Inform: A Landmark in Interactive Fiction Programming
The world of interactive fiction (IF) has evolved significantly over the years, with various tools and languages developed to allow creators to design immersive narrative experiences. One of the most influential and enduring tools in this realm is Inform, a programming language and design system for crafting interactive fiction. Originally created by Graham Nelson in 1993, Inform has undergone several iterations, each one introducing significant improvements that have shaped the landscape of interactive storytelling in the digital age. From its early days as a system focused on the Z-machine to the later innovations of Inform 7, the language continues to be a powerful tool for authors and game developers interested in creating text-based adventures.
Origins and Early Development of Inform
Inform was conceived in 1993 by Graham Nelson, a British mathematician, and computer programmer, who sought to build a user-friendly and efficient tool for writing interactive fiction. The language’s design was initially inspired by the limitations and capabilities of the Z-machine, a virtual machine developed by Infocom for their popular interactive fiction games in the 1980s. At the time, Infocom’s Zork and other games had achieved widespread popularity, but the tools available for creating similar works were either difficult to use or too proprietary.
Nelson’s vision for Inform was clear: to create a language that could allow authors to write interactive fiction without requiring deep knowledge of low-level programming languages. Inform’s early versions, from 1.0 to 5.0, were released between 1993 and 1996, and they focused on making the creation of IF games accessible while retaining the technical power required to build complex narratives.
Each release in the early years of Inform focused on refining the system’s capabilities and expanding the user base. Despite its relatively niche appeal, Inform quickly gained traction in the interactive fiction community, thanks to its flexible structure and the growing community of hobbyists and authors who used it to publish their games.
Inform 6: A Major Redesign
By the mid-1990s, Inform had matured, and version 6 was introduced. The release of Inform 6 marked a critical turning point in the language’s history. Nelson rewrote the language from the ground up, and this version focused on improving the system’s stability, expanding its functionality, and offering better support for the Z-machine.
Inform 6 remained a staple of interactive fiction development for many years, and its compatibility with the Z-machine allowed creators to publish their works on multiple platforms. In the years that followed, Inform 6 became one of the most widely used tools for writing interactive fiction, and many prominent works of the genre were created with it.
However, despite Inform 6’s success, Nelson envisioned a new, radically different approach to writing interactive fiction, one that would be easier for newcomers to understand while still retaining the power and flexibility needed by advanced authors. The result was Inform 7.
Inform 7: A Revolutionary Approach to Writing Interactive Fiction
In 2006, after a decade of refining Inform 6, Graham Nelson introduced Inform 7 (briefly known as Natural Inform), a completely new language and design system. This new version of Inform marked a dramatic departure from its predecessors by embracing the principles of natural language. Nelson’s aim was to create a system that would allow writers to focus more on the narrative aspects of their works rather than the technicalities of programming.
At the heart of Inform 7 was a new approach to coding, one based around natural language syntax. Unlike traditional programming languages, which require specific syntax and conventions to execute commands, Inform 7 allowed authors to write in a more intuitive way—using sentences that resembled natural English prose. For example, instead of writing a complicated code to define a new object or action, a writer could simply type something like “The kitchen is a room.” This radically simplified the process of creating complex stories and interactive experiences.
Key Features of Inform 7
Inform 7’s embrace of natural language was not just a gimmick; it fundamentally changed the way interactive fiction was written. Some of the most important features of Inform 7 include:
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Natural Language Syntax: The most striking feature of Inform 7 is its use of natural language. Authors can write code that reads like prose, which makes the process of writing interactive fiction more accessible to those with no formal programming background. Commands in Inform 7 can be written in the form of simple English sentences, such as “The kitchen contains a table,” which is both a line of code and a piece of narrative description.
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Semantic Indentation: Inform 7 uses semantic indentation to structure code. This means that the indentation of a line of code is used to convey its meaning within the larger structure of the program. This feature makes the code more readable and helps authors maintain logical flow as they build complex narratives.
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Rich Library of Objects: Inform 7 is equipped with a comprehensive library of built-in objects that can be manipulated and customized within the game world. These objects, such as rooms, items, characters, and more, are central to interactive fiction and are easily defined through the language’s natural syntax.
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Storytelling Metaphor: Inform 7 incorporates a “book-publishing” metaphor, with the entire design system structured like a book. This metaphor appeals to authors who are more accustomed to writing stories in a linear, narrative fashion rather than thinking in terms of programming.
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Cross-Platform Compatibility: While Inform 7 is primarily designed for the Z-code and Glulx virtual machines, it remains compatible with a wide range of platforms, allowing creators to publish their interactive fiction to different devices and systems without major technical hurdles.
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Community and Documentation: Since its release, Inform 7 has been supported by a large and active community. The Inform Fiction website (inform-fiction.org) provides a wealth of resources, including tutorials, documentation, and forums where authors can discuss their work and share tips.
The Evolution and Impact of Inform
Inform 7’s release was a turning point for both the Inform language and the interactive fiction community. It revitalized interest in text-based games and provided a platform that democratized the creation of interactive stories. The accessibility of Inform 7 helped attract a new generation of writers, including many without formal programming experience, who were now able to craft rich, complex narratives with relative ease.
Moreover, Inform 7’s natural language approach and its user-friendly interface influenced other game development tools and languages, encouraging a broader trend in interactive fiction design toward more accessible and narrative-driven programming environments. By emphasizing creativity and storytelling over technical complexity, Inform 7 has played a key role in reviving and preserving the interactive fiction genre.
Inform and the Future of Interactive Fiction
As of today, Inform remains one of the most popular and widely used tools for writing interactive fiction. While other programming languages and systems for IF have emerged in recent years, Inform’s accessibility and powerful features continue to make it a top choice for both seasoned authors and newcomers alike.
The future of Inform, particularly Inform 7, lies in its ability to adapt to new technologies while retaining its core strengths. As interactive fiction becomes increasingly integrated with new media forms—such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and multimedia storytelling—there is potential for Inform to evolve further. However, its commitment to narrative-driven, text-based experiences ensures that it will remain relevant in the landscape of interactive fiction for many years to come.
In conclusion, Inform’s long history, from its inception in 1993 to the groundbreaking release of Inform 7 in 2006, reflects the ongoing importance of accessible, creative tools for writing interactive fiction. Through its natural language syntax, powerful libraries, and vibrant community, Inform has empowered countless writers to craft compelling interactive stories, and it will continue to shape the future of narrative-driven game design for the foreseeable future.
For more information, you can explore the official website for Inform here and the related Wikipedia entry here.