|
| 1 | +# Mocha Game Engine Development Instructions |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +**CRITICAL: Always follow these instructions first and fallback to additional search and context gathering only when the information here is incomplete or found to be in error.** |
| 4 | + |
| 5 | +Mocha is a Windows-only game engine with Vulkan renderer, C# scripting, and hot-loading HTML/CSS UI system. It uses a complex build process that combines C++ native code (with vcpkg dependencies) and .NET 7.0 C# projects with automatic interop code generation. |
| 6 | + |
| 7 | +## Working Effectively |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +### Prerequisites (Windows Only) |
| 10 | +- **Windows 10/11** - Engine is Windows-only and cannot be built on Linux/macOS |
| 11 | +- **Visual Studio 2022** - Required for MSBuild and vcproj support |
| 12 | +- **.NET 7.0 SDK** - Required for C# projects (though .NET 8.0 can build .NET 7.0 targets) |
| 13 | +- **vcpkg** - Package manager for C++ dependencies |
| 14 | +- **Vulkan SDK** - Graphics API requirements |
| 15 | +- **Git** with submodules support |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +### Initial Repository Setup |
| 18 | +```bash |
| 19 | +# Clone repository with all submodules |
| 20 | +git clone --recursive https://github.com/mocha-engine/mocha |
| 21 | +cd mocha |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +# If already cloned, update submodules |
| 24 | +git submodule update --init --recursive |
| 25 | +``` |
| 26 | + |
| 27 | +### Build Process (Windows Only) |
| 28 | +**NEVER CANCEL BUILDS**: Builds may take 15-45 minutes. Always set timeout to 60+ minutes. |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +```batch |
| 31 | +# Navigate to Source directory |
| 32 | +cd Source |
| 33 | +
|
| 34 | +# 1. Install vcpkg dependencies (5-15 minutes) |
| 35 | +setup_x64.cmd |
| 36 | +# OR for 32-bit: setup_x86.cmd |
| 37 | +
|
| 38 | +# 2. Build the entire solution (15-45 minutes total) |
| 39 | +# NEVER CANCEL: Use MSBuild with long timeout |
| 40 | +msbuild Mocha.sln /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform=x64 |
| 41 | +# OR use Visual Studio: Open Source/Mocha.sln and build solution |
| 42 | +``` |
| 43 | + |
| 44 | +**Build Order Dependencies:** |
| 45 | +1. `MochaTool.InteropGen` - Generates C++/C# interop bindings (must build first) |
| 46 | +2. `Mocha.Common` - Shared C# library (depends on generated interop code) |
| 47 | +3. `Mocha.Engine`, `Mocha.UI`, etc. - Core engine libraries |
| 48 | +4. `Mocha.Host` - Native C++ host executable |
| 49 | +5. `Mocha` and `MochaDedicatedServer` - Final executables |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +### Running the Engine |
| 52 | +```batch |
| 53 | +# After successful build, run the main executable |
| 54 | +cd ..\build |
| 55 | +Mocha.exe |
| 56 | +
|
| 57 | +# Or run with a specific project |
| 58 | +Mocha.exe -project ..\Samples\mocha-minimal\project.json |
| 59 | +``` |
| 60 | + |
| 61 | +### Testing |
| 62 | +```batch |
| 63 | +# Navigate to Source directory |
| 64 | +cd Source |
| 65 | +
|
| 66 | +# Run .NET tests (5-10 minutes) |
| 67 | +# NEVER CANCEL: Set timeout to 15+ minutes |
| 68 | +dotnet test Mocha.Tests/ --configuration Debug |
| 69 | +
|
| 70 | +# Run specific test project |
| 71 | +dotnet test Mocha.Tests/Mocha.Tests.csproj |
| 72 | +``` |
