' level allows all commands, including the ones that read or
write files.  For example, the 'save' command can be used to overwrite
arbitrary files.

The 'ctrl' level allows hosts to be operated without direct access
to the server command line prompt, but some refinements are needed
to make this a viable option in practice.

There may be a need for better documentation of this mechanism.
Until we have a /help cmdlevel command, I don't know where to put it.


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CHANGES between May 14 and May 22 version:

  + just send E_SVR_CMD_FDBK event even to clients who don't know it
    (this works, but it generates 'unknown event type' messages with
    unpatched clients) (but it doesn't require a "clientcommands" capability)
  + cc: commands, not results, to the server console
  + remove command: before server output
  + notify metastring change to all players
  + crammed /show output on server into 80 rows  (by brute force)
  + fixed the 'Try /help' string
  + improved '/explain <option>' formatting
    (we've seen 'explain generator' crash with a previous version,
     probably due to the buffer overflow in cmd_reply())
  + renamed some identifiers on dwp's request
  + changed the 'techs' etc. options back to SSET_TO_CLIENT
    (a better solution is required)

CHANGES between May 22 and May 29 version:

  + reintroduced the clientcommands capability to remove unknown event type msg
  + /help only shows commands that the user is allowed to execute
  + introduced a 'struct user' and attached access level to users
    (incomplete, many manipulations are still player-based, because
     player names are still attached to players)
    see README.players

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TODO after this patch is accepted:

  - introduce more C_ levels for console_write()
  - implement the cookie-based user identification system
    described in README.players in the source tree root
  - rename/nick command
  - read command
  - write command
  - always read ~/.civserverrc
  - improve IRC compatibility: implement /me, /who, /whois, /server
  - /load command (for savefiles)
  - /restart command
  - some command to stop *all* tty output on the server console
      so the operator can disconnect his line without strangling the server
  - make set techs/... check existence of the files right away! (as promised)
  ? require 'hack' level to set them
  - add a a 'set datapath' command (at which access level?)
  - show must print a sorted list
  - server options in the client must print a sorted list as well (optional?)
  - 'No explanation for that yet.' -> 'Unknown server option.'
  - allow %racename to be used instead of playername
  - allow all server options to be displayed at the same time
  - add a separate chatlog window (similar to messages window)
    with a Save As button