Des-file format - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: underscore

2026-06-21T04:40:31Z

underscore

Umbire the Phantom: lede, history

2026-06-21T04:39:53Z

lede, history

Ray Chason: Need a line break

2026-06-19T22:51:55Z

Need a line break

Ray Chason: This page is historic, as NetHack no longer uses .des files

2026-06-19T22:51:39Z

This page is historic, as NetHack no longer uses .des files

Phol ende wodan: Update upcoming note, which was a bit terse, and expand on potential plans for after 3.7 is released

2024-11-07T22:10:28Z

Update upcoming note, which was a bit terse, and expand on potential plans for after 3.7 is released

Furey: Add history (first appeared in NetHack 3.0.0) and {{upcoming}} (replaced by Lua files in NetHack 3.7.0).

2024-06-05T16:27:29Z

Add history (first appeared in NetHack 3.0.0) and {{upcoming}} (replaced by Lua files in NetHack 3.7.0).

Furey: Add refsrc's. Rewrite lede.

2024-06-05T15:31:33Z

Add refsrc's. Rewrite lede.

Furey: /* FLAGS */ fix a redlink: closets -> closets

2024-06-05T07:26:16Z

‎FLAGS: fix a redlink: closets -> closets

Furey: oops

2024-06-05T07:22:53Z

oops

Furey: touch up some references.

2024-06-05T07:16:28Z

touch up some references.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 The '''des-file format''' is the language used to describe the [[special level]]s of ''[[NetHack]]'' from [[NetHack 3.6.0]] to [[NetHack 3.6.7]]. The [[lev_comp]] utility compiles <tt>.des</tt> files into <tt>.lev</tt> files, and then the NetHack executable loads <tt>.lev</tt> files to run the game.{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.6|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.txt|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.l|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.y|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_main.c|1|nethack=3.6.7}} The [[Dungeon.def format|dungeon.def]] file ties together all the <tt>.des</tt> files to describe the entire dungeon. Note that des-file format is not a ''real'' programming language: there is no flow control, and the order in which different ''NetHack'' features are created is fixed.
-[[NetHack 5.0.0]] discontinues usage of .des files and <tt>lev comp</tt> in favor of using [http://www.lua.org/ Lua] to describe the special levels. As such, this article covers its historic usage in the versions preceding it&mdash;[[NetHack 3.4.3]] uses signficantly different syntax for the des-file format to the extent of requiring [[Des-file format (NetHack 3.4.3)|a separate article]] (also linked at the top of this page) in order to document it.
+[[NetHack 5.0.0]] discontinues usage of .des files and <tt>lev_comp</tt> in favor of using [http://www.lua.org/ Lua] to describe the special levels. As such, this article covers its historic usage in the versions preceding it&mdash;[[NetHack 3.4.3]] uses signficantly different syntax for the des-file format to the extent of requiring [[Des-file format (NetHack 3.4.3)|a separate article]] (also linked at the top of this page) in order to document it.
 ==Language syntax==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{DISPLAYTITLE:des-file format}}
-{{for|the corresponding feature in [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and variants based on it|Des-file format (NetHack 3.4.3)}}
+{{tocright}}
 {{for|the corresponding feature in [[UnNetHack]]|Des-file format (UnNetHack)}}
-''This page is historic. Since version 5.0.0, NetHack now uses [http://www.lua.org/ Lua] to describe the special levels.''
+The '''des-file format''' is the language used to describe the [[special level]]s of ''[[NetHack]]'' from [[NetHack 3.6.0]] to [[NetHack 3.6.7]]. The [[lev_comp]] utility compiles <tt>.des</tt> files into <tt>.lev</tt> files, and then the NetHack executable loads <tt>.lev</tt> files to run the game.{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.6|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.txt|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.l|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.y|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_main.c|1|nethack=3.6.7}} The [[Dungeon.def format|dungeon.def]] file ties together all the <tt>.des</tt> files to describe the entire dungeon. Note that des-file format is not a ''real'' programming language: there is no flow control, and the order in which different ''NetHack'' features are created is fixed.
-The '''des-file format''' is the language used to describe the [[special level]]s for NetHack. The [[lev_comp]] utility compiles <tt>.des</tt> files into <tt>.lev</tt> files, and then the NetHack executable loads <tt>.lev</tt> files to run the game.{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.6|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.txt|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.l|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.y|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_main.c|1|nethack=3.6.7}}
+[[NetHack 5.0.0]] discontinues usage of .des files and <tt>lev comp</tt> in favor of using [http://www.lua.org/ Lua] to describe the special levels. As such, this article covers its historic usage in the versions preceding it&mdash;[[NetHack 3.4.3]] uses signficantly different syntax for the des-file format to the extent of requiring [[Des-file format (NetHack 3.4.3)|a separate article]] (also linked at the top of this page) in order to document it.
 ==Language syntax==
 There are two types of levels you can create: mazes and rooms. For {{sa|MAZE-type levels}} you "draw" one or more maps with ASCII characters and then describe the monsters, objects and so on that are in the map (example: dat/bigroom.des).{{refsrc|dat/bigroom.des|1|nethack=3.6.7}}. For {{sa|ROOM-type levels}}, you describe rooms and their contents (example: dat/oracle.des).{{refsrc|dat/oracle.des|1|nethack=3.6.7}}. The maze-levels are easier to make and understand, and room-type levels do not offer as much control over the level.
@@ Line 831: / Line 821: @@
 ==History==
-.des files and lev_comp first appeared in [[NetHack 3.0.0]].
+{{main|Des-file format (NetHack 3.4.3)}}
 ==References==
 <references/>
+{{noversion}}
 [[Category:Annotations]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 {{for|the corresponding feature in [[UnNetHack]]|Des-file format (UnNetHack)}}
 ''This page is historic. Since version 5.0.0, NetHack now uses [http://www.lua.org/ Lua] to describe the special levels.''
 The '''des-file format''' is the language used to describe the [[special level]]s for NetHack. The [[lev_comp]] utility compiles <tt>.des</tt> files into <tt>.lev</tt> files, and then the NetHack executable loads <tt>.lev</tt> files to run the game.{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.6|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.txt|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.l|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.y|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_main.c|1|nethack=3.6.7}}

