Manicpop at 23:16, 1 October 2026

2026-10-01T23:16:20Z

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'''WHO''' names two different commands in classic Galactic Empire and ge-next. They share a command word but not a purpose or output format.

== Syntax ==

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
WHO
</syntaxhighlight>

== Classic Galactic Empire ==

Classic <code>WHO</code> is a machine-readable identification command for external terminal programs. It does '''not''' show who is playing Galactic Empire or who is online on the BBS.

The command returns one comma-delimited line about the player issuing it:

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
ID:user-id,user-name,system-registration
</syntaxhighlight>

The fields are:

* <code>user-id</code>: the caller's BBS login ID;
* <code>user-name</code>: the name stored in the caller's BBS account; and
* <code>system-registration</code>: the registration number of the MajorBBS or Worldgroup installation.

For example, a registered MajorBBS 6.x build could return a line resembling:

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
ID:sysop,System Operator,12345678
</syntaxhighlight>

In a MajorBBS 5.x build, classic substitutes the literal text <code>NULL</code> for the system registration field, which does not exist:

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
ID:sysop,System Operator,NULL
</syntaxhighlight>

The classic installation manual places <code>WHO</code> under ''Special Terminal Program Commands''. It explains that terminal software could use the returned user and system identity to register itself to a particular user, host, or both. The command is not included in classic's normal in-game help index.

== ge-next ==

ge-next repurposed <code>WHO</code> as a player-presence command. It prints the user IDs of the people currently playing ge-next, separated by spaces on one line.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
ManicPop Mlacko Madam Airlock
</syntaxhighlight>

The list includes the player issuing the command. It excludes Cybertrons, droids, persistent user records belonging to people who are offline, and BBS users who are online but are not actively inside the game. It is not a roster and does not report scores, ships, locations, status, or account names.

The output is independent of scanners. Distance, cloak, nebulas, and jamming do not hide another active player from <code>WHO</code>.

ge-next added the current behavior in version 0.2, replacing the classic terminal-identification response. It also added <code>WHO</code> to normal in-game help.

=== ge-arena ===

In ge-arena, <code>WHO</code> lists everyone who has entered the arena system, not only users whose ships are currently fighting. This includes users in the lobby, players waiting to respawn, and observers. The command is available from the arena lobby as well as during a match.

Someone who remains at the ge-arena main menu has not yet entered the arena system and is not included.

== See also ==

* [[Roster command]]
* [[Data command]]
* [[Getting started]]

{{GE navigation}}
[[Category:Commands]]
[[Category:Terminal program interface]]

Who command - Revision history

Manicpop at 23:16, 1 October 2026