Introducing the declarative dungeon

Abstract

We describe an intermediate programming course, based on Structure and Interpretation of Computer programs by Abelson and Sussman, into which we have introduced a Multi User Dungeon (MUD) as an extended example. This example has proved beneficial in a number of respects, and over a period of three years the course has been reorganised to fully exploit this. In particular, the approach enables the students to exercise the engineering design principles taught in the course, by participating in the design and construction of a complex software system. It has also proven to be an effective vehicle for explaining many of the concepts in the course.