protoHack

protoHack is a project dedicated to restoring Jay Fenlason's original 1981–1982 Hack to run seamlessly on modern Linux systems. Following a preservation-first philosophy akin to restoHack, protoHack delves into an earlier, pre-distribution codebase that predates any known distributed Hack variants. This initiative aims to provide an authentic experience of the original Hack before it was rewritten and expanded by later developers, offering a glimpse into its foundational design and gameplay.

Overview

This repository contains the original source code considered lost for over 40 years, which was initially distributed on the USENIX 82-1 tape. The project embodies a significant piece of gaming history, encompassing unique elements that set it apart from later iterations:

• Amulet of Frobozz as its original name (renamed later to "Amulet of Yendor")
• Absence of shops and pets, introducing a more challenging gameplay setting
• Unique creatures that are exclusive to this variant, such as "ugod", "xerp", and "zelomp"
• Preserved misspellings like "homonculous" and "gelatenous cube"
• A concise codebase consisting of only 8 source files, suitable for further exploration and study

Historical Significance

Jay Fenlason's original version of Hack suffered from obscurity until its rediscovery in 2025, when Brian Harvey provided a preserved copy of the PDP-11 backups to Dan Stormont for the educational Snap!Hack project. The original working tree is now fully playable and showcases a gameplay experience that predates the more recognized versions of Hack:

1. Jay Fenlason — original author during 1981-82
2. Brian Harvey — preserved source from the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School backups
3. Dan Stormont — contributing to the Snap!Hack project

Project Goals

• Maintain the original behavior and structure of Hack while ensuring compatibility with modern systems
• Limit modifications strictly necessary for portability, preserving the integrity of the original gameplay
• Document the historical context and provenance of the software for future reference

How it Works

protoHack comprises two binaries operating under historical constraints of the PDP-11 architecture. The game "hack" calls another binary, "mklev", to generate new dungeon levels dynamically, preserving its original architecture for authenticity.

For those keen on delving deeper into Hack’s origins and its journey to modern platforms, the available resources and documentation facilitate a comprehensive understanding of its evolution:

• Related projects and extensive research documents are available in the repository.

As an invitation to experience gaming history, protoHack stands as a tribute to early computer gaming development, preserving a seminal work that has influenced many successors.