Generic Objects on the MOO Connections

Generics are what you use to make other objects. Every object on a MOO has a parent object. When you create an object, rather than having to write the code for the object, you just use preexisting code by calling up the parent object — the generic — and modifying it by adding a name and description and so forth. This is the basis of object-oriented programming and is where MOOs get their names (MUD Object-Oriented). (See the "Creating Objects on Connections MOO" tutorial for a fuller explanation — it's written for non-programmers). In the command @create $thing named <name of object>, $thing represents the generic thing and you can substitute other generics for the $thing to make different types of objects. Below is a list of common generics on Connections MOO. Some generics have both a name and an object number and others just have an object number. (For instance, you can create an object using the generic thing as a parent by entering either @create $thing named <name of object> or @create #5 named <name of object>.)

Working with Generics

If you wanted to make a note with the name of diary, you would enter the command: @create $note named diary. If I wanted to make an analog watch using the generic analog timepiece, I'd enter the command @create #387 named watch. For additional information on a particular generic, enter help <generic>. For instance, if I wanted help with the simple robot without directed speech, I'd enter help #382.

Due to the special properties of MOO furniture, I recommend you take a look at the "Creating Furniture on Connections."

As with furniture, rooms are a special category of object that need more explanation than I can give here. Please see the "Building Rooms on Connections."

For additional generic objects, including the generic animatronic and the generic random narrator, see the MOOseum Tools Project site.