Simple Code Modifier

[Grakl]

Howdy, I was recently debating my own contributions to the Civ 4 mod world when I finally came across an idea with an actual possibility of usefulness (my apologies if this idea has already been mentioned). As the name ambigiously implies this utility in theory would be a dialog that would allow modders to mix and match common code changes without actually having to know a lick of code themselves.

For instance a few simple code changes found here: Sample SDK Code (basic) could easily be represented as a check box on a dialog. If you want promotion pre-reqs to be AND instead of OR, you simply check the box. Then when you're finished with your selection, it would save the code changes to the correct SDK files (CvUnit.cpp for the pre-req example).

Some problems that would arise would be code changes that overlap, which could be taken care of by disabling any conflicting options. Also the modder would still need to be able to compile the SDK after using the utility. I would still need quite a bit of contributions for the actual code changes by veteran modders (with credit obviously).

My only worry is that the amount of modders that have the ambiton to DL and compile the SDK while not actually having the skills or ambition to code themselves would be so small that the effort would be a waste. Does this sound like a plausible utility or should I keep searching for something to contribute that is actually useful?

 

[Gerikes]

Howdy, I was recently debating my own contributions to the Civ 4 mod world when I finally came across an idea with an actual possibility of usefulness (my apologies if this idea has already been mentioned). As the name ambigiously implies this utility in theory would be a dialog that would allow modders to mix and match common code changes without actually having to know a lick of code themselves.

For instance a few simple code changes found here: Sample SDK Code (basic) could easily be represented as a check box on a dialog. If you want promotion pre-reqs to be AND instead of OR, you simply check the box. Then when you're finished with your selection, it would save the code changes to the correct SDK files (CvUnit.cpp for the pre-req example).

Some problems that would arise would be code changes that overlap, which could be taken care of by disabling any conflicting options. Also the modder would still need to be able to compile the SDK after using the utility. I would still need quite a bit of contributions for the actual code changes by veteran modders (with credit obviously).

My only worry is that the amount of modders that have the ambiton to DL and compile the SDK while not actually having the skills or ambition to code themselves would be so small that the effort would be a waste. Does this sound like a plausible utility or should I keep searching for something to contribute that is actually useful?

Well, the SDK Community Core Project is kind of like that, except the idea is to implement the changes, compile the code, and have ways to change how the SDK functionality works using in-game or in-xml flags. The in-code SDK is set with a series of implementations that involve putting new/modified functionality in if blocks that do the requested option only if desired. No need for the user to compile, and all the foibles from the overlapping in the source are handled by people who know what they're doing (hopefully ) so no need to check that.

Your idea sounds cool technically, but it would probably be more trouble than it's worth, especially for the end-user.

 

[Grakl]

Ahh yes, after skimming the SDK CCP discussion it seems quite a bit more comprehensive and user-friendly than my idea. Thanks for the pre-emptive time waste warning. The quest continues...

 

[Asjo]

If you really want to contribute with something important I suggest you find a way to 'stop technological advance' . . .