saving

CLAUDE.md

@@ -96,37 +96,6 @@ The shader compilation system automatically discovers `.hlsl` files in `engine/*
 - The build system generates API wrappers automatically for enabled modules
 - Content directory location is determined by `content.txt` file pointing to `projects/content/`
 
-### MakeModLib Build Helper
-
-The project uses a custom `MakeModLib` helper function (defined in `lib/bh/build.zig`) to create library modules with consistent patterns:
-
-```zig
-const mylib = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-    .name = "mylib",
-    .target = target,
-    .optimize = optimize,
-    .static_build = static_build,
-    .root = b.path("src/mylib.zig"),
-});
-```
-
-**What MakeModLib creates:**
-- A Zig module (`.mod`) for compile-time imports
-- A library artifact (`.lib`) for linking (static or dynamic based on `static_build` flag)
-- The library uses an empty stub source file and is intended to carry C dependencies
-
-**Usage pattern:**
-All libraries using `MakeModLib` follow this pattern in their test executables:
-```zig
-tests.root_module.addImport("mylib", mylib.mod);  // Import the module
-tests.root_module.linkLibrary(mylib.lib);         // Link the library
-```
-
-**Libraries using MakeModLib:**
-- `bh`, `cimgui`, `enet`, `lua`, `miniaudio`, `nfd`, `objLoader`, `p2`, `packer`, `spng`, `tracy`, `watcher`, `zgltf`, `zmath`
-
-This pattern separates Zig code (in the module) from C/C++ dependencies (in the library), allowing for flexible static/dynamic linking while maintaining consistent module interfaces.
-
 ## Common Development Tasks
 
 - Adding new engine modules: Create in `engine/` with `build.zig` and add to `engineDepList`

README.md

@@ -97,11 +97,4 @@ git bug bug comment abc123
 - Issues sync with `git bug pull/push`
 - Keep descriptions factual and clear
 
----
-
-/// --------------------------------------------------------
-void* malloc(size_t size); // gives you a pointer to a memory buffer of size
-void free(void* ptr); // releases a pointer to memory
-/// --------------------------------------------------------
-
 

archive/build.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,662 @@
+// MVK_CONFIG_USE_METAL_ARGUMENT_BUFFERS=1 -- use this if you're getting that odd crash on mac
+b: *std.Build,
+nw_builder: *std.Build,
+target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
+optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
+nw_mod: *std.Build.Module,
+gltf2ozz: ozz.GltfToOzz,
+options: *std.Build.Step.Options,
+cookShaders: bool,
+
+backlogRoot: []const u8,
+// list of all shaders discovered under
+// content/_shaders/def
+reflectShaderPathList: [][]u8 = undefined,
+
+staticBuild: bool = false,
+
+nwdep: *std.Build.Dependency,
+apigen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+shaderEmbedGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+loadDynamicsGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+rcGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+generatedApis: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(*std.Build.Module) = .{},
+
+const engineDepList = [_][]const u8{
+    "assets",
+    "audio",
+    "core",
+    "net",
+    "papyrus",
+    "platform",
+    "rend",
+    "ui",
+    "imgui",
+    "physics",
+    "sys",
+};
+
+const BuildSystem = @This();
+const std = @import("std");
+const Build = std.Build;
+const LazyPath = Build.LazyPath;
+
+const ozz = @import("ozz");
+
+pub const InitOptions = struct {
+    import_name: []const u8 = "Backlog",
+    backlogRoot: []const u8 = "./BacklogEngine",
+    staticBuild: bool = false,
+    target: Build.ResolvedTarget,
+    optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
+};
+
+pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
+    var buildOpts = declareBuildOptions(b);
+
+    if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .linux) {
+        // using a static build for linux... object loading hell is not fun
+        std.debug.print("Important! only supporting static builds for linux", .{});
+        buildOpts.static_build = true;
+    }
+
+    const nwdep = b.dependency(opts.import_name, .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .static_build = buildOpts.static_build,
+    });
+
+    var self = BuildSystem{
+        .b = b,
+        .nw_builder = nwdep.builder,
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .nw_mod = nwdep.module("Backlog"),
+        .backlogRoot = opts.backlogRoot,
+        .options = createGameOptions(b, buildOpts),
+        .gltf2ozz = ozz.GltfToOzz.init(nwdep.builder, .{}),
+        .cookShaders = b.option(bool, "cookShaders", "generates shaders and updates .json files before running the build. (needs to be done whenever shaders are updated, this just runs tools/scripts/cook-shaders.py)") orelse false,
+
+        .staticBuild = buildOpts.static_build,
+        .nwdep = nwdep,
