[The New Preprocessor]

This simple application will scan your Components directory and create a function that'll register all your components in the engine. Use this in your Pre-Build event and then call the RegisterComponents() on top of your main entry. 

I didn't battle test this yet, but it seems to work. 

You are free to fork it, improve it, etc via GitHub. 

You can download the exe here.

[Ultra Game Template]

14 minutes ago, Josh said:

Your little command language looks cool. This is probably more useful than exposing full Lua programming.

What are the extents/limitations of the syntax? Is it just "command arg1, arg2, arg3?"

One of the things I don't like is that you need to cut the full line of text by spaces every time. The system I had for Cyclone only had the arguments available in a vector.  This is a limitation of the Event System, but having it event based makes commands less static and it's way easier to do component based commands.

One thing I still don't like thats in both systems is you need to do size checks on the argument vector before using it to prevent crashing. Other than that, it's a canvas for the programmer to do whatever they need done. 

[Ultra Game Template]

Although cxxopts looks interesting, I wanted to stay exclusive to the engine's API for this. I didn't want to do anything that could/would change the workflow of how things are normally done with the engine.

I might consider separating the logs by type though, I already have it sorted by colors at this point. 

[Ultra Engine noob feedback thread]

It's in the works.

[Sprite position]

Move the camera to the bottom edge of the framebuffer. 0,0 should be the top left of the screen. Then you can use the size of the framebuffer to position the sprite wherever you want like if you were using the Interface class. 

local size = framebuffer:GetSize()
cam2:SetPosition(size.x * 0.5, size.y * 0.5f)

 

[Sprite position]

You're not setting your cam2 or your sprite to a new render layer.

Not much of a Lua user, but try this.

--Get the displays
local displays = GetDisplays()

--Create window
local window = CreateWindow("Ultra Engine", 0, 0, 1280, 720, displays[1])

--Create framebuffer
local framebuffer = CreateFramebuffer(window)

--Create world
local world = CreateWorld()

--env map
local specmap = LoadTexture("./Materials/Environment/Default/specular.dds")
local diffmap = LoadTexture("./Materials/Environment/Default/diffuse.dds")
world:SetEnvironmentMap(specmap, ENVIRONMENTMAP_BACKGROUND)
world:SetEnvironmentMap(specmap, ENVIRONMENTMAP_SPECULAR)
world:SetEnvironmentMap(diffmap, ENVIRONMENTMAP_DIFFUSE)

--[[load map
local mapname = "Maps/scene1.ultra"
local cl = CommandLine()
if type(cl["map"]) == "string" then mapname = cl["map"] end
local scene = LoadMap(world, mapname)
--]]

--Create light
local light = CreateBoxLight(world)
light:SetRange(-10, 10)
light:SetArea(15, 15)
light:SetRotation(45, 35, 0)
light:SetColor(2)

--Load a font
local font = LoadFont("Fonts/arial.ttf")
local fontsize = 36


-- Create a camera
local camera = CreateCamera(world,PROJECTION_PERSPECTIVE)
camera:SetClearColor(0.125)
camera:SetPosition(0, 5, 0)

--Create second camera
local cam2 = CreateCamera(world,PROJECTION_ORTHOGRAPHIC)
cam2:SetPosition(0, 0, 0)
cam2:SetClearMode(CLEAR_DEPTH)
cam2:SetRenderLayers(1)

-- Create sprite
local sprite = CreateSprite(world, font,"HEY YOU !",fontsize) 
sprite:SetColor(1, 1, 1, 1)
sprite:SetPosition(0, 0, 0)
sprite:SetRenderLayers(1)

--Camera controls to look around
require 'Components/Player/CameraControls'
camera:AddComponent(CameraControls)

--main loop
while not window:KeyDown(KEY_ESCAPE) do 
    world:Update()
    world:Render(framebuffer)
end

This should spawn the sprite in the center of the screen.

[PBR Texture Generator]

Was playing with this. This truly makes it super easy to get skyboxes into Ultra Engine! 

If you place the extension within the Engine's Tool Directory, you can use this script to launch the application right from the editor which is much more convenient.

