I like the idea, but don't assume the standard libraries never need to
be recompiled. If this is added, make sure the user can re-pre-compile
files. (Nice phrase.)
Here, for a sample are the changes I've made to the standard libraries
(5/8) in writing my (unfinished) game. None of them could be
implemented with "extend" or "replace", barring wholesale replacement
of undocumented core library routines (which really isn't any better
than hacking the library.)
Added a "neuter" attribute so that I could put in an animate character
which is an "it" rather than a "him" or "her".
Took out a few verbs (the cursing and "sorry" grammar -- not prudery,
I just thought that they didn't fit the tone of the game.)
Fixed a bug in the library-message system (I forget where, sorry.)
Added hacks so that "failed" movement commands take no game time
(unless I specifically say they should.) This was actually important.
I have a bunch of time-critical stuff, and I got tired of losing a
turn every time I mistyped a direction.
Got the closing line "Do you want to RESTART..." to mention "UNDO" as
well, if it exists.
Of course, all of these changes are under IFDEF. I intend to use
these hacked libraries in the future, and it also will make it easier
to transfer the changes to a future library version if I feel like
doing that.
On the original subject -- I'm using Mac Inform, and yeah, the
non-multitasking is getting annoying. (The compilation delay is now
long enough to be boring and too short to start reading a book.) Bonus
points when Inform encounters an error early in the program and I have
to wait for it to finish before I can correct the source, much less
restart the compile.
--Z
"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the borogoves..."