[Freeciv-Dev] Re: Development Strategies [Was Documentation, Usability and Development]

[Gregor Zeitlinger <zeitling@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 2 Dec 2001, Andrew Sutton wrote:
> i took a quick look at the simken stuff. i'm really torn between some issues 
> here. it's hard to figure out a balance between runtime scrpting and build 
> time modules.
so am I

> i really dislike the idea of using scripted objects from within the kernel. 
> it'll kill performance. however, i would like something that's flexible 
> enough to allow a ruleset to completely implement its own information and 
> behaviors.
I'd like to get some hard facts rather than guessing, although I share
your opinion.

> keep looking for stuff, but at the same time, lets get some discussion on the 
> balance of buildtime modules and runtime configuration. its going to be very 
> important define what the configuration language is capable of.
yes, thats the where I came to as well:
So what is it really. Some features which woulde be nice are:

1) XML embeddable although I think all are if you use CDATA includes
2) access to XML values (simkin has already done that, but others could
access those after they're parsed with DOM or JDOM or whatever)
3) cleanliness of syntax
4) performance
5) ability to extend other modules like classes (I think this would be
really useful since it would enable you to make cusomized games by writing
difference rules rather than copying others and then modifying them)
6) ease to access the kernel API
7) scripting language=kernel implementation language would be useful so
that modules can be easily in or outsourced for performance or flexibility
respectively. This is something BeanShell would do, AFAIK
8) debuggablity (this is probably a very hairy feature)

There probably more I didn't think of yet and other which will become
obvious during implementation :)


-- 
Gregor Zeitlinger      
gregor@xxxxxxxxxxxxx