ZILF is a set of tools for working with ZIL (the Zork Implementation Language [#zil]_), including a ZIL compiler, ZAP assembler, and ZIL libraries for writing text adventure games.
ZIL is a Lisp-like language, based on MDL [#mdl]_\ , originally developed by Infocom for their commercial interactive fiction.
The project includes several components:
* ZILF itself, a compiler that translates ZIL code to ZAP assembly code.
* ZAPF, an assembler that translates ZAP assembly code to binary Z-code files.
* A text adventure library for writing games in ZIL, including a parser and basic world model.
* Source code for ports of the classic game "Adventure" (Colossal Cave), the traditional sample game "Cloak of Darkness", and other examples.
* Hundreds of unit tests for the adventure library, compiler, and interpreter.
ZILF and ZAPF can be used from the command line, or from the |vscode-zil|_, which offers syntax highlighting, bracket matching, automated builds, and source-level debugging.
.. |vscode-zil| replace:: **Visual Studio Code extension**
.. [#zil] See Andrew Plotkin's "\ `What is ZIL anyway?`__\ " for an overview of the language and how it relates to MDL.
.. [#mdl] MDL, or Muddle, is documented in |MDLPL|_. The language implemented by ZILF also incorporates aspects of `Machine-Independent MDL <MIM_>`_\ .