+        .apigen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-apigen"),
+        .loadDynamicsGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-loadDynamics"),
+        .rcGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-rc"),
+        .shaderEmbedGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-shaderEmbedGen"),
+    };
+
+    const exeList = [1]*std.Build.Step.Compile{self.gltf2ozz.exe};
+    const install_tools = b.step("tools", "installs tools needed to generate outputs for the engine");
+    for (exeList) |exe| {
+        const toolsInstall = b.addInstallArtifact(exe, .{
+            .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "tools" } },
+        });
+
+        install_tools.dependOn(&toolsInstall.step);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(self.gltf2ozz.exe);
+        if (b.args) |args| {
+            runArtifact.addArgs(args);
+        }
+
+        const run_exe = b.step("gltf2ozz", "runs the gltf animation converter.");
+        run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
+    }
+
+    self.addDependencyInstalls(self.b, .ReleaseFast);
+
+    return self;
+}
+
+pub const AddProgramOptions = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    desc: []const u8,
+    root_source_file: LazyPath,
+    imports: []const Build.Module.Import = &.{},
+};
+
+pub fn addProgram(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *std.Build.Module {
+    const b = self.b;
+
+    const exe = self.nw_builder.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = opts.name,
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = self.target,
+            .optimize = self.optimize,
+            .root_source_file = self.nw_builder.path("engine/main.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(exe);
+    const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
+    if (b.args) |args| {
+        runArtifact.addArgs(args);
+    }
+    const run_exe = b.step(self.b.fmt("run-{s}", .{opts.name}), opts.desc);
+    run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
+
+    // main path = name/main.zig
+    const mod = b.addModule(opts.name, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = opts.root_source_file,
+        .imports = opts.imports,
+    });
+
+    exe.root_module.addImport("main", mod);
+    // todo.. remove this one and see what happens
+    exe.root_module.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+    // mod.addImport("Backlog", self.nw_mod);
+    exe.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.options);
+
+    if (self.cookShaders) {
+        const cookShadersScript = b.fmt("{s}/tools/scripts/cookShaders.py", .{self.backlogRoot});
+        const cookShadersCommand = b.addSystemCommand(&[_][]const u8{"python"});
+        cookShadersCommand.addArg(cookShadersScript);
+
+        run_exe.dependOn(&cookShadersCommand.step);
+    }
+
+    b.getInstallStep().dependOn(self.nw_builder.getInstallStep());
+
+    // run_exe.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub const BuildOptions = struct {
+    mutex_job_queue: bool,
+    static_build: bool,
+    zero_logging: bool,
+    slow_logging: bool,
+    force_mailbox: bool,
+};
+
+pub fn declareBuildOptions(b: *std.Build) BuildOptions {
+    return .{
+        .mutex_job_queue = b.option(bool, "mutex_job_queue", "temporary test, reverts to old mutex based queue behaviour in jobs.zig:JobManager") orelse false,
+        .static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds the entire game as a single executable") orelse false,
+        .zero_logging = b.option(bool, "zero_logging", "disables all logging, only intended for use on job dispatch testing") orelse false,
+        .slow_logging = b.option(bool, "slow_logging", "Disables buffered logging, takes a hit to performance but gain timing information on logging") orelse false,
+        .force_mailbox = b.option(bool, "force_mailbox", "forces mailbox mode for present mode. unlocks framerate to irresponsible levels") orelse false,
+    };
+}
+
+pub fn createGameOptions(b: *std.Build, options: BuildOptions) *std.Build.Step.Options {
+    const opts = b.addOptions();
+
+    inline for (@typeInfo(BuildOptions).@"struct".fields) |field| {
+        opts.addOption(bool, field.name, @field(options, field.name));
+    }
+
+    return opts;
+}
+
+pub fn addExtraModule(self: *BuildSystem, mod: *std.Build.Module, moduleName: []const u8) void {
+    const dep = self.b.dependency(moduleName, .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = self.optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild });
+    mod.addImport(moduleName, dep.module(moduleName));
+}
+
+pub fn addDependencyInstalls(self: *BuildSystem, b: *std.Build, optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode) void {
+    //if (self.staticBuild) {
+    //return;
+    // }
+
+    inline for (DynamicDepList) |d| {
+        b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