| 73 | + |
| 74 | +### Code Formatting and Linting |
| 75 | +```batch |
| 76 | +# Format .NET code (required before commits) |
| 77 | +cd Source |
| 78 | +dotnet format |
| 79 | +
|
| 80 | +# The CI pipeline (.github/workflows/format.yml) will fail if code is not formatted |
| 81 | +# Always run dotnet format before committing changes |
| 82 | +``` |
| 83 | + |
| 84 | +## Project Structure |
| 85 | + |
| 86 | +### Key Directories |
| 87 | +- **`Source/`** - All source code and project files |
| 88 | + - **`Mocha.sln`** - Main Visual Studio solution |
| 89 | + - **`vcpkg.json`** - C++ dependency manifest |
| 90 | + - **`setup_x64.cmd`** / **`setup_x86.cmd`** - Dependency installation scripts |
| 91 | +- **`Content/`** - Core engine content and assets |
| 92 | +- **`Samples/`** - Example projects |
| 93 | + - **`mocha-minimal/`** - Basic sample project |
| 94 | +- **`build/`** - Build output directory (created during build) |
| 95 | + |
| 96 | +### C# Projects (.NET 7.0) |
| 97 | +- **`Mocha.Engine`** - Core game engine library |
| 98 | +- **`Mocha.Common`** - Shared utilities and interop bindings |
| 99 | +- **`Mocha.UI`** - HTML/CSS UI system |
| 100 | +- **`Mocha.Hotload`** - C# hot-loading system |
| 101 | +- **`Mocha.Editor`** - ImGui-based editor |
| 102 | +- **`MochaTool.AssetCompiler`** - Asset compilation tool |
| 103 | +- **`MochaTool.InteropGen`** - C++/C# interop code generator |
| 104 | +- **`Mocha.Tests`** - MSTest unit tests |
| 105 | + |
| 106 | +### C++ Projects (Visual Studio) |
| 107 | +- **`Mocha.Host`** - Native C++ host library (Vulkan, SDL2, Jolt Physics) |
| 108 | +- **`Mocha`** - Main executable wrapper |
| 109 | +- **`MochaDedicatedServer`** - Server executable |
| 110 | + |
| 111 | +## Common Development Tasks |
| 112 | + |
| 113 | +### Building Individual Components |
| 114 | +```batch |
| 115 | +# Build only .NET projects (faster iteration) |
| 116 | +cd Source |
| 117 | +dotnet build --configuration Debug |
| 118 | +
|
| 119 | +# Build specific project |
| 120 | +dotnet build Mocha.Engine/Mocha.Engine.csproj |
| 121 | +
|
| 122 | +# Build native components only (requires Visual Studio) |
| 123 | +msbuild Mocha.Host/Mocha.Host.vcxproj /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform=x64 |
| 124 | +``` |
| 125 | + |
| 126 | +### Asset Compilation |
| 127 | +```batch |
| 128 | +# Compile assets (after successful build) |
| 129 | +build\MochaTool.AssetCompiler.exe --mountpoints "samples/mocha-minimal/content/" "content/core/" -f |
| 130 | +``` |
| 131 | + |
| 132 | +### Debugging |
| 133 | +```batch |
| 134 | +# The engine supports both C++ and C# debugging |
| 135 | +# Use Visual Studio debugger with "Mocha" profile |
| 136 | +# Launch settings are auto-generated in each project's Properties/launchSettings.json |
| 137 | +``` |
| 138 | + |
| 139 | +## Validation Requirements |
| 140 | + |
| 141 | +### Manual Validation Scenarios |
| 142 | +After making changes, always test these core scenarios: |
| 143 | + |
| 144 | +1. **Engine Launch Test** |
| 145 | + ```batch |
| 146 | + cd build |
| 147 | + Mocha.exe |
| 148 | + # Verify: Engine window opens without crashes |
| 149 | + ``` |
| 150 | + |
| 151 | +2. **Sample Project Test** |
| 152 | + ```batch |
| 153 | + cd build |
| 154 | + Mocha.exe -project ..\Samples\mocha-minimal\project.json |
| 155 | + # Verify: Sample loads and renders correctly |