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{for|the corresponding feature in [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and variants based on it|Des-file format (NetHack 3.4.3)}}
 {{for|the corresponding feature in [[UnNetHack]]|Des-file format (UnNetHack)}}
 The '''des-file format''' is the language used to describe the [[special level]]s for NetHack. The [[lev_comp]] utility compiles <tt>.des</tt> files into <tt>.lev</tt> files, and then the NetHack executable loads <tt>.lev</tt> files to run the game.{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.6|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|doc/lev_comp.txt|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.l|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_comp.y|1|nethack=3.6.7}}{{refsrc|util/lev_main.c|1|nethack=3.6.7}}
@@ Line 835: / Line 836: @@
 [[Category:Annotations]]
-{{nethack-360}}
+{{noversion}}

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 des-file format is not a ''real'' programming language: there is no flow control, and the order in which different NetHack features are created is fixed.
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|lev_comp and .des files are gone, replaced by Lua files to define special levels.}}
+{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|lev_comp and .des files are gone, replaced by Lua files to define special levels, so the game no longer uses des-file format.
 {{Float right|__TOC__}}

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 des-file format is not a ''real'' programming language: there is no flow control, and the order in which different NetHack features are created is fixed.
 {{Float right|__TOC__}}
@@ Line 823: / Line 825: @@
 ===Room types===
 "ordinary", "throne", "swamp", "vault", "beehive", "morgue", "barracks", "zoo", "delphi", "temple", "anthole", "cocknest", "leprehall", "shop", "armor shop", "scroll shop", "potion shop", "weapon shop", "food shop", "ring shop", "wand shop", "tool shop", "book shop", "candle shop"
 ==References==

@@ Line 237: / Line 237: @@
 *<tt>solidify</tt>: Areas outside the specified level map are made undiggable and unphaseable. (Examples: Vlad's Tower, Sokoban, the Astral Plane)
 *<tt>corrmaze</tt>: If the level is a maze (not a maze-type level, an actual maze), the maze uses corridor tiles instead of floor tiles and solid rock instead of walls. Randomly generated mazes have a 1/3 chance of having corrmaze set.
-*<tt>inaccessibles</tt>: If inaccessible areas are generated, generate ways for them to connect to the "accessible" area. This tries first to create a secret door connecting it to the accessible area; if that fails it tries to create a hole or trapdoor; if that fails it tries to create an escape item (teleport items or digging tools). This code is not used for inaccessible [[closets]], which always get a scroll of teleportation.
+*<tt>inaccessibles</tt>: If inaccessible areas are generated, generate ways for them to connect to the "accessible" area. This tries first to create a secret door connecting it to the accessible area; if that fails it tries to create a hole or trapdoor; if that fails it tries to create an escape item (teleport items or digging tools). This code is not used for inaccessible [[closet]]s, which always get a scroll of teleportation.
 Example:

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 It is not a ''real'' programming language: there is no flow control, and the order in which different NetHack features are created is fixed.
-There are two types of levels you can create: mazes and rooms. For {{sa|MAZE-type levels}} you "draw" one or more maps with ASCII characters and then describe the monsters, objects and so on that are in the map (example: dat/bigroom.des).{{refsrc|dat/bigroom.des|1|nethack-3.6.7}}. For {{sa|ROOM-type levels}}, you describe rooms and their contents (example: dat/oracle.des).{{refsrc|dat/oracle.des|1|nethack-3.6.7}}. The maze-levels are easier to make and understand, and room-type levels do not offer as much control over the level.
+There are two types of levels you can create: mazes and rooms. For {{sa|MAZE-type levels}} you "draw" one or more maps with ASCII characters and then describe the monsters, objects and so on that are in the map (example: dat/bigroom.des).{{refsrc|dat/bigroom.des|1|nethack=3.6.7}}. For {{sa|ROOM-type levels}}, you describe rooms and their contents (example: dat/oracle.des).{{refsrc|dat/oracle.des|1|nethack=3.6.7}}. The maze-levels are easier to make and understand, and room-type levels do not offer as much control over the level.
 [[lev_comp]] will create a .lev-file for each MAZE and LEVEL definition in the file. These .lev-files will be loaded into NetHack to make the special levels. The .lev-files NetHack loads are actually defined in [[Dungeon.def format|dungeon.def]].
@@ Line 688: / Line 688: @@
 Where
 *<tt>cursestate</tt> is one of <tt>blessed</tt>, <tt>uncursed</tt>, <tt>cursed</tt> or <tt>random</tt>.
-*<tt>"monster_id"</tt> is a monster type, as defined in {{refsrc|src/monst.c|1|nethack-3.6.7}}
+*<tt>"monster_id"</tt> is a monster type, as defined in {{refsrc|src/monst.c|1|nethack=3.6.7}}
 *<tt>spe</tt> is an integer, and defines different things depending on what kind of object is generated:
 **enchantment for [[armor]] and [[weapon]]s