proposal for minecraft server mod: bitcarts

bitcarts.txt

New means for long-distance data transfer inside minecraft: Bitcarts.

A bitcart would share a similar model to normal minecarts.  Except, in addition to taking cargo, they store 256 bits of data in a stack.

You manipulate a bitcart with sensors / heads, that input / output redstone signals.

INPUT:
- push: Pushes a bit onto the bitcart stack (0 / 1)
- empty: Empties all bits from the bitcart stack if 1.  This could be achieved with repeated pop calls... but this is simpler.
- queue_switch: If 1, then it will transform the bitcart from a stack into a queue.   If 0, then it will transform a queue into a stack.  This won't effect the data stored inside, but it will effect pop/peek.

OUTPUT:
- pop: Pops a bit from the bitcart stack (0 / 1)
- peek: Peeks for the next bit on the bitcart stack, without removing it from the stack.  Returns 0 if there are no items on the bitcart's stack.
- has_items: If there are more items on the bitcart stack, this returns 1.
- has_cargo: If the bitcart is carrying something, this returns 1.
- is_queue: If the bitcart has a queue rather than a stack, this returns 1.

If you push another bit onto the stack, 

This could be used for a number of things:
- Data storage becomes much more efficient.
- Precalculate routing of carts over long distances -- select a destination and the route is stored in your cart, then fired out into the network automatically.
- Data transfer over long distances.  Bitcarts become packets.


--micolous