Zifmia CMS

Authoring Inform 7
1

My list of side projects as dwindled and I’m focusing more on traditional IF these days. One of the things that I haven’t worked on in awhile and wanted to get back to is Zifmia.

If you don’t recall, Zifmia was/is a client-server implementation of FyreVM, which is a Glulx engine with an alternate IO system. The fundamental technology has been working successfully for years. I just have never actually implemented anything within its constructs.

I’m an admitted tool-maker and although I do aspire to write more IF, it’s not the right time for that. I’m writing, but it’s in the form of a science-fiction novel, not IF.

What I envision for Zifmia has morphed from a simple template based website to a full blown content management website builder. The tools to do this are freely available, the patterns easy to implement, and I have honed my front-end skills to a more confident level (although my CSS/design skills are still atrocious).

So the new Zifmia will allow users to:

  • log in using social networks or directly with Zifmia.
  • learn how to create a FyreVM based game that will work with Zifmia.
  • upload and manage ulx and blorb files.
  • manage access to content by sharing and inviting other users to contribute.
  • edit and compile inform 7 source files similar to other sites.
  • create and manage new WYSIWYG templates from built-in widgets including:
    • Status Line
    • Scrolling Main Window
    • Paging Main Window
    • Command Entry Bar
    • Command Builder Bar
    • Inventory Window
    • Error Window
    • Debug Window
    • Statistics Window
    • Compass Rose Control
    • Hints Control
    • Help Control
    • About Control
  • upload images
  • publish game + template publicly or privately.

So these are long-term plans and some of these features will show up later.

I plan to spend some time on this over the holidays and have an early release in January.

I do have one question about the widgets. I’ve listed what I think are common IF widgets, but others may have different ideas. If you understand the concept of a CMS driven website and you have ideas for widgets, please let me know. It’s also possible/probably that people will be able to share their own widgets, but that will probably be on an upload and review basis.

Comments are welcome.

David C.
www.textfyre.com

2

It’s an interesting idea. You might want to check out mudportal.com, which conceptually is similar to what you’ve got here; it’s separate mud servers accessed through a common web client whose widgets/functionality can be shared across games.

3

I already have the back-end web engine working and have worked on the basic ajax front-end stuff to a point where it’s pretty solid. The work I plan to do is a ground-up architecture (using various jquery libraryes like gridster) to create the widget system. I had always wanted people to develop their games and their “interpreters” together and I think this is a workable solution.

David C.
www.textfyre.com