See `README.lambdamoo' for general information on LambdaMOO. More information on Stunt is available here: http://stunt.io/. If you want to get up and running quickly, consider starting with Improvise, the Stunt starter kit: https://github.com/toddsundsted/improvise. This is Release 8 of the Stunt extensions to the LambdaMOO server. It is based on the latest "1.8.3+" version from SourceForge. Read the very important WARNING below before running this on your existing database!!! Release 8 enhances existing features and improves performance in specific areas: * `^' is an alias for the first element in a sequence (to go along with `$'). * The map datatype supports index/range access/assignment using `^' and `$' (previously these only worked on lists). * The `for' loop now sports the following syntax: for v, i in (...) When used in this way, the first variable is assigned the value from the sequence and the second variable is assigned the index (the position in the case of lists and strings) or key (in the case of maps). The last change makes iterating over a map more performant. Iteration no longer requires a lengthly call to get the keys before actually performing the iteration. m = [... map ...]; for v, k in (m) ... endfor This release also improves the performance of code that uses indexed assignment (code like `foo[x][y][x] = "blah"'). In my specific case (package import in the Stunt core), it knocked off ~20% of the overall time required to import a large package (LambdaCore, for example). Stunt includes the following functionality not found in the main server: 1) Multiple-Inheritance `create()' now takes either an object number or a list of object numbers in the first argument position. Two new built-ins, `parents()' and `chparents()', manipulate an object's parents. The built-ins `parent()' and `chparent()' exist for backward compatibility -- when an object has multiple parents these built-ins operate on the first parent. 2) Task Local Storage The built-ins `task_local' and `set_task_local' retrieve/store a task local value. The value is automatically freed when the task finishes. 3) Map Datatype The server includes a native map datatype based on a binary search tree (specifically, a red-black tree). The implementation allows in-order traversal, efficient lookup/insertion/deletion, and supports existing MOO datatypes as values (keys may not be lists or maps). Index, range, and looping operations on lists and strings also work on maps. 4) JSON Parsing/Generation The built-ins `parse_json' and `generate_json' transform MOO datatypes from/to JSON. 5) New Built-in Cryptographic Operations The new cryptographic operations include SHA-1 and SHA-256 hashes. The existing MD5 hash algorithm is broken from a cryptographic standpoint, as is SHA-1 -- both are included for interoperability with existing applications (both are still popular) but the default for `string_hash'/`binary_hash'/`value_hash' is now SHA-256. Stunt also includes the HMAC-SHA-256 algorithm for generating secure, hash- based message authentication codes. 6) Built-in Base64 Encoding/Decoding The built-ins `encode_base64' and `decode_base64' encode and decode Base64-encoded strings. 7) An Improved FileIO Patch The 1.5p1 patch that is in wide circulation has flaws, including two server crashing bugs. This patch fixes those bugs/flaws without changing the API. 8) Secure Suspending Process Exec The exec functionality adds an `exec' built-in which securely forks/execs an external executable. It doesn't use the `system()' call, which is hard to secure and which blocks the server. `exec()' takes two parameters, a list of strings comprising the program and its arguments, and a MOO binary string that is sent to stdin. It suspends the current task so the server can continue serving other tasks, and eventually returns the process termination code, stdout, and stderr in a list. 9) Verb Calls on Primitive Types The server supports verbs calls on primitive types (numbers, strings, etc.) so calls like `"foo bar":split()' can be implemented and work as expected (they were always syntactically correct but resulted in an E_TYPE error). Verbs are implemented on prototype object delegates ($int_proto, $float_proto, $str_proto, etc.). The server transparently invokes the correct verb on the appropriate prototype -- the primitive value is the value of `this'. 10) In Server HTTP Parsing The server uses the excellent Node HTTP parsing library to natively parse HTTP requests and responses into key/value pairs in a map datatype. The parser handles corner cases correctly and supports things like HTTP upgrade (for using WebSockets, for example). It's also much much faster than parsers implemented in MOO code. 11) Testing Framework The server includes a unit testing framework based on Ruby's Test-Unit. It includes a Parslet parser (two, actually) for turning moo-code values into Ruby values, which makes writing tests much easier. The new code is covered very well by the existing tests. WARNING: This server changes the database format in a non-backward compatible way in order to persist multiple-parent relationships. The server will automatically upgrade version 4 databases, however THERE IS NO WAY BACK! Use Github and the Github issue system for feedback and bugs! Todd