Bots
Bots (a shortened form of robots) are computer programs which utilize the Active Worlds (software) SDK. Such programs can carry out in-world tasks such as backups and restores of builds, chat management, automation of world settings and administration of the universe.
Typically, users can interact with bots in a similar way as with other users. Most bots have a visible avatar and can communicate in-world through chat. Bots log into the universe using a citizen's privilege password, with a default limit of three logged-in bots per citizen. They are distinguished from standard citizens by use of brackets around their user name. For example, a bot named Alice would be seen in-world as "[Alice]".
Technology
Main Article: SDK
All bots utilize the SDK as it is the only official programming interface available. It is a client-side API that connects to the universe and then allows a presence in a world. The SDK is used as a static or dynamic library for C/C++, a COM interface for COM-compatible languages and as a wrapper library for CLI languages such as C# or VB.NET.
Connecting a bot to a universe requires the privilege password of a non-expired citizen. By default, citizens are limited to three logged-in instances, however Active Worlds citizens may have this extended with a special request to support.
To enter a world, a citizen must have bot rights for that world. Bots with an in-world presence can be identified by citizens by right clicking their avatar or chat messages, which exposes the bot's citizen number.
Types
Bots of a wide variety of purposes are available. Over the course of the SDK's existence, two main groups of bots have formed; one serving a single specific purpose, the other serving as a toolkit with many different, sometimes end-user extendable, functions.
Single-purpose Bots
Single-purpose bots are developed for a specific purpose or function, such as bots developed for a specific RPG world or specializing in the backup and restoration of builds.
Examples of single-purpose bots include:
- YASBB - For surveying, loading and saving builds
- Hermes - Provides enhanced chat abilities such as global broadcast and colored messages
- Demeter - For allowing both tourists and citizens to modify a world's terrain
General-purpose bots
General-purpose bots are suited for handling many different general functions to accomplish a wide variety of tasks. Typically, such bots include a scripting interface to allow the end-user to use SDK functions without having to learn code or the SDK itself. However this can still present a varied learning curve for those unfamiliar with Acive Worlds.
For example, the Preston bots uses a list-like interface with choosable settings to program the bot, with a large degree of flexibility. Where as Xelagot provides a scripting interface with a steeper learning curve but a larger degree of flexibility, with access to a more useful and assorted array of functions than the base SDK itself.
Examples of general-purpose bots include:
See also