Add Thing/verb system documentation

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Jared Miller 2026-02-16 16:20:42 -05:00
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things and verbs: how objects interact
=====================================
the thing/verb system lets world objects respond to player actions. instead of hardcoding behavior in commands, objects carry their own verb handlers. two ways to register verbs: decorator-based (python classes) or toml-based (content files). both converge to the same dispatch mechanism.
object base class
=================
``Object`` (object.py) is the foundation for all world entities. it has:
- ``name`` - what the object is called
- ``location`` - another Object or None (the entire containment system)
- ``x``, ``y`` - coordinates in the world
- ``_contents`` - list of objects inside this one
- ``_verbs`` - dict mapping verb names to handlers
``__post_init__`` scans the instance for methods decorated with ``@verb`` and auto-registers them in ``_verbs``.
thing and container
===================
``Thing`` (thing.py) extends Object for portable items::
name: str
description: str
portable: bool = True
aliases: list[str] = []
readable_text: str | None = None
tags: set[str] = field(default_factory=set)
``Container`` (container.py) extends Thing with containment rules::
capacity: int
closed: bool = False
locked: bool = False
``can_accept()`` checks object type, open state, and capacity before allowing insertions.
verb registration: decorator path
==================================
the ``@verb`` decorator (verbs.py) marks methods as verb handlers. it sets ``_verb_name`` on the function. ``Object.__post_init__`` discovers these and calls ``register_verb()``::
class Fountain(Thing):
@verb("drink")
async def drink(self, player, args):
await player.send("You drink from the fountain.\r\n")
when you instantiate the fountain, the drink handler automatically registers in ``_verbs["drink"]``.
verb registration: toml path
=============================
``ThingTemplate`` (things.py) defines objects in toml::
name = "chest"
description = "a sturdy wooden chest with iron bindings"
portable = false
capacity = 5
closed = true
locked = false
aliases = ["box"]
[verbs]
unlock = "verb_handlers:unlock_handler"
``spawn_thing()`` (things.py) creates a Thing or Container from the template. if ``capacity`` is set, you get a Container. if ``verbs`` dict is present, it resolves "module:function" strings via importlib and binds them with functools.partial.
``verb_handlers.py`` contains standalone functions referenced by toml. example::
async def unlock_handler(obj, player, args):
if not isinstance(obj, Container):
await player.send("That's not lockable.\r\n")
return
if not obj.locked:
await player.send("It's already unlocked.\r\n")
return
# check for key in inventory...
obj.locked = False
await player.send(f"You unlock the {obj.name}.\r\n")
two paths, one dispatch
=======================
decorator-based and toml-based verbs both populate ``Object._verbs``. the command dispatcher doesn't care which path was used.
finding objects
===============
``find_object()`` (verbs.py) searches for targets:
1. player inventory first
2. ground at player position second
3. matches by name or aliases (case-insensitive)
returns the object or None.
command dispatch fallback
=========================
the command dispatcher (commands/__init__.py) tries registered commands first. if no match, it tries verb dispatch:
1. parse input as "verb target" (e.g., "drink fountain")
2. call ``find_object()`` for target
3. check ``obj.has_verb(verb)``
4. call ``obj.call_verb(verb, player, args)``
this lets content authors add new interactions without modifying command code.
use command
===========
``use`` (commands/use.py) provides explicit verb access::
use fountain # calls fountain's "use" verb
use key on chest # calls chest's "use" verb with args="key on chest"
parses input, finds object, checks for "use" verb, calls handler.
code
====
relevant files::
src/mudlib/object.py # Object base class, verb registration
src/mudlib/thing.py # Thing class
src/mudlib/container.py # Container class
src/mudlib/verbs.py # @verb decorator, find_object()
src/mudlib/things.py # ThingTemplate, spawn_thing()
src/mudlib/verb_handlers.py # standalone verb functions for toml
src/mudlib/commands/__init__.py # command dispatcher with verb fallback
src/mudlib/commands/use.py # explicit verb command
content/things/ # toml thing definitions