TADS 3 resources
TADS 3 is a powerful programming language used to write and program parser interactive fiction games. This is a temporary landing page to aggregate TADS 3 resources in one spot. This site will be built out over time.
For now, this page assumes you know what Interactive Fiction and parsers are.
Resources for Beginners
These are resources to get you up and running with TADS 3. They are repeated in the more comprehensive resources as well.
TADS 3 Quickstart - for TADS 3 & Adv3
by Eric EveThis brief guide contains instructions for installing the TADS 3 workbench system and compiling a basic game. It also has explanation of the other documentation that exists, including guidance on where to go next, and a sample game newcomers can experiment with if they want to dive straight it.
Quick reference charts - for TADS 3 & Adv3
by Eric EveSome quick reference PDFs that summarize some of the essential information about the TADS 3 language and library.
adv3Lite Wiki - for adv3Lite
by Eric EveThis GitHub wiki aims to give users and potential users of adv3Lite the information they need to decide whether adv3Lite may be for them. There are links to adv3Lite installation and setup, a sample game, and a short primer on some coding concepts needed for adv3Lite.
Interactive Fiction Forum community - for All of TADS 3
The Intfiction.org forum is a place for fans and authors of interactive fiction to gather. It has a category for TADS 3 discussion where you can discuss the language and both current libraries, and ask for help from experienced TADS 3 authors and programmers.
Resources for Adv3
Adv3 is the default TADS 3 library, and is packaged with it when you install TADS 3. It's rather complex, but has a lot of fidelity and powerful features.
TADS 3 Quickstart
by Eric EveThis brief guide contains instructions for installing the TADS 3 workbench system and compiling a basic game. It also has explanation of the other documentation that exists, including guidance on where to go next, and a sample game newcomers can experiment with if they want to dive straight it.
Quick reference charts
by Eric EveSome quick reference PDFs that summarize some of the essential information about the TADS 3 language and Adv3 library.
Adv3 Periplus
by Jim NelsonA reorganized, hyperlinked, cross-referenced index of existing adv3 library source files and documentation. The narrative descriptions of classes, functions, methods, and so on are transcribed from the comments in the library source code.
Example Games - for Adv3 & adv3Lite
by Eric EveA set of ten short games illustrating how to use various parts of the library in both adv3 and adv3Lite.
Cloak of Darkness - for Adv3 & adv3Lite
by Eric EveCloak of Darkness is an example game that has been implemented across multiple interactive fiction languages to demonstrate how the same features can be implemented in different systems. This is a link to implementations of the Cloak of Darkness game in adv3Lite and adv3.
Resources for adv3Lite
adv3Lite is a TADS 3 library based off Adv3, written and maintained by Eric Eve. It aims to provide a library that's easier to use than the Adv3 library, but which is almost as powerful and expressive. Adv3Lite misses out the bits that most games don't really need (like postures, room parts, and multiple light levels) while adding in some other bits that are often more useful (like scenes and regions, "borrowed" from Inform 7). Adv3Lite also cuts down drastically on the complexity of the Adv3 class hierarchy while maintaining much of their functionality.
adv3Lite Wiki
by Eric EveThis GitHub wiki aims to give users and potential users of adv3Lite the information they need to decide whether adv3Lite may be for them. There are links to adv3Lite installation and setup, a sample game, and a short primer on some coding concepts needed for adv3Lite.
Further information about adv3Lite
by Eric EveThe original home page of adv3Lite, giving a description of what it's for, how if differs from adv3, and links to various useful resources.
adv3Lite Periplus
by Jim NelsonA reorganized, hyperlinked, cross-referenced index of existing adv3Lite library source files and documentation. The narrative descriptions of classes, functions, methods, and so on are transcribed from the comments in the library source code. The library source code is also provided as links.
Example Games - for Adv3 & adv3Lite
by Eric EveA set of ten short games illustrating how to use various parts of the library in both adv3 and adv3Lite.
Cloak of Darkness - for Adv3 & adv3Lite
by Eric EveCloak of Darkness is an example game that has been implemented across multiple interactive fiction languages to demonstrate how the same features can be implemented in different systems. This is a link to implementations of the Cloak of Darkness game in adv3Lite and adv3.
Resources for TADS 3 language
These are references for the TADS 3 programming language itself, not specific to any library like Adv3 or Adv3Lite.
TADS 3 System Manual
by Michael RobertsThis book is a reference to the TADS 3 language and the T3 VM, including the standard intrinsic functions and classes. It covers the language and VM features in depth, so it's the place to go when you need to find the details on the system.
Introduction to HTML TADS
by Michael RobertsA brief introduction to HTML TADS, a text adventure interpreter based on TADS.