+            d.dep,
+            .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
+        ).artifact(d.artifact));
+    }
+
+    // b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
+    //     "sdl3",
+    //     .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
+    // ).artifact("SDL3"));
+}
+
+const DynamicDepList: []const struct { dep: []const u8, artifact: []const u8 } = &.{
+    .{ .dep = "sdl3", .artifact = "SDL3" },
+    .{ .dep = "spng", .artifact = "spng_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "lua", .artifact = "luac" },
+    .{ .dep = "miniaudio", .artifact = "miniaudio_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "zphysics", .artifact = "joltc" },
+    // .{ .dep = "enet", .artifact = "enet_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "ozz", .artifact = "ozz_cpp" },
+};
+
+// all other modules are disabled by default
+pub const defaultEnabledModules: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    "core",
+    "assets",
+    "platform",
+    "rend",
+};
+
+pub const moduleOrder: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    "core",
+    "sys",
+    "assets",
+    "platform",
+    "net",
+    "physics",
+    "audio",
+    "rend",
+    "ui",
+    "imgui",
+    "papyrus",
+};
+
+pub const DynamicModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+    programName: []const u8,
+    opts: AddProgramOptions,
+
+    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+
+    library: ?*std.Build.Step.Compile = null,
+
+    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
+        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn init(name: []const u8, p: *Program) *@This() {
+        var self: *@This() = p.allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+        self.* = .{
+            .opts = p.opts,
+            .programName = p.opts.name,
+            .buildSystem = p.buildSystem,
+            .allocator = p.allocator,
+            .name = name,
+        };
+
+        for (p.gameModules.items) |module| {
+            self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
+        }
+
+        for (p.extras.items) |module| {
+            self.extras.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
+        }
+
+        return self;
+    }
+
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Step.Compile {
+        if (self.library) |lib| {
+            return lib;
+        }
+
+        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
+        const static = self.buildSystem.staticBuild;
+        const lib = b.addLibrary(.{
+            .name = self.name,
+            .linkage = if (static) .static else .dynamic,
+            .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+                .root_source_file = self.opts.root_source_file,
+                .link_libc = true,
+                .optimize = self.buildSystem.optimize,
+                .target = self.buildSystem.target,
+            }),
+        });
+
+        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
+
+        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
+            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(lib.root_module, extra.name);
+        }
+
+        lib.root_module.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.name, modlist.items, null));
+        lib.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.buildSystem.options);
+
+        if (static) {
+            // generateApi should create static callers for the main program
+        } else {
+            const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(lib, .{
+                .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },
+            });
+            b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&installExtern.step);
+        }
+
+        return lib;
+    }
+};
+
+pub const GameModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    enabled: bool = true,
+};
+
+pub const Program = struct {
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    opts: AddProgramOptions,
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    dynamicModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*DynamicModule) = .{},
+    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+
+    iconPath: ?std.Build.LazyPath = null,
+
+    pub fn setIconPath(self: *@This(), path: []const u8) void {
+        if (self.iconPath != null) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        self.iconPath = self.buildSystem.generateRc(self.opts.name, path) catch return;
+    }
+
+    pub fn setModuleEnabled(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, enable: bool) void {
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |*m| {
+            if (std.mem.eql(u8, m.name, module)) {
+                m.enabled = enable;
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // module not found, add it here.
