How to Write an Eggdrop Module¶

Note: This is for a simple module of 1 source file.

Create a src/mod/MODULE.mod directory in your Eggdrop directory (where MODULE is the module name) and cd to it.

Copy the file ‘Makefile’ from src/mod/woobie.mod and replace all occurrences of ‘woobie’ with your module name. This should ensure that your module gets compiled.

Next, you want to create a file called MODULE.c (MODULE is the module name again).
You MUST include the following in your source code:
#define MODULE_NAME "module-name"
This should be defined to the same name you will be using when you load your module.
#define MAKING_MODULENAME
MODULENAME is the name of your module (MODULE_NAME), but in all caps.
#include "../module.h"
This provides access to Eggdrop’s global function table. Examine src/mod/module.h closely to find a list of functions available.
#include any other standard c header files you might need.
Note that stdio.h, string.h, stdlib.h, and sys/types.h are already included.
Function *global;
This variable provides access to all the Eggdrop functions; without it, you can’t call any Eggdrop functions (the module won’t even load).

Module requirements¶

In most modules, all functions/variables (except global and MODULE_start) should be static. This will drastically reduce the size of modules on decent systems.

Throughout this step, MODULE refers to the module name. Note that “MODULE_NAME” should literally be “MODULE_NAME”.

MODULE_start¶

char *MODULE_start(Function *func_table)

This function is called when the module is first loaded. There are several things that need to be done in this function

global = func_table;

This allows you to make calls to the global function table.

module_register(MODULE_NAME, MODULE_table, MAJOR, MINOR);

This records details about the module for other modules and Eggdrop itself to access. MAJOR and MINOR are ints, where MAJOR is the module’s major version number and MINOR is a minor version number. MODULE_table is a function table (see below).

module_depend(MODULE_NAME, "another-module", MAJOR, MINOR);

This lets Eggdrop know that your module NEEDS “another-module” of major version ‘MAJOR’ and at least minor version ‘MINOR’ to run, and hence should try to load it if it’s not already loaded. This will return 1 on success, or 0 if it can’t be done (at which stage you should return an error).

Any other initialization stuff you desire should also be included in this function. See below for various things you can do.

You also will need to return a value. Returning NULL implies the module loaded successfully. Returning a non-NULL STRING is an error message. The module (and any other dependent modules) will stop loading and an error will be returned.

MODULE_table¶

static Function *MODULE_table = {
       MODULE_start,
       MODULE_close,
       MODULE_expmem,
       MODULE_report,
       any_other_functions,
       you_want_to_export
};

This is a table of functions which any other module can access. The first 4 functions are FIXED. You MUST have them; they provide important module information.

MODULE_close ()¶

static char *MODULE_close ()

This is called when the module is unloaded. Apart from tidying any relevant data (I suggest you be thorough, we don’t want any trailing garbage from modules), you MUST do the following:

module_undepend(MODULE_NAME);

This lets Eggdrop know your module no longer depends on any other modules.

Return a value. NULL implies success; any non-NULL STRING implies that the module cannot be unloaded for some reason, and hence the bot should not unload it (see the blowfish module for an example).

MODULE_expmem¶

static int MODULE_expmem ()

This should tally all memory you allocate/deallocate within the module
(using nmalloc, nfree, etc) in bytes. It's used by memory debugging to
track memory faults, and it is used by .status to total up memory usage.

MODULE_report¶

static void MODULE_report (int idx)

This should provide a relatively short report of the module’s status (for the module and status commands).

These functions are available to modules. MANY more available functions can be found in src/mod/module.h.

Additional functions¶

nmalloc¶

void *nmalloc(int j);

This allocates j bytes of memory.

nfree¶

void nfree(void *a);

This frees an nmalloc’d block of memory.

Context¶

Context;

Actually a macro – records the current position in execution (for debugging). Using Context is no longer recommended, because it uses too many resources and a core file provides much more information.

dprintf¶

void dprintf(int idx, char *format, ...)

This acts like a normal printf() function, but it outputs to log/socket/idx. idx is a normal dcc idx, or if < 0 is a sock number.

