+ <item>
+ <title>Learn to program with Minetest on Debian</title>
+ <link>http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Learn_to_program_with_Minetest_on_Debian.html</link>
+ <guid isPermaLink="true">http://people.skolelinux.org/pere/blog/Learn_to_program_with_Minetest_on_Debian.html</guid>
+ <pubDate>Sat, 15 Dec 2018 15:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
+ <description><p>A fun way to learn how to program
+<a href="https://www.python.org/">Python</a> is to follow the
+instructions in the book
+"<a href="https://nostarch.com/programwithminecraft">Learn to program
+with Minecraft</a>", which introduces programming in Python to people
+who like to play with Minecraft. The book uses a Python library to
+talk to a TCP/IP socket with an API accepting build instructions and
+providing information about the current players in a Minecraft world.
+The TCP/IP API was first created for the Minecraft implementation for
+Raspberry Pi, and has since been ported to some server versions of
+Minecraft. The book contain recipes for those using Windows, MacOSX
+and Raspian. But a little known fact is that you can follow the same
+recipes using the free software construction game
+<a href="https://minetest.org/">Minetest</a>.</p>
+
+<p>There is <a href="https://github.com/sprintingkiwi/pycraft_mod">a
+Minetest module implementing the same API</a>, making it possible to
+use the Python programs coded to talk to Minecraft with Minetest too.
+I
+<a href="https://ftp-master.debian.org/new/minetest-mod-pycraft_0.20%2Bgit20180331.0376a0a%2Bdfsg-1.html">uploaded
+this module</a> to Debian two weeks ago, and as soon as it clears the
+FTP masters NEW queue, learning to program Python with Minetest on
+Debian will be a simple 'apt install' away. The Debian package is
+maintained as part of the Debian Games team, and
+<a href="https://salsa.debian.org/games-team/unfinished/minetest-mod-pycraft">the
+packaging rules</a> are currently located under 'unfinished' on
+Salsa.</p>
+
+<p>You will most likely need to install several of the Minetest
+modules in Debian for the examples included with the library to work
+well, as there are several blocks used by the example scripts that are
+provided via modules in Minetest. Without the required blocks, a
+simple stone block is used instead. My initial testing with a analog
+clock did not get gold arms as instructed in the python library, but
+instead used stone arms.</p>
+
+<p>I tried to find a way to add the API to the desktop version of
+Minecraft, but were unable to find any working recipes. The
+<a href="https://www.epiphanydigest.com/tag/minecraft-python-api/">recipes</a>
+I <a href="https://github.com/kbsriram/mcpiapi">found</a> are only
+working with a standalone Minecraft server setup. Are there any
+options to use with the normal desktop version?</p>
+
+<p>As usual, if you use Bitcoin and want to show your support of my
+activities, please send Bitcoin donations to my address
+<b><a href="bitcoin:15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b">15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b</a></b>.</p>
+</description>
+ </item>
+