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From zero to a running mud

FluffOS is the engine. A mudlib is the game. Pick a lib first, then build the driver and point a config at it.

Paste-into-an-assistant version: https://www.fluffos.info/llm. After the lib is chosen, drop Mudlib AGENTS.md into that tree so the next session keeps ports and the master path.

The three layers​

LayerWhat it is
LPCLanguage for rooms, NPCs, commands — reference. Glossary: MudOS, LPMUD, LPC
DriverCompiler, VM, efuns, Telnet / WebSocket / TLS — this repo’s src/
MudlibThe game. You choose it. The driver does not ship one you would play.

testsuite/ in the driver repo is the LPC test harness, not a starter world. Use it only when you are changing FluffOS itself.

1. Pick a mudlib​

You need a path on disk or a git URL.

Already have a lib? Use that. Generate or edit its config.

Want an English full game? Dead Souls — git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/fluffos/dead-souls.git then ./build.sh && ./run.sh. Browser http://localhost:5555, telnet :6666. Docs: dead-souls.net.

Want a modular English lib? Lima — clone with --recurse-submodules, then cd adm/dist && ./rebuild, often port 7878. Play: lima.lostsouls.org. Install guide. Org snapshot: fluffos/lima.

Want a smaller historic English lib? Nightmare 3.

Want a Chinese classic?

More: ecosystem.

2. Build the driver​

Skip this if the lib’s own ./build.sh or Lima’s cd adm/dist && ./rebuild already builds FluffOS.

Ubuntu / Debian / WSL (repo on the Linux filesystem, not /mnt/c):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential cmake bison expect \
  libmysqlclient-dev libpcre2-dev libpq-dev libsqlite3-dev \
  libssl-dev libz-dev telnet libjemalloc-dev libicu-dev \
  libgtest-dev pkg-config libffi-dev

git clone https://github.com/fluffos/fluffos.git
cd fluffos
mkdir build && cd build
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=RelWithDebInfo ..
make -j"$(nproc)" install

Binary: build/bin/driver. Other platforms: build guide. Or docker pull ghcr.io/fluffos/fluffos:master.

3. Config and boot​

Prefer the config the mudlib ships. Otherwise:

/path/to/fluffos/build/bin/driver --generate-config > /path/to/mudlib/config.cfg

Set name, absolute mudlib directory, master file, include directories, and external_port_1 : telnet <port> (do not also add port number).

cd /path/to/mudlib
/path/to/fluffos/build/bin/driver CONFIG_FILE

mudlib directory : ./ means the process cwd is the mudlib root.

Connect with telnet or the websocket URL that lib documents. First wizard account is lib-specific — read that README.

4. Leave a trail​

Copy Mudlib AGENTS.md into the mudlib root and fill the TODOs (ports, master path, how to wiz).

5. Where to go next​

  1. Dev environment — VS Code / Cursor plugin, LPC highlighting, formatter
  2. LPC · Applies · Efuns
  3. Concepts — objects, simul_efuns, hot reload, async
  4. Runtime config
  5. Troubleshooting