+        self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = enable }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
+        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn addDynamicModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, root_source_file: std.Build.LazyPath) *DynamicModule {
+        const dynamicModule = DynamicModule.init(module, self);
+        dynamicModule.opts.root_source_file = root_source_file;
+        self.dynamicModules.append(self.allocator, dynamicModule) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+        return dynamicModule;
+    }
+
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
+        const exe = self.buildSystem.addProgram(self.opts);
+        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
+
+        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
+            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(exe, extra.name);
+        }
+
+        exe.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.opts.name, modlist.items, self.dynamicModules.items));
+
+        if (self.buildSystem.target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
+            if (self.iconPath) |ip| {
+                exe.addWin32ResourceFile(.{
+                    .file = ip,
+                    .flags = &.{},
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        return exe;
+    }
+};
+
+pub fn program(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *Program {
+    const prog = self.b.allocator.create(Program) catch unreachable;
+
+    prog.* = .{
+        .allocator = self.b.allocator,
+        .opts = opts,
+        .buildSystem = self,
+    };
+
+    for (moduleOrder) |module| {
+        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, false);
+    }
+
+    for (defaultEnabledModules) |module| {
+        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, true);
+    }
+
+    return prog;
+}
+
+// ========= standalone build instance =======
+// maybe the default should be like an engine launcher/project launcher or something
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+
+    const fwdGeneratorExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-fwd",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateFwd.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-apigen",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateApi.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateShaders = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-shaderEmbedGen",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateEmbeddedShaders.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateRcExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-rc",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateRc.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateLoadDynamicsExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-loadDynamics",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateLoadDynamics.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(generateLoadDynamicsExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateShaders);
+    b.installArtifact(generateRcExe);
+
+    {
+        const loadDynamicsStub = b.addModule("loadDynamicsStub", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/loadDynamicsStub.zig"),
+        });
+
+        _ = loadDynamicsStub;
+
+        const mod = b.addModule("Backlog", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/backlog.zig"),
+        });
+
+        for (engineDepList) |depName| {
+            const dep = b.dependency(
+                depName,
+                .{
+                    .target = target,
+                    .optimize = optimize,
+                    .static_build = static_build,
+                },
+            );
+
+            const run = b.addRunArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
+            const output = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}_fwd.zig", .{depName}));
+
+            const modFwd = b.addModule(depName, .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .root_source_file = output,
+            });
+
+            mod.addImport(b.fmt("{s}", .{depName}), modFwd);
+            modFwd.addImport("module", dep.module(depName));
+
+            // mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
+        }
+
+        // link in large platform support functions... special case.