--[[
    This extention is intended to be used with Klepto2's PBR Texture Generator
    https://www.ultraengine.com/community/topic/62344-pbr-texture-generator/
]]--
local extension = {}
extension.toolpath = "/Tools/PBRTextureGen/UltraPBRTextureGen.exe"

function extension.hook(event, extension)
    if event.id == EVENT_WIDGETACTION then
        RunFile(AppDir()..extension.toolpath)
    end
end

--------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Add menu item
--------------------------------------------------------------------

local menu = program.menu:FindChild("Scripting", false)
if menu == nil then
    Print("Error: Could not find \"Scripting\" menu.")
    return
end

if menu ~= nil then
    local submenu = menu:FindChild("Generate", false)
    if submenu == nil then
        submenu = CreateMenu("Generate", menu)
    end
    extension.menuitem = CreateMenu("PBR Texture Generator", submenu)
end

ListenEvent(EVENT_WIDGETACTION, extension.menuitem, extension.hook, extension)

 

[[MINOR] Outline does not refresh when object is moved using properties panel]

It looks like the selected object loses focus causing the panel to hide.

[Editor Extension Loading Directory]

One thing I noticed when making an extension to the editor is that Windows gets really annoying when saving anything manually to the Program Files folder. Another thing is that you may want certain extensions for specific projects. 

Maybe move "global" extensions to the user Documents folder, and then have the editor also read extensions within the project folder if it doesn't already. 

On that note, I also think the blacklist filter should also be extended to be project based with an entry defined within the Ultra.json file. Maybe I don't want to see .dds files in a project that I want to use .basis files, etc.

[Ultra Game Template]

It's now live! Blog post will follow soon! 

[Reep's Wishlist before release.]

I didn't want to make a new topic for this but when are the brush measurement information coming back while the brush is being created? I forgot to put that on my list in the opening post. I assumed it was on the back burner because you wanted to think about how to render the text in 3D. 

[Correct way to generate a texture in code.]

Revisited my extension to generate basic materials from images and textures. This is good if you want non-game image formats part of your file blacklist. It was very helpful with the conversion script above to convert ten or so basic textures. 

local extension = {}

function extension:CreateBlankMaterial()
    local defaultpath = CurrentDir().."/Materials/"
    local file = RequestFile("Select Material Location", defaultpath, "Ultra Engine Material File (*.mat):mat", 0, true)
    if file ~= nil then
        local mat = CreateMaterial()
        if mat ~= nil then
            mat:SetColor(1,1,1,1)
            local shaderfamily = LoadShaderFamily("Shaders/PBR.fam")
            if shaderfamily then
                mat:SetShaderFamily(shaderfamily)
                shaderfamily = nil
            end
            mat:Save(file);
        end
    end
end

function extension:Image2DDS(path)
    --Load image
    local pixmap = LoadPixmap(path)
    if pixmap==nil then Print("Error: Failed to generate texture \"" .. FixPath(output) .. "\"") return false end
    local mipchain = {}
    table.insert(mipchain,pixmap)

    --Generate mipmaps
    local w = pixmap.size.x
    local h = pixmap.size.y
    local mipmap = pixmap
    while (w > 4 and h > 4) do
        w = math.max(4, w / 2)
        h = math.max(4, h / 2)
        mipmap = mipmap:Resize(w,h)
        table.insert(mipchain,mipmap)
    end
    
    --Convert each image to BC1 (DXT1) compression
    for n=1, #mipchain do
        mipchain[n] = mipchain[n]:Convert(TEXTURE_BC1)
    end
    
    --Save mipchain to texture file
    local output = StripExt(path)..".dds"
    SaveTexture(output, TEXTURE_2D, mipchain, 1, SAVE_DEFAULT)
    return output
end

function extension:GenerateMaterialFromTexture()
    local defaultpath = CurrentDir().."/Materials/"
    local file = RequestFile("Select Texture", defaultpath, "Supported Files:dds,basis,png,jpg,jpeg,tga,bmp", 0)

