Scripting
From modwiki
Scripting quick reference
Scripting is a specific domain of programming. It focuses more on specifying what should be done instead of how. Mostly read by a script parser instead of being compiled to bytecode.
On id Tech 4, it is used to allow mappers or modders to change behavior without recompiling the bytecode, only a map restart is needed to parse the script again.
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Different fields
The various forms of scripting in id Tech 4 are:
- Level scripting - Used for scripting events in levels.
- Weapon scripting - Used for defining the behavior of weapons.
- AI scripting - Used for defining the behavior of monsters and characters.
- GUI scripting - Used for defining the behavior and appearance of game GUIs. Uses a separate scripting system.
Check out the separate topics to get more specific scripting info.
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Definitions
These definitions are related to scripting.
- Script parser
- The program reading a script file, here it the game binary of the respective id Tech 4 game.
- Syntax
- The rules defining a scripting language.
- Keyword
- Special word, reserved by the language to mark the start of a language construct.
- Operator
- Special symbol, reserved by the language to show what operation should be done.
- Variable
- A variable can be thought of as a named container used to store a value. It can only be of one data type at a time
- Data type
- See data types.
- Reference
- A special variable that can reference an entity.
- Function or method
- A function is a structure to group commands so they can be reused later in the script. It is also possible to give it a return type and value.
- Return value
- Once a function has finished it's commands, it can return a result.
- Return type
- Defines the data type of the return value, must be given when defining a function
- Object
- A reference to the script object of an entity.
- Event
- Also called script event, these are commands via a reference or identifier.
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Syntax
- To find out about script file syntax, see the .SCRIPT format reference.
- If you want to start immediately, go read some tutorials on level scripting.
- If you are looking for a more steady introduction to scripting, check out the scripting basics page.
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Related
See also the editing of declarations, which is not exactly a part of scripting but an important part of editing for id Tech 4 engine.
- Declarations - Declarations that define the properties and behavior of game content