+        {
+            const dep = b.dependency("sdl3", .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .static_build = static_build,
+            });
+            const lib = dep.module("SDL3");
+
+            mod.addImport("sdl3_fwd", lib);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn generateApi(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, moduleList: []const []const u8, dynamicModules: ?[]const *DynamicModule) *std.Build.Module {
+    // std.debug.print("GENERATE API:: {s}\n", .{programName});
+
+    for (moduleList) |mod| {
+        _ = mod;
+        // std.debug.print("{s}\n", .{mod});
+    }
+    //
+    if (self.generatedApis.get(programName)) |m| {
+        return m;
+    }
+
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.apigen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}Api.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    for (moduleList) |modName| {
+        run.addArg(modName);
+    }
+
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+    for (moduleList) |modName| {
+        mod.addImport(modName, self.nwdep.module(modName));
+    }
+
+    const loadStatics = self.generateInstallStaticResources(programName, "content/_shaders") catch unreachable;
+    mod.addImport("staticShaderLoader", loadStatics);
+
+    // deal with dynamics
+    if (dynamicModules) |dynamics| {
+        const loadDynamics = self.generateLoadDynamics(programName, dynamics) catch @panic("unknown");
+        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", loadDynamics);
+    } else {
+        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", self.nwdep.module("loadDynamicsStub"));
+    }
+
+    self.generatedApis.put(self.b.allocator, programName, mod) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub fn generateRc(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, iconPath: []const u8) !std.Build.LazyPath {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.rcGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}.rc", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    run.addArg(iconPath);
+
+    return output;
+}
+
+pub fn generateLoadDynamics(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, dynamics: []const *DynamicModule) !*std.Build.Module {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.loadDynamicsGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}LoadDynamics.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    if (self.staticBuild) {
+        run.addArg("static");
+    } else {
+        run.addArg("dynamic");
+    }
+
+    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
+        run.addArg(dyn.name);
+    }
+
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+
+    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
+        const dynmod = dyn.compileInstall();
+        mod.addImport(dyn.name, dynmod.root_module);
+    }
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub fn generateInstallStaticResources(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, shadersPath: []const u8) !*std.Build.Module {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.shaderEmbedGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}ShaderGen.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    run.addArg(shadersPath);
+
+    const b = self.b;
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+
+    var dir = try std.fs.cwd().openDir("content/_shaders", .{ .iterate = true });
+    defer dir.close();
+
+    var walker = dir.iterate();
+    while (try walker.next()) |shaderType| {
+        if (shaderType.kind == .directory) {
+            var d2 = try dir.openDir(shaderType.name, .{ .iterate = true });
+            defer d2.close();
+            var w2 = d2.iterate();
+            while (try w2.next()) |shaderName| {
+                const shaderPath = b.fmt("content/_shaders/{s}/{s}", .{ shaderType.name, shaderName.name });
+                mod.addAnonymousImport(shaderName.name, .{
+                    .root_source_file = b.path(shaderPath),
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return mod;
+}

build.archive.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,696 @@
+// MVK_CONFIG_USE_METAL_ARGUMENT_BUFFERS=1 -- use this if you're getting that odd crash on mac
+b: *std.Build,
+nw_builder: *std.Build,
+target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
+optimize: std.builtin.Mode,
+nw_mod: *std.Build.Module,
+spirvReflect: SpirvReflect.SpirvGenerator2,
+gltf2ozz: ozz.GltfToOzz,
+options: *std.Build.Step.Options,
+cookShaders: bool,
+
+backlogRoot: []const u8,
+// list of all shaders discovered under
+// content/_shaders/def
+reflectShaderPathList: [][]u8 = undefined,
+
+staticBuild: bool = false,
+
+nwdep: *std.Build.Dependency,
+apigen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+shaderEmbedGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+loadDynamicsGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+rcGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+generatedApis: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(*std.Build.Module) = .{},
+
+const engineDepList = [_][]const u8{
+    "assets",
+    "audio",
+    "core",
+    "net",
+    "papyrus",
+    "platform",
+    "rend",
+    "ui",
+    "imgui",
+    "physics",
+    "sys",
+};
+
+const BuildSystem = @This();
+const std = @import("std");
+const Build = std.Build;
+const LazyPath = Build.LazyPath;
+
+const SpirvReflect = @import("SpirvReflect");
+const ozz = @import("ozz");
+
+pub const InitOptions = struct {