    -- If we're not a texture, convert it
    if (ExtractExt(file) == "png" or ExtractExt(file) == "jpg" or ExtractExt(file) == "jpeg" or ExtractExt(file) == "tga" or ExtractExt(file) == "bmp") then
        local image = file
        file = extension:Image2DDS(image)
    end

    local output = StripExt(file)..".mat"
    if file ~= nil then
        local mat = CreateMaterial()
        if mat ~= nil then
            local tex = LoadTexture(file)
            if tex~=nil then 
                mat:SetTexture(tex)  
                mat:SetColor(1,1,1,1)
                local shaderfamily = LoadShaderFamily("Shaders/PBR.fam")
                if shaderfamily then
                    mat:SetShaderFamily(shaderfamily)
                    shaderfamily = nil
                end
                if mat:Save(output) then
                    Print("Successfully saved \"" .. output .. "\"")
                end
            else
                Print("Failed to save \"" .. output .. "\" as texture is invaild!")
            end
        end
        mat = nil
    else
        Print("Failed to save \"" .. output .. "\" as file is invaild!")
    end
end

function extension.hook(event, extension)
    if event.id == EVENT_WIDGETACTION then
        if event.source == extension.menuitem_blankmaterial then
            extension:CreateBlankMaterial()
        elseif event.source == extension.menuitem_matfromtex then
            extension:GenerateMaterialFromTexture()
        end
    end
end

--------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Add menu item
--------------------------------------------------------------------
local menu = program.menu:FindChild("Scripting", false)
if menu == nil then
    Print("Error: Could not find \"Scripting\" menu.")
    return
end

local submenu = menu:FindChild("Generate Material", false)
if submenu == nil then
    submenu = CreateMenu("Generate Material", menu)
end

extension.menuitem_blankmaterial = CreateMenu("New Blank Material", submenu)
extension.menuitem_matfromtex = CreateMenu("New Material From Texture/Image", submenu)
ListenEvent(EVENT_WIDGETACTION, extension.menuitem_blankmaterial, extension.hook, extension)
ListenEvent(EVENT_WIDGETACTION, extension.menuitem_matfromtex, extension.hook, extension)

 

[Correct way to generate a texture in code.]

It works better as a converter. Works exactly how Leadwerks behaves. I understand the reason for texture creation for being manual since DDS doesn't cover all needs. 

local converter = {}
converter.informat = "png"
converter.outformat = "dds"

function converter:Convert(path, output)
    --Load image
    local pixmap = LoadPixmap(path)
    if pixmap==nil then Print("Error: Failed to generate texture " ..path) return false end
    local mipchain = {}
    table.insert(mipchain,pixmap)

    --Generate mipmaps
    local w = pixmap.size.x
    local h = pixmap.size.y
    local mipmap = pixmap
    while (w > 4 and h > 4) do
        w = math.max(4, w / 2)
        h = math.max(4, h / 2)
        mipmap = mipmap:Resize(w,h)
        table.insert(mipchain,mipmap)
    end
    
    --Convert each image to BC1 (DXT1) compression
    for n=1, #mipchain do
        mipchain[n] = mipchain[n]:Convert(TEXTURE_BC1)
    end
    
    --Save mipchain to texture file
    SaveTexture(output, TEXTURE_2D, mipchain, 1, SAVE_DEFAULT)

    return true
end

program:AddConverter(converter)

 

[Correct way to generate a texture in code.]

I guess I'm just so used making textures in Leadwerks. That makes my life easier! 

Code is still useful regardless. 

[Correct way to generate a texture in code.]

19 minutes ago, Josh said:

If you are using a compressed texture format then the smallest mipmap should be 4x4.

    while (w > 4 and h > 4) do
        w = math.max(4, w / 2)
        h = math.max(4, h / 2)
        mipmap = mipmap:Resize(w,h)
        table.insert(mipchain,mipmap)
    end

I don't understand this.

Everytime I right click on a PNG image to generate a material, it creates the DDS and a normal map. I just want to simply convert the image to a texture. 

[Correct way to generate a texture in code.]

It seems I can't generate a texture without the editor also making a normal map for each texture which I do not want. I decided to make an extension that would convert the image to a DDS using the code found below.

But I'm now getting the "Mipchain contains mipmaps with dimensions smaller than the format's block size" error. 

