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NULL mag Issue 07 11 Mpl vs mpy
you installed mystic, you want to get into script programming and you
don't know which language to choose. MPL or MPY? don't worry... i am
here to help you... lol
pascal vs python
it all starts from this point... except some other differences, the
basic and most critical difference is that you have to do with pascal
or python. so if you know, one of these languages and not the other,
it's like you all ready made your choice ;) if you know both of them,
then keep reading, cause there is more...
complete pr.lang vs subset
in case of MPL, it may seems like the pascal pr.lang. but it's not.
MPL uses the syntax of pascal, but the commands that are used are
mystic specific and also, you can only use those, that are all ready
built in. you can't use any other "external" command, lets say, from
other pascal units.
in MPY, is not the same. in MPY you can use all python libraries!
plus the one library mystic offers, mystic_bbs to have access to the
screen, keyboard, built-in variables etc. so with MPY the
possibilities to make awesome things with it, are endless. where in
MPL you may have to use external scripts/apps and so.
built-in commands
in this area, MPL is more advanced, i may say. because it was longer
developed, it has more built-in function to use and access
"mystic-things", than MPY. i am sure that in the future this will
change and the balance will be tipped towards MPY. but for now, MPL
has more mystic-stuff ready to use.
docs/source code
same thing with documentation. you will find more things written for
MPL, instead of MPY. more tutors and more source code is written for
MPL, when for MPY it's almost non existant.
python2?!!!
up to ver 1.12A43, MPY uses python2. but in the near future python2 is
going to be dropped out and not developed or supported any more, check
it here: https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0373/
so writing MPY/python2 scripts right now, is... lets say a risk...
cause it's not clear if mystic is going to support python3 and when.
there are not bog differences between ver 2 and 3 of python and you
should be able to upgrade your scripts, but still would be a pain in
the ass to do.
installation/usage/environment
if you want to write a MPL script... you just get an editor, compile
the script and done! right out of the box. no configs, no nothing...
in the case of MPY, specially if you are a windows user (looser!!!)
you have to install python first and make some configuration. this is
also true for linux, cause in many occasions the pre-installed python
version doesn't work with mystic, so you have to re-install it.
overall
MPL is well tested and defined, with bigger support in the community,
where MPY is very promising for the future of mystic bbs. which one
you will use, is just your choice to do. ;)