+    import_name: []const u8 = "Backlog",
+    backlogRoot: []const u8 = "./BacklogEngine",
+    staticBuild: bool = false,
+    target: Build.ResolvedTarget,
+    optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
+};
+
+pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
+    var buildOpts = declareBuildOptions(b);
+
+    if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .linux) {
+        // using a static build for linux... object loading hell is not fun
+        std.debug.print("Important! only supporting static builds for linux", .{});
+        buildOpts.static_build = true;
+    }
+
+    const nwdep = b.dependency(opts.import_name, .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .static_build = buildOpts.static_build,
+    });
+
+    var self = BuildSystem{
+        .b = b,
+        .nw_builder = nwdep.builder,
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .nw_mod = nwdep.module("Backlog"),
+        .backlogRoot = opts.backlogRoot,
+        .spirvReflect = SpirvReflect.SpirvGenerator2.init(nwdep.builder, .{}),
+        .options = createGameOptions(b, buildOpts),
+        .gltf2ozz = ozz.GltfToOzz.init(nwdep.builder, .{}),
+        .cookShaders = b.option(bool, "cookShaders", "generates shaders and updates .json files before running the build. (needs to be done whenever shaders are updated, this just runs tools/scripts/cook-shaders.py)") orelse false,
+
+        .staticBuild = buildOpts.static_build,
+        .nwdep = nwdep,
+        .apigen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-apigen"),
+        .loadDynamicsGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-loadDynamics"),
+        .rcGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-rc"),
+        .shaderEmbedGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-shaderEmbedGen"),
+    };
+
+    const exeList = [2]*std.Build.Step.Compile{ self.gltf2ozz.exe, self.spirvReflect.reflect };
+    const install_tools = b.step("tools", "installs tools needed to generate outputs for the engine");
+    for (exeList) |exe| {
+        const toolsInstall = b.addInstallArtifact(exe, .{
+            .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "tools" } },
+        });
+
+        install_tools.dependOn(&toolsInstall.step);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(self.gltf2ozz.exe);
+        if (b.args) |args| {
+            runArtifact.addArgs(args);
+        }
+
+        const run_exe = b.step("gltf2ozz", "runs the gltf animation converter.");
+        run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
+    }
+
+    {
+        const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(self.spirvReflect.reflect);
+        if (b.args) |args| {
+            runArtifact.addArgs(args);
+        }
+
+        const run_exe = b.step("spv-reflect", "runs the gltf animation converter.");
+        run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
+    }
+
+    self.addDependencyInstalls(self.b, .ReleaseFast);
+
+    return self;
+}
+
+pub const AddProgramOptions = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    desc: []const u8,
+    root_source_file: LazyPath,
+    imports: []const Build.Module.Import = &.{},
+};
+
+pub fn addProgram(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *std.Build.Module {
+    const b = self.b;
+
+    const exe = self.nw_builder.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = opts.name,
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = self.nw_builder.path("engine/main.zig"),
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(exe);
+    const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
+    if (b.args) |args| {
+        runArtifact.addArgs(args);
+    }
+    const run_exe = b.step(self.b.fmt("run-{s}", .{opts.name}), opts.desc);
+    run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
+
+    // main path = name/main.zig
+    const mod = b.addModule(opts.name, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = opts.root_source_file,
+        .imports = opts.imports,
+    });
+
+    exe.root_module.addImport("main", mod);
+    // todo.. remove this one and see what happens
+    exe.root_module.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+    // mod.addImport("Backlog", self.nw_mod);
+    exe.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.options);
+
+    if (self.cookShaders) {
+        const cookShadersScript = b.fmt("{s}/tools/scripts/cookShaders.py", .{self.backlogRoot});
+        const cookShadersCommand = b.addSystemCommand(&[_][]const u8{"python"});
+        cookShadersCommand.addArg(cookShadersScript);
+
+        run_exe.dependOn(&cookShadersCommand.step);
+    }
+
+    b.getInstallStep().dependOn(self.nw_builder.getInstallStep());
+
+    // run_exe.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub const BuildOptions = struct {
+    mutex_job_queue: bool,
+    static_build: bool,
+    zero_logging: bool,
+    slow_logging: bool,
+    force_mailbox: bool,
+};
+
+pub fn declareBuildOptions(b: *std.Build) BuildOptions {
+    return .{
+        .mutex_job_queue = b.option(bool, "mutex_job_queue", "temporary test, reverts to old mutex based queue behaviour in jobs.zig:JobManager") orelse false,
+        .static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds the entire game as a single executable") orelse false,
+        .zero_logging = b.option(bool, "zero_logging", "disables all logging, only intended for use on job dispatch testing") orelse false,
