ProtoMUCK

v2.0 // Open Source MUCK Server

A powerful, extensible multi-user virtual world server built by the community, for the community. Descended from the TinyMUCK lineage with modern enhancements.

View Source SourceForge
## Connecting to ProtoMUCK...
Welcome to ProtoMUCK v2.0
A derivative of NeonMUCK 2.x
Running since 2000 -- Built with MUF & MPI

> look here
The Town Square
You find yourself in a bustling town square at the heart of
a thriving virtual community. Cobblestone paths lead off in
every direction. A fountain gurgles softly in the center.
The air hums with the quiet energy of creation.

> _
Developer working on ProtoMUCK

Built by Builders

ProtoMUCK is an open-source MUCK server program descended from NeonMUCK 2.x, which itself traces its roots through RattyMUCK, PuebloMUCK, and the legendary FuzzBall MUCK. Written in C and C++, it was created by Akari (Richard Taylor) and Moose (Chris Brine) and first registered on SourceForge in June 2000.

MUCKs are text-based virtual worlds where players can explore, socialize, build rooms and objects, and write programs using MUF (Multi-User Forth) and MPI (Message Parsing Interpreter). They've been a cornerstone of the furry community since the early 1990s, powering worlds like FurryMUCK and Tapestries.

ProtoMUCK pushed the boundaries of what a MUCK server could do, adding features that the community needed but other servers lacked.

What Sets ProtoMUCK Apart

Advanced features built on a foundation of compatibility.

// Extended MUF Primitives

A significantly expanded set of MUF primitives beyond standard FuzzBall, giving builders and programmers more power to create complex interactive environments and systems.

// SSL/TLS Support

Built-in SSL support for encrypted connections, keeping player communications private and secure — a feature ahead of its time for MUCK servers.

// MySQL Integration

Native SQL database support allowing MUF programs to read from and write to MySQL databases, enabling persistent data storage far beyond the built-in property system.

// ANSI Color

Extensive ANSI color support with compatibility for both GlowMUCK and NeonMUCK color encoding styles, bringing vivid color to text-based worlds.

// Multiple Wizard Levels

Granular administrative permissions with multiple wizard tiers, allowing for more nuanced trust hierarchies and delegation on large-scale MUCKs.

// Cross-Platform

Runs on Linux, BSD, Windows (via Cygwin), and more. Wherever your server lives, ProtoMUCK can run there. Licensed under GPLv2.

A Lineage of Innovation

From TinyMUCK to ProtoMUCK — decades of community-driven development.

1990

TinyMUCK is Born

Stephen White creates TinyMUCK, adding programmability to TinyMUD. The MUF language gives players the power to extend their worlds with code.

1991–1995

The FuzzBall Era

Revar (Falk) develops FuzzBall MUCK, which becomes the de facto standard server for the furry community. FurryMUCK and Tapestries MUCK launch and thrive.

Late 1990s

NeonMUCK & GlowMUCK

Forks emerge pushing the platform forward. NeonMUCK 2.x integrates ideas from multiple branches, adding ANSI color and new primitives.

2000

ProtoMUCK Launches

Akari and Moose release ProtoMUCK, unifying the best features from NeonMUCK, GlowMUCK, and FuzzBall while adding SSL, SQL, and an expanded MUF instruction set.

2000–2015

Active Development

The ProtoMUCK team — Akari, Moose, Brevantes, and Foxsteve — continue expanding the server with new features, bug fixes, and community support.

Present

Open Source Legacy

ProtoMUCK's source code lives on at GitHub and SourceForge under the GPLv2 license, available for anyone to build on, learn from, or run their own world.