Created by virch researchers of the
Covenant
server at Black Point, the CDL scale was made for the analysis of
virtual
worlds, and the
virtual
entities
which inhabit them. The CDL scale holds that there are three layers of
existence in most virchs; the code, the shell and the sphere. Each
previous layer is postulated to be a prerequisite for any of the later
layers. Various other stats such as user-friendliness and complexity
derive partly from the amount of layers. The CDL scale is not the best
known or most widely used of the scales used to display layers, however
it is one of the most generic. One major limitation from a software
engineers point of view, is that it solely focuses on the software side
of the equation, completely ignoring any influence that hardware might
have.
1st layer;
the Code:
The
code itself, is the very basic of any computer software. Though the
code may react to input, and almost always produce output, it has no
interface with which virchers can interact. Any life that may exist in
1st layer systems, are almost exclusively limited to datacology
consisting of avatar-less alife.
2nd layer;
the Shell:
The shell is an interface with which a virtual may interact
directly with the code, inputing data and commands, as well as
retrieving data. The shell may have a simple (or even elaborate)
graphical or virtual interface, but it is purely a interface. Virchers
cannot live in the shell, but may contact it through interfaces in the
sphere. The 2nd sphere is dominantly lifeless, though some datacologies
in the 1st layer interact solely with 2nd layer code.
3rd layer,
the Sphere: The
sphere is the virtual, interactive, interface which virchers inhabit.
No system is truly a virch, unless it possesses all three layers. In
some virchs the 2nd layer may be
inaccessible to the residents, but many virchs allow access to the
shell through various means, while restricting the commands that most
virchers can put into the shell. The shell is the location of the prime
part of all life, especially sentient and sophont life. A small
proportion of virchs have highly abstract
datacologies
in the sphere, while many others have rich
virchologies
instead.