+        .slow_logging = b.option(bool, "slow_logging", "Disables buffered logging, takes a hit to performance but gain timing information on logging") orelse false,
+        .force_mailbox = b.option(bool, "force_mailbox", "forces mailbox mode for present mode. unlocks framerate to irresponsible levels") orelse false,
+    };
+}
+
+pub fn createGameOptions(b: *std.Build, options: BuildOptions) *std.Build.Step.Options {
+    const opts = b.addOptions();
+
+    inline for (@typeInfo(BuildOptions).@"struct".fields) |field| {
+        opts.addOption(bool, field.name, @field(options, field.name));
+    }
+
+    // build options for core.zig
+    // opts.addOption(
+    //     bool,
+    //     "mutex_job_queue",
+    // );
+
+    // opts.addOption(
+    //     bool,
+    //     "static_build",
+    // );
+
+    // opts.addOption(
+    //     bool,
+    //     "zero_logging",
+    // );
+    // opts.addOption(
+    //     bool,
+    //     "slow_logging",
+    // );
+    // opts.addOption(
+    //     bool,
+    //     "force_mailbox",
+    // );
+
+    return opts;
+}
+
+pub fn addExtraModule(self: *BuildSystem, mod: *std.Build.Module, moduleName: []const u8) void {
+    const dep = self.b.dependency(moduleName, .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = self.optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild });
+    mod.addImport(moduleName, dep.module(moduleName));
+}
+
+pub fn addDependencyInstalls(self: *BuildSystem, b: *std.Build, optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode) void {
+    //if (self.staticBuild) {
+    //return;
+    // }
+
+    inline for (DynamicDepList) |d| {
+        b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
+            d.dep,
+            .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
+        ).artifact(d.artifact));
+    }
+
+    // b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
+    //     "sdl3",
+    //     .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
+    // ).artifact("SDL3"));
+}
+
+const DynamicDepList: []const struct { dep: []const u8, artifact: []const u8 } = &.{
+    .{ .dep = "sdl3", .artifact = "SDL3" },
+    .{ .dep = "spng", .artifact = "spng_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "lua", .artifact = "luac" },
+    // .{ .dep = "miniaudio", .artifact = "miniaudio_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "zphysics", .artifact = "joltc" },
+    // .{ .dep = "enet", .artifact = "enet_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "ozz", .artifact = "ozz_cpp" },
+};
+
+// all other modules are disabled by default
+pub const defaultEnabledModules: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    "core",
+    "assets",
+    "platform",
+    "rend",
+};
+
+pub const moduleOrder: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    "core",
+    "sys",
+    "assets",
+    "platform",
+    "net",
+    "physics",
+    "audio",
+    "rend",
+    "ui",
+    "imgui",
+    "papyrus",
+};
+
+pub const DynamicModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+    programName: []const u8,
+    opts: AddProgramOptions,
+
+    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+
+    library: ?*std.Build.Step.Compile = null,
+
+    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
+        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn init(name: []const u8, p: *Program) *@This() {
+        var self: *@This() = p.allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+        self.* = .{
+            .opts = p.opts,
+            .programName = p.opts.name,
+            .buildSystem = p.buildSystem,
+            .allocator = p.allocator,
+            .name = name,
+        };
+
+        for (p.gameModules.items) |module| {
+            self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
+        }
+
+        for (p.extras.items) |module| {
+            self.extras.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
+        }
+
+        return self;
+    }
+
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Step.Compile {
+        if (self.library) |lib| {
+            return lib;
+        }
+
+        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
+        const static = self.buildSystem.staticBuild;
+        const lib = if (static)
+            b.addStaticLibrary(.{
+                .root_source_file = self.opts.root_source_file,
+                .link_libc = true,
+                .optimize = self.buildSystem.optimize,
+                .target = self.buildSystem.target,
+                .name = self.name,
+            })
+        else
+            b.addSharedLibrary(.{
+                .root_source_file = self.opts.root_source_file,
+                .link_libc = true,
+                .optimize = self.buildSystem.optimize,
+                .target = self.buildSystem.target,
+                .name = self.name,
+            });
+
+        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8).init(self.buildSystem.b.allocator);
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                modlist.append(mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
+            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(lib.root_module, extra.name);
+        }
+
+        lib.root_module.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.name, modlist.items, null));
+        lib.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.buildSystem.options);
+
+        if (static) {
+            // generateApi should create static callers for the main program
