Re: load() search paths...
By: Deuce to All on Wed Aug 05 2009 04:22 pm

So, after looking at the vast (and increasing) number of *.js files in the exec directory which are not intended to be executed but are instead intended to be load()ed by some other script, I've started thinking about a library system for the JS load() method. My initial thoughts are something like the following:

- There be some array of search paths for load() which can be added to by a
script. Additions can be at either end of the array, and these paths can be
either absolute or relative.
- If the path is absolute, only a single directory will be searched.
- If the path is relative, two directories will be searched, a "mods"
style directory and a stock directory. The question of if these belong
under a shared parent directory (ie: jslibs) or under the exec/mods
directory is an open question.
- Some way of specifying an initial list (in the ini file)

You would end up then with something like this:
jslibs/
std/
sbbs/
ars_defs.js
nodedefs.js
sbbsdefs.js
sockdefs.js
uifcdefs.js
irc/
irc-default.js
irclib.js
ircd/
ircd_channel.js
ircd_server.js
ircd_unreg.js
ircd_user.js
mods/
irc/
irc-cyan.js
Etc.

This change would impact all JS files, but with reasonable defaults, the impact could be mitigated.

Comments?

I like the idea of the dynamic search-path appendage ability, allowing 3rd party scripts (e.g. games, add-ons) to (easily) store all their files in some directory other than 'exec'.

I think the default directory for most scripts should still be mods & exec. What do you think of:

exec/
login.js
logon.js
listserver.js
nntpservice.js
etc.
exec/include
*defs.js
*lib.js
*util.js

where 'exec' can be replaced with 'mods' (and is searched first), as is the current scheme.

You could use 'libs' instead of 'include' (the name isn't that important), but I would just add one new default directory and move the lib/include type files there. I wouldn't really call it a 'library system', as libraries historically, are collections (e.g. archives) of modules with callable functions. That's not exactly describing the contents of the *defs.js, *util.js, and *lib.js files we have.

digital man

Snapple "Real Fact" #83:
Googol is a number (1 followed by 100 zeros).

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