Other destinations:

DP_LOG    - send to log file
DP_STDOUT - send to stdout
DP_MODE   - send via mode queue to the server
DP_SERVER - send via normal queue to the server
DP_HELP   - send via help queue to server

module_entry¶

const module_entry *module_find(char *module_name, int major, int minor);

Searches for a loaded module (matching major, >= minor), and returns info about it.

Members of module_entry:

char *name;      - module name
int major;       - real major version
int minor;       - real minor version
Function *funcs; - function table (see above)

module_rename¶

void module_rename(char *old_module_name, char *new_module_name)

This renames a module from old_module_name to new_module_name.

add_hook/del_hook¶

void add_hook(int hook_num, Function *funcs)
void del_hook(int hook_num, Function *funcs)

These are used for adding or removing hooks to/from Eggdrop code that are triggered on various events. Valid hooks are:

HOOK_SECONDLY   - called every second
HOOK_MINUTELY   - called every minute
HOOK_5MINUTELY  - called every 5 minutes
HOOK_HOURLY     - called every hour (hourly-updates minutes past)
HOOK_DAILY      - called when the logfiles are switched

HOOK_READ_USERFILE - called when the userfile is read
HOOK_USERFILE      - called when the userfile is written
HOOK_PRE_REHASH    - called just before a rehash
HOOK_REHASH        - called just after a rehash
HOOK_IDLE          - called whenever the dcc connections have been
                     idle for a whole second
HOOK_BACKUP        - called when a user/channel file backup is done
HOOK_LOADED        - called when Eggdrop is first loaded
HOOK_DIE           - called when Eggdrop is about to die

module_load/unload¶

char *module_unload (char *module_name);
char *module_load (char *module_name);

Tries to load or unload the specified module; returns 0 on success, or an error message.

add/rem_tcl_commands¶

void add_tcl_commands(tcl_cmds *tab);
void rem_tcl_commands(tcl_cmds *tab);

Provides a quick way to create and remove a table of Tcl commands. The table is in the form of:

{char *func_name, Function *function_to_call}

Use { NULL, NULL } to indicate the end of the list.

add/rem_tcl_ints¶

void add_tcl_ints(tcl_ints *);
void rem_tcl_ints(tcl_ints *);

Provides a quick way to create and remove a table of links from C int variables to Tcl variables (add_tcl_ints checks to see if the Tcl variable exists and copies it over the C one). The format of table is:

{char *variable_name, int *variable, int readonly}

Use {NULL, NULL, 0} to indicate the end of the list.

add/rem_tcl_strings¶

void add_tcl_strings(tcl_strings *);
void rem_tcl_strings(tcl_strings *);

Provides a quick way to create and remove a table of links from C string variables to Tcl variables (add_tcl_ints checks to see if the Tcl variable exists and copies it over the C one). The format of table is:

{char *variable_name, char *string, int length, int flags}

Use {NULL, NULL, 0, 0} to indicate the end of the list. Use 0 for length if you want a const string. Use STR_DIR for flags if you want a ‘/’ constantly appended; use STR_PROTECT if you want the variable set in the config file, but not during normal usage.

add/rem_builtins¶

void add_builtins(p_tcl_hash_list table, cmd_t *cc);
void rem_builtins(p_tcl_hash_list table, cmd_t *cc);

This adds binds to one of Eggdrop’s bind tables. The format of the table is:

{char *command, char *flags, Function *function, char *displayname}

Use {NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL} to indicate the end of the list.

This works EXACTLY like the Tcl ‘bind’ command. displayname is what Tcl sees this function’s proc name as (in .binds all).

function is called with exactly the same args as a Tcl binding is with type conversion taken into account (e.g. idx’s are ints). Return values are much the same as Tcl bindings. Use int 0/1 for those which require 0/1, or char * for those which require a string (auch as filt). Return nothing if no return value is required.

putlog¶

void putlog (int logmode, char *channel, char *format, ...)

Adds text to a logfile (determined by logmode and channel). This text will also output to any users’ consoles if they have the specified console mode enabled.

What to do with a module?¶

If you have written a module and feel that you wish to share it with the rest of the Eggdrop community, find us in #eggdrop on Libera. Make sure you have a nice descriptive text (modulename.desc) to describe it, and make sure to mention in your text file which version Eggdrop the module is written for.

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