Alias Bitburner

Caroline Mae

2 min read

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05-01-2025

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Bitburner, the popular browser-based game, offers a powerful scripting environment that allows players to automate tasks and manipulate the game world. A key element of effective scripting in Bitburner is understanding and utilizing aliases. This post will delve into what aliases are, how to create and use them, and why they are a crucial part of efficient Bitburner gameplay.

What are Aliases?

In the context of Bitburner, an alias is essentially a shortcut. It allows you to assign a shorter, more memorable name to a longer, more complex command or function. This significantly improves code readability and reduces typing, saving valuable time and effort, especially as your scripts grow in complexity. Think of them as nicknames for your frequently used commands.

Creating and Using Aliases

Aliases are created using the alias command within your Bitburner scripts. The basic syntax is straightforward:

alias new_name "original_command"

For example, to create an alias named nf for the often-used ns.getServerMoneyAvailable function, you would use:

alias nf ns.getServerMoneyAvailable("home")

This creates an alias nf that, when called, executes ns.getServerMoneyAvailable("home"). The quoted string after the alias name is the command or function being aliased. You can replace "home" with any server name you prefer.

This allows you to simply write nf instead of the entire function call, significantly cleaning up your code. Multiple aliases can be defined within the same script.

Why use Aliases?

The benefits of using aliases in Bitburner are multifaceted:

• Improved Readability: Shorter alias names make your code easier to read and understand, especially for long or complex commands.
• Reduced Typing: This significantly speeds up scripting and reduces the potential for errors.
• Enhanced Maintainability: If you need to change a frequently used command, you only need to modify it in one place – the alias definition – rather than hunting for each instance in your code.
• Organization: Aliases can help organize your code into logical groupings, improving overall structure.

Advanced Alias Usage

While simple aliases are beneficial, Bitburner's scripting capabilities allow for more complex alias creations. You can include parameters within your alias definitions, effectively creating custom functions with shorthand names. This requires a deeper understanding of JavaScript functions and string manipulation within the alias definition. For instance:

alias growServer "ns.grow(ns.args[0])"

This alias, growServer, takes one argument (the server name) and applies the ns.grow() function to it.

Conclusion

Mastering aliases is an important step in becoming a proficient Bitburner player. By understanding how to effectively create and utilize aliases, you can dramatically improve the efficiency, readability, and maintainability of your scripts, ultimately leading to a more successful and enjoyable gaming experience. Experiment with aliases and find the shortcuts that best suit your scripting style and needs. They're a powerful tool that shouldn’t be overlooked.