* EleBBS Support List

> You have /bbs/doors/zork .. Which contains all the files needed for it
> to run.
>
> Then you do a mkdir /bbs/doors/zork-node$1
>
> Then a: cp /bbs/doors/zork/* /bbs/doors/zork-node$1
>
> Then run it that way.. Or instead of $1 use: mkdir
"/bbs/doors/zork-$3"
>
> And then run from your temp dir, cleaning it up after its ran?

well zork is a linux native program.  for linux programs to run
correctly multi node. is simply create a directory and assign that
directory to the $HOME variable. linux program know to place user
files there by default.  so we simply make home folders for each user
(and have cron job run at night to clean up abandoned folders) andd
point the %HOME variable to that directory prior to launching
application. Linux does the rest.

In dos we run into problems, dos program by default require hard paths
set in config files or hard coded in programs.  there is no way to
tell a dos program look here for your files without editing config
files, or runnign setup for application again.  the process would be
very complicated.  WE COULD create a fake link in the C: drive. which
would solve the multi-user problem. but we run into a problem where,
lets take an example of a multi-player maze game.   player 1 logs int,
and his data files goto subhome1 and player 2 logs in and his files
goto subhome2.  They both play. and they both end killing a boss.
Player 1 exits. and player1 updates the master files on bbs. while
player 2 still plays. Well player 2 no quits,  it updates the files in
the master.  Now player 1 logs back in, He is now where he was before
player 2 logged in. Because player2's datafile has no way to merge the
player 1 updates in with it's info.  Luckaly tho, so far the only dos
programs I have running, Tradewars, Kannons and Katapults etc. are
designed to be run under a multi-user dos env.  They know how to
update their files. THe other single player games I have do not
require updating files, at most they update a highscore list.  If
there was to be no interaction between players or highscores. We could
use a clone of the DOSEMU system to handle heavy playing, However it
would have to be entire DOSEMU virtrual filesystem.  IN my case thats
about 300mb imaged per player.  Yes it will work. but I don't think it
would be practical. Especialy when I'm getting 4-5 calls a day right
now. If I start getting massive logins all wanting to play 1 specific
door, I might look into a new method.
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