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runtime

Contents

• Chapter 1: Configuration and Control
  • Runtime Module - Setting up the use of this module.
• Chapter 2: Emission
  • Hierarchy - To provide an enforced structure and set of naming conventions for packages and names in the Inter code we generate.
  • Noun Identifiers - Instances and kinds are both referred to by nouns, and here we create corresponding inames for use in compiled Inter code, and identifiers for use in the index.
  • Compilation Units - The source text is divided into compilation units, and the material they lead to is similarly divided up.
  • Emit - "Emitting" is the process of generating Inter bytecode, and this section provides a comprehensive API for the runtime and imperative modules to do that.
  • Emit Code - Here is how bytecode for instructions inside functions is emitted.
  • Emit Arrays - Here is how bytecode to create ready-initialised arrays of Inter data is emitted.
  • Interventions - Material written in low-level Inform 6 notation can be emitted for later linking, a distasteful process called "intervening".
  • Shared Variables (runtime) - Functions to create sets of shared variables.
  • The Heap - Texts, lists and other flexibly-sized structures make use of a pool of run-time storage called "the heap".
  • Default Values - An unusual feature of Inform is that every kind has a default value, so that it is impossible for any variable or property to be uninitialised.
  • Equality Schemas - To define how to compile a comparison of two values.
  • Instance Counting - Though a feature, for convenience of implementation, this code is always active and provides for efficient loops through instances at runtime.
  • Kind Declarations - Each different kind used anywhere in the tree must be declared with an Inter kind declaration.
  • Showme Command - A feature to provide some support for the SHOWME testing command.
  • Here, Nowhere and Everywhere - Almost a Beatles song, but really a set of schemas for compiling the meaning of the unary predicates here, nowhere and everywhere.
  • Short Names - To compile the "short name" and "capitalised short name" properties.
  • General Parsing Routines - To compile "general parsing routines", or GPRs, which are runtime functions used to match noun phrases in the command parser.
  • Index Extensions - To keep details of the extensions currently loaded, their authors, titles, versions and rubrics, and to index and credit them suitably.
• Chapter 3: Basics
  • Generic Module - A variety of Inter constants which do not depend on the content of the program.
  • Completion Module - The completion module contains material turning the collection of resources into a playable work.
  • Use Options (runtime) - To give use options a presence at run-time.
• Chapter 4: Enclosed Resources
  • Enclosures - Packages which contain all the resources any of their subpackages will need are called "enclosures".
  • List Literals - Each enclosure contains the literal lists needed by its functions.
  • Text Literals - In this section we compile text constants.
  • Text Substitutions - In this section we compile text with substitutions.
  • Responses - In this section we keep track of response texts.
  • Box Quotations - In this section we compile text constants.
  • Relation Literals - In fact there is only one literal relation: the empty one, used as a default value.
  • Stored Action Literals - Explicit actions stored in memory as literals.
  • Group Together - The "group together" phrase in the Standard Rules needs support functions, which are compiled within the user's enclosure.
  • Looping Over Scope- To compile functions which implement conditions such as "in the presence of Mrs Dalloway".
• Chapter 5: Provision Submodules
  • Activities (runtime) To compile the activities submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _activity packages.
  • Adjectives (runtime) - To compile the adjectives submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _adjective, _adjective_phrase and _measurement packages.
  • Chronology - To compile the chronology submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _past_condition and _action_history_condition packages.
  • Conjugations - To compile the conjugations submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _verb, _modal_verb and _verb_form packages.
  • Equations (runtime) - To compile the equations submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _equation packages.
  • Instances (runtime) - To compile the instances submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _instance packages.
  • Backdrop Instances - Some additions to an _instance package for instances of the kind "backdrop".
  • Door Instances - Property values for two-sided doors to make them interconnect with the map at runtime.
  • Region Instances - Some additions to an _instance package for instances of the kind "region".
  • Scene Instances - Some additions to an _instance package for instances of the kind "backdrop".
  • Multimedia (runtime) - To compile the multimedia submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _external_file, _figure and _sound packages.
  • Tables (runtime) - To compile the tables submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _table packages containing _table_column_usage subpackages.
  • Table Columns (runtime) - To compile the table_columns submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _table_column packages.
  • Dialogue Beat Instances - To compile any dialogue details in the instances submodule.
  • Dialogue - To compile any dialogue details in the instances submodule.
  • Dialogue Choice Instances - To compile any dialogue details in the instances submodule.
  • Rules (runtime) - To compile the rules submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _rule packages.
  • Rulebooks (runtime) - To compile the rulebooks submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _rulebook and _outcome packages.
  • Variables - To compile the variables submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _variable packages.
  • Properties (runtime) - To compile the properties submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _property packages.
  • Relations (runtime) - To compile the relations submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _relation packages.
  • Literal Patterns (runtime) - Compiled code to print and parse values expressed as literals.
  • Kind Constructors - Each kind constructor has an Inter package of resources.
  • Kind IDs - To compile the equations submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _equation packages.
  • Actions (runtime) - To compile the actions submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _action packages.
  • Named Action Patterns (runtime) - To compile the named_action_patterns submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _named_action_pattern packages.
  • Test Scripts (runtime) - To compile the tests submodule for a compilation unit, which contains _test packages.
• Chapter 6: Completion Resources
  • Bibliographic Data (runtime) - Recording bibliographic data, such as title and authorship, in Inter.
  • The Player (runtime) - Providing for the player and her initial situation, that is, at the start of play.
  • The Map (runtime) - The runtime representation of the spatial map for works of interactive fiction: that is, how the rooms and doors connect up.
  • Property Permissions (runtime) - Each property needs permission to be used, and here we emit the Inter statements necessary.
  • Property Values - Compiling Inter property value instructions for the properties of instances and kinds.
  • Action Bitmap Property - To compile tiny arrays as values of the action_bitmap property.
  • Phrasebook Index - Compiling what amounts to the Phrasebook index into the Inter hierarchy.
  • Mapping Hints - To transcribe mapping hints for the World Index into suitable packages.
  • Inferences (runtime) - To index inferences.
• Chapter 7: Command Grammar
  • Command Grammars (runtime) - Runtime support for CGs.
  • Command Grammar Lines (runtime) - Compiling lines of command parser grammar.
  • Command Grammar Tokens (runtime) - Compiling single command parser tokens.
  • Kind GPRs - General parsing routine (GPR) functions to match values of non-object kinds in the command parser.
  • Noun Filter Tokens - General parsing routine (GPR) functions to match objects which fit some description, or have some scoping requirement.
  • Name Properties - Small arrays of dictionary words which are values of the name property for objects.
  • Parse Name Properties - Functions which are values of the parse_name property for objects.