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Show HN: Resurrecting Infocom's Unix Z-Machine with Cosmopolitan

(christopherdrum.github.io)
156 points ChristopherDrum | 3 comments | 14 Apr 25 03:51 UTC | HN request time: 0.44s | source

I recently brought Infocom's original UNIX z-machine source code back to life on modern systems. The modified source code, instructions on usage, a build of the z-machine, and examples of embedded game executables are available.

There is also a detailed write-up about the state of the original source code, the porting process, and the invaluable role Justine Tunney's Cosmpolitan project played in bringing the Zork trilogy (and more) to Windows/Mac/Linux/bsd for arm/x86 machines over the course of a lazy Sunday.

1. gamache ◴[14 Apr 25 14:19 UTC] No.43681625[source]▶
Cool project! But one nitpick.

K&R C has no concept of THEN. That's a peculiarity of the ZIP source code, defined as a pure no-op:

    #define THEN
https://github.com/ChristopherDrum/pez/blob/main/zip/infocom...
replies(2): >>43684674 #>>43687131 #
2. pcwalton ◴[14 Apr 25 18:44 UTC] No.43684674[source]▶
It's Bournegol [1]!

[1]: https://oldhome.schmorp.de/marc/bournegol.html

3. ChristopherDrum ◴[14 Apr 25 22:48 UTC] No.43687131[source]▶
Oh wow, thank you for the clarification. I completely didn't even consider to audit for that in the ZIP source (though the ALL CAPS maybe should have been my hint). I'll update the post with this and another small thing another player found.