My CSS based poker game really lacks multi-player capabilities, so I set out to write a prototype server. As per protocol, the scope of the program exploded a little and the prototype has become MyNode, which is a client/server system written in NodeJS for applications like a chat or multi-player games.
It is a prototype that grew out of proportions. I went for the low hanging fruit only and what came out after my initial rush was surprisingly powerful already and valuable for bootstrapping the rest of the system. After some cleanup and refactoring a bit, the code is still quite crude in some parts and at the time of writing, the basic framework is about 90% feature complete, sans CMS functions like editor and file manager.
- Hot code reloading server and client side. I can code live, while everyone stays connected.
- Websocket interface that recovers from server and client crashes, and tries very hard to stay connected or reconnect.
- Watchdog (Boot screen) - It is hard to catch every type of mistake I could make when live editing code. The watchdog serves as a fallback, reloading the whole web page.
- Debug terminal (view and manually craft JSON messages, think WireShark). Also serves as interface for moderators (ban, etc.)
- Remote code editor and file manager (Micro-CMS)
- Basic user and session management so a game lobby can be implemented
- JSON request verification mechanism (syntax, permissions)
session
login
username: itsme
password: secRet
chat
nick: hi therewill be sent as
{
"session":{
"login":{
"username":"itsme",
"password":"secRet"
}
},
"chat":{
"nick":"hi there"
}
}Only usable when parameters are simple:
.session.login.username:itsme,password:secRet...chat.nick:hithere| File name | Description |
|---|---|
| ./server/config.js | Reads config file and provides "global" constants |
| ./server/debug.js | Debug settings and facilities like color_log |
| ./server/helpers.js | isNumeric, ... |
| ./server/main.js | http and ws server |
| ./server/reloader.js | Checks, if file changes occurred when a message comes in, reloads application (router) if needed |
| ./application/router.js | Validates request and calls corresponding request handlers |
| ./application/session.js | Manages websockets |
| ./application/access.js | Syntax and persmission checks |
| ./application/client.js | Data associated to a user on a specific socket |
| ./application/meta.js | Gathers help, syntax and permissions from a protocol object template |
| ./application/control.js | Restart server, etc. |
| ./application/chat/chat.js | Talk to the public room or send a private message |
| ./application/rss/rss.js | Simple RSS client, sends broadcasts to all users |
| ./application/file_manager/file_manager.js | NIY. Editor, upload |
| ./client/main.js | Demo application, a simple chat, using the CEP |
| ./client/cep/cep.js | Client end point, mainly a fancy websocket |
| ./client/cep/config.js | Options and debug settings |
| ./client/cep/websocket.js | Connects and sends first login JSON automatically |
| ./client/cep/dom_assist.js | Helpers, CSS reload |
| ./client/cep/events.js | Simple event facility |
| ./client/cep/whoami.js | WS should be protocol agnostic. Login, etc. will be moved here soon |
| ./client/cep/helpers.js | Notably: wrapArray() - Wraps non-array messages in array to be used with forEach |
| ./client/cep/terminal/terminal.js | Debug terminal, applet management |
| ./client/cep/terminal/config.js | Settings |
| ./client/cep/terminal/audio.js | Beep and Software Automatic Mouth (Bit) |
| ./client/cep/terminal/samjs.js | I mangled this file and added a volume option |
| ./client/cep/terminal/toggle.js | Holds state, can be associated with buttons and automatically assign classes |
| ./client/cep/terminal/components/main_menu.js | Global toggles |
| ./client/cep/terminal/components/status.js | Status bar/clock |
| ./client/cep/terminal/components/user_list.js | Show and select users, PM channels, moderator functions |
| ./client/cep/terminal/shell/shell.js | The actual debugger, shell toggles |
| ./client/cep/terminal/shell/input.js | <textarea> handling, making it look like a real prompt |
| ./client/cep/terminal/shell/output.js | CEP or received JSON messages as printed to the screen |
| ./client/cep/terminal/shell/history.js | Remembers commands |
| ./client/cep/terminal/shell/parsers.js | Converters, mainly dotJSON/tabJSON |
| ./client/cep/terminal/shell/handle_message.js | Big switch for broadcast and response messages |
| ./client/cep/terminal/editor/editor.js | Text editor |
| ./client/cep/terminal/file_manager/file_manager.js | Manage files on the server |