Editing BZFS API

The BZFS API (Application Programmers Interface) is a set of C++ functions, structures, and classes that is exported by [[BZFS]] to be used by [[Plug-ins]]. The API provides access to the various states and data structures of a running BZFS game and is the primary method of communication between a plug-in and the game server.

==Overview==
The BZFS API is defined entirely in the '''bzfsAPI.h''' header file that is part of the [[BZFlag Source]] code. The header is also included with each install of the BZFlag installer for Microsoft Windows.

Plug-ins include this file in there source code so that they may access the functions it contains.

==Naming Conventions==
All BZFS API code structures will begin with the prefix '''bz_''' for clarification and to prevent conficts with names of code strcutres inside BZFS or any plug-ins.

==API Versions==
The API was added in version 2.0.4 of BZFlag. While working well for many users, it was found to be lacking in a number of features that would make make it difficult for plug-ins to run when the API itself was changed.

As of version 2.1 of BZFlag, the entire API was versioned and set up to use derived classes to that plug-ins written to use an older version of the API will work in newer versions of the software. Newer data structures would be put into further derived classes and would not be seen by the older plug-in. Due to this change a large number of API functions changed in name. This change causes all older 2.0.x plug-ins to no longer work with out a source code change. Once older plug-ins are updated to the new 2.1 API they will use the new versioning system and work fine in newer versions with out any needed changes.

==Entry Points==
There are 3 primary entry points into each plug-in. These entry points are the 3 core functions that every plug-in must implement.

 BZF_PLUGIN_CALL int [[bz_Load]] ( const char* command );
 BZF_PLUGIN_CALL int [[bz_Unload]] ( void );
 BZF_PLUGIN_CALL int [[bz_GetVersion]] ( void );

[[bz_Load]] is called when the plug-in is first initialized. This is when the plug-in should register any [[Event(API)|event handlers]] needed and initialize any "one time" startup data.

[[bz_Unload]] is called when a plug-in is no longer needed and will be shut down. This is most commonly called when bzfs is shutting down, or when a plug-in is unloaded manualy.

[[bz_GetVersion]] is called by bzfs before any other functions are called. The function should return the version of the API that it is written for. This is to prevent bzfs from attempting to load plug-ins that use a newer incompatible API.

'''bzfsAPI.h''' defines a C MACRO to help ease the implementation of this function. All a plug-in must do is put the macro;

 BZ_GET_PLUGIN_VERSION

somewhere in its sources, and then export the function. This will automatically return the API version of the current API you are using. See the sample plug-ins for examples. These will be the only 3 functions called by bzfs for non-event actions.

All entry point functions should be preceded with the BZF_PLUGIN_CALL macro. This macro will tell your compiler to export these functions so bzfs can call them after the plug-in is loaded.

==Types==

Due to how Microsoft Windows handles memory access between an application and dynamically loaded Libaries(DLLs), there are a few custom data types that are used in the API. These are used for common STL style containers, for strings and lists.

===bz_ApiString===
Any text passed back from the API or events will come in the form of a [[bz_ApiString]]. This is a class defined in the API that behaves much like a std::string. The 'c_str()' method can be used to get the text out as a normal 'const char*'. The class also supports many assignment functions for setting it's contents.

A plug-in should never need to make variables of its' own using the [[bz_ApiString]] type, but should use a standard stl std::string instead, [[bz_ApiString]] provides an appropriate assignment operator.

[[bz_ApiString]] also includes some utility functions such as replace all and tokenize that are commonly needed by plug-ins.

===bz_APILists===

A few API functions require lists of integers, strings, or floats. For these functions the plug-in will need to use one of the following list classes. These classes are similar to the std::vector in implementation. When a plug-in needs to allocate one of these lists, it must use the appropriate allocator function, so BZFS can make a new list for the plug-in to use. These will return a pointer to a new list for the plug-in to use. When the plug-in is finished with the list, it needs to tell BZFS to delete the list with a call to the appropriate delete function.
The lists types are;
  {| border="1" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0"
  !List
  !allocator function
  !delete function
  !contained type
  |-
  |[[bz_APIIntList]]
  |[[bz_newIntList]]
  |[[bz_deleteIntList]]
  |int
  |-
  |[[bz_APIFloatList]]
  |[[bz_newFloatList]]
  |[[bz_deleteFloatList]]
  |float
  |-
  |[[bz_APIStringList]]
  |[[bz_newStringList]]
  |[[bz_deleteStringList]]
  |[[bz_ApiString]]
 |}

===Enumerations===
A number of enumerations exist in the API and are used by a number of API functions and events.
  [[bz_eTeamType]]
  [[Event(API)|bz_eEventType]]
  [[bz_eShotType]]
  [[bz_eGameType]]
  [[bz_ePlayerStatus]]
  [[bz_eWorldObjectType]]
  [[bz_eAPIColType]]
  [[bz_ePlayerType]]
  [[bz_eRejectCodes]]
  [[bz_ePlayerDeathReason]]

==Events==
Plug-ins can register callbacks so they can be notified of various actions and state changes in the current BZFS game. These events tell a plug-in when important things happen, such as when a player has spawned, or is killed. These events are the primary form of communication from the BZFS server into the plug-in.

See the [[Event(API)|API events]] page for more detailed information on events.

==Functions==
The BZFS API provides a number of functions to plug-ins for use in querying the current game state. Functions are used both to get information about the game, and to trigger in game actions, such as activating a world weapon.

See the [[Functions(API)|API Functions]] page for more information on functions.

==See Also==

[[Event(API)|API Events]]

[[Functions(API)|API Functions]]

[[Plug-ins]]

[[BZFS]]

[[Category:Development]]
[[Category:Plug-Ins]]