Difference between revisions of "Terminology"

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==Minetest and its components==
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See https://wiki.minetest.net/Terminology
 
 
*'''Minetest''': a game engine consisting of a collection of libraries connected by C++ code.
 
*[http://irrlicht.sourceforge.net/ '''Irrlicht'''] is the 3D rendering library used by Minetest.
 
*'''Game''': A collection of pre-packaged mods with some additional metadata. Supposed to be a (hopefully) complete interactive playable experience which stands on its own. Can be run from the main menu. Must be put into the <code>games</code> directory. Not to be confused with modpacks. See also [https://wiki.minetest.net/Games Games] on the Minetest Wiki.
 
*[http://wiki.minetest.net/Games/Minetest%20Game '''Minetest Game''']: Official name of the default game (usually) shipped with Minetest, a base for modding.
 
*[https://github.com/minetest/minetest_game minetest_game]: Repository name of Minetest Game. '''Not''' the official name of the default game!
 
*[http://wiki.minetest.net/Mods '''Mods'''] are the foundation of games which add or modify various features, using the [[:Category:Modding_API|Lua modding API]]. Here you find the actual source code of games. Players can also add additional own mods to extend a particular game
 
*'''Modpack''': A collection of mods which are bundled together in a directory. These mods are usually closely related and are bundled for convenience. Must be put into the <code>mods</code> directory
 
*'''Server''': the program that manages and distributes mod, texture and sound data to the players. It also does all of the mod initiation.
 
*'''Client''': the program that the player uses to connect to singleplayer or multiplayer games. Handles the rendering of the world.
 
*'''[[minetest.conf]]''' is a file in the root directory which contains settings for the game. A list of default settings can be found in [https://raw.githubusercontent.com/minetest/minetest/master/minetest.conf.example '''minetest.conf.example'''] or '''defaultsettings.cpp'''.
 
 
 
==In-game Content==
 
 
 
*A '''World''' is a saved game in Minetest, which contains:
 
**'''Map''' - a [http://wiki.minetest.net/Database_backends database ] of the map's content, everything from blocks to chest contents.
 
**Player passwords, their health, and their inventory.
 
**Other needed files, such as ban lists, seed numbers and protected areas.
 
*There are several different terms relating to nodes and their organization:
 
**'''Nodes''' are 1×1×1 meter individual cubes in the game, and are grouped and loaded by their blocks.
 
**'''Blocks''' or '''Mapblocks''' are 16×16×16 groups of nodes.
 
**'''Sectors''' are stacks of single blocks, extending from the bottom of the worlds to the top.
 
**'''Mapchunks''' are 80x80x80 nodes (5x5x5 blocks) groups, they are an abstraction used only for mapgen (the mapgen works on one mapchunk at a time, because blocks are too small to efficiently generate).
 
*'''Object''' - A movable thing that is not bound to a fixed position. Following kinds of objects exist:
 
**'''Entity''' - an object that is controlled by Lua. For example: mobs, falling nodes or primed TNT.
 
**'''Player''' - an object that represents a player.
 
*'''Items'''
 
**'''Tool''' or '''tool item''' - a type of item that is non-stackable, wears out and improves mining speed or deals more damage. Examples: Pickaxes, axes, shovels, swords.
 
**'''Node item''' - a type of item that can be placed as a node (see above). These include dirt, stone, cobble, etc., but also things like torches and signs.
 
**'''Craftitem''' - a type of item that can (depending on the item) be eaten, be used in crafting recipes or cooked in a furnace, be placed as objects or be used on things in the world.
 
**'''Node metadata''' - extra data that is attached to a node. Chests and furnaces use this to store their inventories, and signs use this to store what is written on them.
 
**'''Environment''' - A global object that (amongst other things) provides access to all nodes, (active) objects and players.
 
**'''[http://wiki.minetest.net/abm ABM]'''s (Active Block Modifiers) are functions that run on nodes of a certain type, changing them or giving them interactive properties (eg. grass and moss growth).
 
**'''[http://wiki.minetest.net/lbm LBM]'''s (Loading Block Modifiers) are similar to ABMs but are only run once when the mapblock is loaded.
 
 
 
==Lua and Modding-related==
 
 
 
*'''Lua''' is a simple programming language that is used in mods
 
*'''Modding API''' or '''Lua API'''  is a selection of functions and values, used by mod files to modify, extend or add features and blocks. API stands for '''A'''pplication '''P'''rogramming '''I'''nterface.
 
*'''lua_api.txt''' is a file in the doc/ directory and contains a reference for the Lua API.
 
 
 
== Outdated or incorrect terms ==
 
*'''Subgame''': Outdated term for “game”
 
*'''Minetest Engine''': Incorrect name for “Minetest”
 
*'''minetest_game''': Old unofficial name of “Minetest Game”. Now this term only refers to the repository of Minetest Game
 
 
 
[[Category:Misc]]
 

Latest revision as of 13:43, 25 October 2022