How would I fix my code?

local extension = {}

function CreateNewMaterial()
    local defaultpath = CurrentDir().."Materials/"
    local file = RequestFile("Select Material Location", defaultpath, "Ultra Engine Material File (*.mat):mat", 0, true)
    if file ~= nil then
        local mat = CreateMaterial()
        if mat ~= nil then
            mat:SetColor(1,1,1,1)
            local shaderfamily = LoadShaderFamily("Shaders/PBR.fam")
            if shaderfamily then
                mat:SetShaderFamily(shaderfamily)
                shaderfamily = nil
            end
            mat:Save(file);
        end
    end
end

function GenerateTexture()
    local defaultpath = CurrentDir().."Materials/"
    local file = RequestFile("Select Image", defaultpath, "Image:png,tga,jpg,jpeg,bmp", 0, false)

    --Load image
    local pixmap = LoadPixmap(file)
    if pixmap==nil then Print("Error: Failed to generate texture " ..file) return end
    local mipchain = {}
    table.insert(mipchain,pixmap)

    --Generate mipmaps
    local w = pixmap.size.x
    local h = pixmap.size.y
    local mipmap = pixmap
    while (w > 1 and h > 1) do
        w = math.max(1, w / 2)
        h = math.max(1, h / 2)
        mipmap = mipmap:Resize(w,h)
        table.insert(mipchain,mipmap)
    end

    --Convert each image to BC7 compression
    for n=1, #mipchain do
        mipchain[n] = mipchain[n]:Convert(TEXTURE_BC7)
    end

    --Save mipchain to texture file
    local output = StripExt(file)..".dds"
    SaveTexture(output, TEXTURE_2D, mipchain, 1, SAVE_DEFAULT)
end

function extension.hook(event, extension)
    if event.id == EVENT_WIDGETACTION then
        if event.source == extension.menuitem_newmaterial then
            CreateNewMaterial()
        elseif event.source == extension.menuitem_newDDS then
            GenerateTexture()
        end
    end
end

--------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Add menu item
--------------------------------------------------------------------
local menu = program.menu:FindChild("Scripting", false)
if menu == nil then
    Print("Error: Could not find \"Scripting\" menu.")
    return
end

local submenu = menu:FindChild("Utilities", false)
if submenu == nil then
    submenu = CreateMenu("Utilities", menu)
end
extension.menuitem_newmaterial = CreateMenu("Create blank material", submenu)
extension.menuitem_newDDS = CreateMenu("Convert image to DDS", submenu)
ListenEvent(EVENT_WIDGETACTION, extension.menuitem_newmaterial, extension.hook, extension)
ListenEvent(EVENT_WIDGETACTION, extension.menuitem_newDDS, extension.hook, extension)

 

[Player Controller Wall Bouncing.]

I've noticed that if you jump into a wall, the velocity distributes into forward movement. However, this makes climbing the stack of boxes in the start map difficult as I keep falling off. I think the player physics needs to be tweaked so I can climb the boxes while the controller still feeling natural.  

[Probes getting baked in cubemaps.]

I think the probe models are being baked in the cubemaps similar to how the editor icons were. This is the default start map looking at the reflection of the crate model. 

[End of File and seek position outside of file bounds]

1 minute ago, Josh said:

So the Facebook FBX to glTF converter does this, right? I don't see any CLI switches to change it:

To be honest, I had no luck using that tool. I accidentally copied over my Cyclone fbx files and it just made a bunch of useless garbage. I have better luck exporting as a gltf right out of blender.

[Can't delete models anymore.]

Pulled an update just now, and now it works. 🤷

[Can't delete models anymore.]

Broken again.

Also, the DDS conversion isn't working. 

[Can't delete models anymore.]

I think this was caused by the fix discussed here. 

As of writing, trying to delete any model from the map will cause an "Cannot delete Model Limbs" error when the model has no limbs to begin with.

 

[SaveTexture saves only black texture (Cubemap)]

8 minutes ago, Josh said:

This might be useful to you:
https://github.com/UltraEngine/IBLSampler

My copy of the cli.exe program compiled from this project was compressed with UPX and now Windows is aggressively deleting the EXE. I was not able to recompile it...it requires a lot of external libraries and I don't think this project is actively maintained. So I wrote the program linked to above to do the same thing, although it is not very polished:
https://github.com/KhronosGroup/glTF-IBL-Sampler

I used this to generate the new default skybox / reflection maps.

It seems to me with a little elbow grease, this can be converted into a tool in which an extension can be written to use to generate hdr cubemaps.

[SaveTexture saves only black texture (Cubemap)]

I know if you look at any cubemaps texture in the Asset Browser it's also black despite it working in the world renderer. Did you try Setting the background to your generated cubemap?

[Shader Tutorial]

Read your compile errors. Simply looking at your code, you need to define texrture0. 

Not a shader expert, but I made my shaders by trial and error.