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DF Modding / [WIP Project] Dwarf Fortress Mod Maker (alpha release 1)
« on: April 18, 2023, 03:45:33 pm »
Hello everyone, I'd like to show a little side project I'm working on that hopefully will help out to create mods for DF.
Background: I began playing DF in february, never heard of it before, since then I'm fully in, have made many fortresses so far. As someone more into the building aspect of the game, it triggers me really bad seing empty rooms, so I went on looking for mods to add more furniture, but there aren't many options out there, so I decided to make my own, it didn't take much time to realize that it's easier said than done. So I begun experimenting with raw files, making scripts and other stuff to figure what to put where..slowly I realized I was making a mod manager tool, and I've been working on it ever since.
Project
The prints below are actually a version 2 of the tool, version 1 was quite funcional, I was able to create this mod (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2948815651) using it, but I've scrapped the whole thing and started over as the older ui was very confusing.
Part 1 - The Raw File Viewer
When you start the app, it asks you to pick your DF folder, it then lists all mods (including vanilla files). It is also currently possible to create a barebones mod or delete the ones you've made. Only mods made with the tool can be deleted. It also allows you to update yor local mod files and to move your mod to upload it on steam.
For now, it's only possible to edit ModInfo data
Part 2 - The Token Library
This is where the fun starts. As I've said, my main objective is to easy things up, so instead of you havind to dig the wiki, I've build what I call the Token Library, basicaly, I dug the wiki myself and made a series os scripts that download the token tables from the wiki. As long as the Wiki urls remain, it will be possible to update your library without the need to update the tool. I'm sure there are a lot of stuff to improve, your feedback will be very usefull here.
Part 3 - The Occurrence Library
Unlike the Token Library, this one lists every token used on any mod (including vanilla) that you currently have installed, Search is still not working, but the data is being filled up.
Part 4 - What's Next
Currently I'm fixing bugs with the Libraries and preparing to start the tool to manage and edit raws, integrating it with the libraries to add stuff like cloning.
Project Source / Releases
First alpha release available, still very WIP, but it's possible to have an idea about the project. It requires java 11 or higher to run (get it here)
https://github.com/sundeth/dwarffortressmodmaker/releases
How to help me
While more people coding could help. The project would be quite richer if anyone could standarlize the Wiki Token pages, also, it would be nice to have a source for templates and the likes. Besides that, any feedback from people with experience making mods would help too.
FYI: english is not my main language, let me know if you find anything wrong.
Background: I began playing DF in february, never heard of it before, since then I'm fully in, have made many fortresses so far. As someone more into the building aspect of the game, it triggers me really bad seing empty rooms, so I went on looking for mods to add more furniture, but there aren't many options out there, so I decided to make my own, it didn't take much time to realize that it's easier said than done. So I begun experimenting with raw files, making scripts and other stuff to figure what to put where..slowly I realized I was making a mod manager tool, and I've been working on it ever since.
Project
The prints below are actually a version 2 of the tool, version 1 was quite funcional, I was able to create this mod (https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2948815651) using it, but I've scrapped the whole thing and started over as the older ui was very confusing.
Part 1 - The Raw File Viewer
When you start the app, it asks you to pick your DF folder, it then lists all mods (including vanilla files). It is also currently possible to create a barebones mod or delete the ones you've made. Only mods made with the tool can be deleted. It also allows you to update yor local mod files and to move your mod to upload it on steam.
For now, it's only possible to edit ModInfo data
Part 2 - The Token Library
This is where the fun starts. As I've said, my main objective is to easy things up, so instead of you havind to dig the wiki, I've build what I call the Token Library, basicaly, I dug the wiki myself and made a series os scripts that download the token tables from the wiki. As long as the Wiki urls remain, it will be possible to update your library without the need to update the tool. I'm sure there are a lot of stuff to improve, your feedback will be very usefull here.
Part 3 - The Occurrence Library
Unlike the Token Library, this one lists every token used on any mod (including vanilla) that you currently have installed, Search is still not working, but the data is being filled up.
Part 4 - What's Next
Currently I'm fixing bugs with the Libraries and preparing to start the tool to manage and edit raws, integrating it with the libraries to add stuff like cloning.
Project Source / Releases
First alpha release available, still very WIP, but it's possible to have an idea about the project. It requires java 11 or higher to run (get it here)
https://github.com/sundeth/dwarffortressmodmaker/releases
How to help me
While more people coding could help. The project would be quite richer if anyone could standarlize the Wiki Token pages, also, it would be nice to have a source for templates and the likes. Besides that, any feedback from people with experience making mods would help too.
FYI: english is not my main language, let me know if you find anything wrong.