Tools

This page lists useful tools for Codename Engine modding: as in, this includes tools that are good for mod work.

Do note that this is purely from an external perspective. Only separate programs will be listed.

Pure Codename tools can be found on the website, and addons or scripts can be found in the Discord server.

Source Code Editors

Visual Studio Code

A screenshot of an active VSCode session. The session is open on a rather basic sample mod for Codename.

The open source AI code editor

Long for VSCode, Visual Studio Code is considered to be the editor with some of the most support for anything.

Features

  • Ready Haxe support, through an extension
  • Available "Codename Autocomplete" extension for language servers
  • Easy interface to work with
  • AI Support through GitHub Copilot, for those looking for that feature
  • Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Caveats

  • Telemetry is not configurable at the initial launch of the program, making it less private in the beginning
  • Some features are not useful for Codename modding
  • Not an "out of the way" user experience or interface
  • Lacks many productive features
  • Can be confused for the "mature" version, Visual Studio
  • For some users, too much AI focus

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Zed

A screenshot of an active Zed session. Although highly configured in terms of theming and the inclusion of Vim mode, this is the same sample mod from the VSCode example.

The editor for what's next

Written in Rust, Zed is a source code editor focusing on performance and productivity.

Features

  • Multiple keymaps, such as VSCode, JetBrains, Atom...
  • Vim mode for emulating the Vi system, allowing much more productive typing and commands
  • Strong, universal Git features, such as merge commits, stashing, and branching
  • High-speed live collaboration
  • Toggleable, expandable AI features
  • Out-of-the-way user interface
  • Expandable panes
  • Useful Welcome screen that allows the quick configuration of settings

Caveats

  • Settings are written in JSONC, making some knowledge of the superset required
  • AI features are subscription-based
  • People not familiar with Vim may have trouble if they use Vim mode
  • Not as many extensions, including a lack of a Codename extension, although a Haxe one exists

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Helix

A Helix session running in the Alacritty terminal emulator, using a rather default configuration, open in the sample mod.

Note: The terminal emulator present in the screenshot is Alacritty.

A post-modern text editor

A descendant of the Vi system, Helix manages to provide modern features, while excelling and tweaking the Vi system for productivity.

Features

  • Purely based on Vim, so anyone familiar with it will get a similar feel
  • Plenty of shortcuts and aliases from the command palette
  • Modal editor where each mode is initiated from a key press, so important keybinds can be assigned based on mode and with a lack of modifiers
  • Tutorial available via the :tutor command or running hx --tutor
  • Good for configuration, simple editing, and more
  • Configured using the TOML file format, allowing high readability while being based on INI

Caveats

  • May be confusing for some users
  • No official Haxe support, requiring some configuration, such as installation of the Haxe Tree-sitter grammar and Haxe language server
  • Does not include an IDE configuration by default
  • No Codename plugin available

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Spritesheet Generators

Texture Packer EX

An open session in Tex-Packer-EX, that displays an example spritesheet split from Pico's spritesheet being edited.

Fork of Free Texture Packer with added improvements

Tex-Packer-EX, short for Texture Packer EX, is a fork of Free Texture Packer that adds support for Sparrow atlases, better internal frame management, and repacking a spritesheet.

Features

  • Allows splitting and repacking spritesheets to optimize and/or dissect them
  • Allows viewing a spritesheet in real time
  • Many customization options, including scaling, width, rotation, removing identical frames...

Caveats

  • May be too overwhelming for some users

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UncertainProd's FNF Spritesheet and XML Generator (Web)

A web version of the Spritesheet and XML generator. Works entirely in-browser, written in JS and Rust/Webassembly

The FNF Spritesheet and XML Generator has been commonly used for smaller mods. The web version improves upon it by working in the browser.

Features

  • A clear view of frames
  • Allows selecting a prefix for frames
  • Has a view for both the XML structure and the animations

Caveats

  • The user experience may be too overwhelming for most users
  • Hasn't been maintained in around a year
  • Some features are not suitable for Codename at all

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