| 156 | + ``` |
| 157 | + |
| 158 | +3. **Hot-loading Test** |
| 159 | + ```batch |
| 160 | + # With engine running, modify C# code in sample project |
| 161 | + # Verify: Changes reload automatically without restart |
| 162 | + ``` |
| 163 | + |
| 164 | +### Pre-commit Validation |
| 165 | +```batch |
| 166 | +# ALWAYS run before committing: |
| 167 | +cd Source |
| 168 | +
|
| 169 | +# 1. Format code |
| 170 | +dotnet format |
| 171 | +
|
| 172 | +# 2. Build solution (NEVER CANCEL - 15-45 minutes) |
| 173 | +msbuild Mocha.sln /p:Configuration=Debug /p:Platform=x64 |
| 174 | +
|
| 175 | +# 3. Run tests (NEVER CANCEL - 5-10 minutes) |
| 176 | +dotnet test |
| 177 | +
|
| 178 | +# 4. Test basic functionality |
| 179 | +cd ..\build |
| 180 | +Mocha.exe -project ..\Samples\mocha-minimal\project.json |
| 181 | +``` |
| 182 | + |
| 183 | +## Troubleshooting |
| 184 | + |
| 185 | +### Build Issues |
| 186 | +- **"Missing Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props"** - Install Visual Studio 2022 with C++ workload |
| 187 | +- **"vcpkg packages not found"** - Run `setup_x64.cmd` first |
| 188 | +- **"Vulkan not found"** - Install Vulkan SDK |
| 189 | +- **"InteropGen.exe not found"** - Build order issue; clean and rebuild entire solution |
| 190 | +- **".NET 7.0 not found"** - Install .NET 7.0 SDK (or newer with 7.0 targeting pack) |
| 191 | + |
| 192 | +### Runtime Issues |
| 193 | +- **"Vulkan initialization failed"** - Update graphics drivers or install Vulkan runtime |
| 194 | +- **"Assembly not found errors"** - Ensure all projects built successfully |
| 195 | +- **"Hot-loading not working"** - Check that C# projects are in Debug configuration |
| 196 | + |
| 197 | +### Performance Issues |
| 198 | +- **Slow builds** - Normal behavior; builds can take 15-45 minutes |
| 199 | +- **Slow vcpkg install** - Normal behavior; first-time setup can take 15+ minutes |
| 200 | + |
| 201 | +## Important Notes |
| 202 | + |
| 203 | +- **Windows Only**: Cannot build or run on Linux/macOS |
| 204 | +- **Long Build Times**: NEVER CANCEL builds - they can take 45+ minutes |
| 205 | +- **Complex Dependencies**: Build failures often cascade; clean and rebuild entire solution |
| 206 | +- **Format Requirements**: Code must be formatted with `dotnet format` or CI will fail |
| 207 | +- **Interop Complexity**: Changes to C++ headers may require regenerating interop bindings |
| 208 | +- **Visual Studio Dependency**: While some .NET parts work with dotnet CLI, full builds require Visual Studio |
| 209 | + |
| 210 | +## CI/CD Pipeline |
| 211 | + |
| 212 | +### GitHub Actions |
| 213 | +- **`.github/workflows/format.yml`** - Validates .NET code formatting |
| 214 | +- **`.github/workflows/commit-log.yml`** - Discord notifications |
| 215 | + |
| 216 | +The format workflow will fail if code is not properly formatted. Always run `dotnet format` before committing. |
| 217 | + |
| 218 | +## Getting Help |
| 219 | + |
| 220 | +- **Discord**: [https://discord.gg/SDP4R6Wsza](https://discord.gg/SDP4R6Wsza) |
| 221 | +- **Wiki**: [https://wiki.getmocha.org/](https://wiki.getmocha.org/) |
| 222 | +- **Issues**: [https://github.com/mocha-engine/mocha/issues](https://github.com/mocha-engine/mocha/issues) |
| 223 | +- **Style Guide**: [Mocha Style Guidelines](https://wiki.getmocha.org/index.php/Style_Guidelines) |
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