nyan - yet another notation¶

just make it meta-meta-meta.

nyan is a data description language, It is a mixture of python, json, patch, wml, yaml and some new ideas.

It stores hierarchical objects with key-value pairs in a database with the key idea that changes in a parent affect all children.

We created nyan because there existed no suitable language to properly represent the enormous complexity of storing the data for openage.

The main focus is readability and moddability.

The foundation of nyan:

Technology	Component
C++17	nyan core
Flex	Tokenizer generator
CMake	Build "system"
Humans	Doing it wrong all the time

How?¶

Let’s assume we have a fun λ half-life strategy game.

The game engine provides some functionality which is exposed by nyan.

# This is the content and mod API of the Engine:

Unit():
    hp : int
    animation : file

Building():
    hp : int
    creates : set(Unit)
    model : file

Using this, the base game pack provides actual game content:

# base_game_data.nyan

OverwatchSoldier(Unit):
    hp = 50
    animation = "./assets/soldier.ani"

Strider(Unit):
    hp = 2100
    animation = "./assets/strider.ani"

CombineCitadel(Building):
    hp = 9001
    creates = {OverwatchSoldier, Strider}
    model = "./assets/lambda_hq.mdl"

Citizen(Unit):
    hp = 60
    animation = "./assets/male09.ani"

# gordon is a citizen with more hp
Gordon(Citizen):
    hp += 40
    animation = "./assets/gordon.ani"

RebelHQ(Building):
    hp = 5000
    creates = {Citizen, Gordon}
    model = "./assets/lambda_hq.mdl"

Now, let’s create a mod that adds the overwatch elite and gives the striders even more hp.

# elite_strider_mod.nyan

# create a new unit:
OverwatchElite(Unit):
    hp = 70

# change the strider:
ChangeStrider<Strider>():
    hp += 1000

# change the citadel to build the elite:
AddElite<CombineCitadel>():
    creates += {OverwatchElite}

# create a mod that informs the engine about its patches
StriderEliteMod(Mod):
    name = "Add the elite and make striders stronger"
    patches = {AddElite, ChangeStrider}

When the engine activates the mod (“applies the patches”), the combine citadel can create the new unit and the strider is stronger.

The fun begins if you now create a mod that mods the mod. Which is totally possible with nyan.

Specification¶

Read the specification.

Current State of the Project¶

nyan is fully functional and can be used in your project.

There’s some features left to implement, but those only cover special use cases:

[ ] Inverse patch generation
[ ] Subobject set specializations
[ ] Callback trigger when a value changes
[ ] Member name qualifications for name conflict resolving

Dependencies, Building and Running¶

How do I get this to install on my box?
- See doc/building.md.
Waaaaaah! It
- crashes
- spams all kinds of shit on the screen
- my girlfriend dumped me because I debugged for nights

All of those observations are intended, not bugs.

To get rid of them, recompile with --dont-segfault --shut-up --new-girlfriend.

If this still does not help, try the contact section or the bug tracker.

Development Process¶

How does contributing work here?

Extensive syncronization!
Report issues and send pull requests.

The documentation is also in this repo:

Code documentation is embedded in the sources for Doxygen (see doc readme).
Have a look at the doc directory. This folder tends to outdate when code changes.

Contact¶

If you have the desire to perform semi-human interaction, join our Matrix or IRC chatroom!

For ideas, problems, …, use the issue tracker!

If it’s a problem with the usage of nyan in openage, head over there.

License¶

GNU LGPLv3 or later; see copying.md and legal/LGPLv3.

We know that probably nobody is ever gonna look at the copying.md file, but if you want to contribute code to nyan, please take the time to skim through it and add yourself to the authors list.