---
canonical: https://darkpawns.org/docs/project/architecture/
title: "Server architecture"
description: "Trace startup from the server entrypoint through world loading, persistence, sessions, network listeners, and the shared game engine."
type: explainer
audience: developers
verified: v0.1.8
---

Dark Pawns is a Go server that loads the original Diku-format world, exposes telnet and WebSocket sessions, and runs the game through a shared world and combat engine.

## Startup path

[`cmd/server/main.go`](https://github.com/zax0rz/darkpawns/blob/main/cmd/server/main.go) is the composition root. In broad order it:

1. Parses flags and deterministic clock/RNG settings.
2. Loads the world through `pkg/parser`.
3. Constructs `pkg/game.World`.
4. Opens the SQLite store (creating the file and schema on a first boot).
5. Creates the session manager (`pkg/session.Manager`) and wires its combat and scripting callbacks.
6. Registers HTTP, WebSocket, metrics, admin, and telnet surfaces.
7. Starts reset/tick workers and waits for shutdown.

## Core packages

| Package | Responsibility |
| --- | --- |
| `pkg/parser` | Reads rooms, mobs, objects, zones, and shops from the original files. |
| `pkg/game` | Runtime world state, players, mob/object instances, resets, movement, shops, and skills. |
| `pkg/session` | Login, character creation, connections, and command dispatch. |
| `pkg/combat` | Shared tick-based combat calculations and combatant interfaces. |
| `pkg/spells` | Spell metadata, saving throws, damage, affects, and spell execution. |
| `pkg/scripting` | Sandboxed Lua triggers using a serialized VM. |
| `pkg/db` | Player persistence in an embedded SQLite file. |
| `pkg/telnet` | Raw telnet listener translated into the shared session protocol. |

## Behavioral authority

The Go implementation isn't the authority for game behavior. The reachable C path in `src/` and the read-only oracle determine player-facing behavior. Architecture changes must preserve that boundary; see [Port Fidelity Workflow](/docs/project/port-fidelity/).