Do I need a compiler in order to run a MUD?

Do I need a compiler in order to run a MUD? I have heard that you need to use C to compile the MUD source.

A. Compilers are programs that convert C source code into machine code (they are also available for other languages, but in general MUDs are written in C). If you are using Unix, you will need a compiler because most Unix MUD servers are distributed as source code. However, most Unix systems automatically come with a C compiler.

If you are using Windows you will not have a C compiler provided as standard, however most Windows clients and servers are distributed as executable files, so you will not need a compiler anyway. If you want to change the server behaviour then you will need a compiler. Compilers can be purchased from manufacturers such as Borland and Microsoft, and you can obtain low-cost compilers and other utilities from the Free Software Foundation, at their web page: http://www.fsf.org/.