Inform 7for Mac
App info
A powerful programming language and development environment
Inform 7 is a language for writing game descriptions and setting files. Its primary use is writing game scripts for interactive fiction games, also known as text adventures. The language's syntax is similar to that of many modern programming languages and has many advanced features not typically found in text editing languages.
Use cases
Inform 7 has three main uses:
For newcomers interested in learning programming: You can use the app to learn fundamental programming concepts without writing boring exercises or projects in another language. It is a relatively simple language (compared to other programming languages) and is excellent for learning the basics, such as variables and conditionals.
For game designers: If you are designing your own game but don't know how to code it, you can write it in Inform 7 instead. Using a specialized language such as this will make your life much easier.
As an experienced programmer looking for something new or fun: Writing text adventures is an exciting way to exercise your brain without getting bored! And by using a specialized language such as Inform 7, you'll be ahead of the curve in writing great games.
Inform 7 concepts
Interaction: the app provides the choice to write codes that can be changed according to the situation. The application reads them and then reacts according to your commands.
Automatization: it automatically writes codes, removing a lot of work for you.
Cross Reference: one can easily relate code you have written in one file with others by cross-referencing them through Inform 7.
Artificial intelligence: by using artificial intelligence techniques, Inform 7 can write codes that will continuously read the adventure game's history and change the course of events accordingly.
Inform 7 main parts
The three main parts of Inform 7 are:
Inform 7 IDE: The Interactive Development Environment is where you create and run apps in Inform. This environment provides tools to write, test, and debug your app. The IDE includes Edit, Compile and Run buttons and a significant Source Code editor.
The Compiler: The compiler turns your Inform app into a format that computers can understand.
The central repository: The main library contains the essential functions used by most programs written in Inform 7. It includes parts for graphics, sound, user input, and general-purpose programming tasks.
Conclusions
Inform 7 is a compiled language with several tools for writing and testing code. Overall, it has a large and active community of users, with many forums and sites dedicated to discussing and sharing their works created with the language.
- Open-source
- Simple syntax
- Comprehensive feature set
- None