+        } else {
+            const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(lib, .{
+                .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },
+            });
+            b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&installExtern.step);
+        }
+
+        return lib;
+    }
+};
+
+pub const GameModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    enabled: bool = true,
+};
+
+pub const Program = struct {
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    opts: AddProgramOptions,
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    dynamicModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*DynamicModule) = .{},
+    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+
+    iconPath: ?std.Build.LazyPath = null,
+
+    pub fn setIconPath(self: *@This(), path: []const u8) void {
+        if (self.iconPath != null) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        self.iconPath = self.buildSystem.generateRc(self.opts.name, path) catch return;
+    }
+
+    pub fn setModuleEnabled(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, enable: bool) void {
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |*m| {
+            if (std.mem.eql(u8, m.name, module)) {
+                m.enabled = enable;
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // module not found, add it here.
+        self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = enable }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
+        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn addDynamicModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, root_source_file: std.Build.LazyPath) *DynamicModule {
+        const dynamicModule = DynamicModule.init(module, self);
+        dynamicModule.opts.root_source_file = root_source_file;
+        self.dynamicModules.append(self.allocator, dynamicModule) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+        return dynamicModule;
+    }
+
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
+        const exe = self.buildSystem.addProgram(self.opts);
+        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8).init(self.buildSystem.b.allocator);
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                modlist.append(mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
+            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(exe, extra.name);
+        }
+
+        exe.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.opts.name, modlist.items, self.dynamicModules.items));
+
+        if (self.buildSystem.target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
+            if (self.iconPath) |ip| {
+                exe.addWin32ResourceFile(.{
+                    .file = ip,
+                    .flags = &.{},
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        return exe;
+    }
+};
+
+pub fn program(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *Program {
+    const prog = self.b.allocator.create(Program) catch unreachable;
+
+    prog.* = .{
+        .allocator = self.b.allocator,
+        .opts = opts,
+        .buildSystem = self,
+    };
+
+    for (moduleOrder) |module| {
+        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, false);
+    }
+
+    for (defaultEnabledModules) |module| {
+        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, true);
+    }
+
+    return prog;
+}
+
+// ========= standalone build instance =======
+// maybe the default should be like an engine launcher/project launcher or something
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+
+    const spirvDep = b.dependency("SpirvReflect", .{
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+        .static_build = static_build,
+    });
+    _ = spirvDep;
+
+    const fwdGeneratorExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-fwd",
+        .target = b.graph.host,
+        .optimize = .Debug,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateFwd.zig"),
+    });
+
+    const generateExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-apigen",
+        .target = b.graph.host,
+        .optimize = .Debug,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateApi.zig"),
+    });
+
+    const generateShaders = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-shaderEmbedGen",
+        .target = b.graph.host,
+        .optimize = .Debug,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateEmbeddedShaders.zig"),
+    });
+
+    const generateRcExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-rc",
+        .target = b.graph.host,
+        .optimize = .Debug,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateRc.zig"),
+    });
+
+    const generateLoadDynamicsExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-loadDynamics",
+        .target = b.graph.host,
+        .optimize = .Debug,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateLoadDynamics.zig"),
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(generateLoadDynamicsExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateShaders);
+    b.installArtifact(generateRcExe);
+
+    {
+        const loadDynamicsStub = b.addModule("loadDynamicsStub", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/loadDynamicsStub.zig"),
+        });
+
+        _ = loadDynamicsStub;
+
+        const mod = b.addModule("Backlog", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/backlog.zig"),
+        });
+
+        for (engineDepList) |depName| {
+            const dep = b.dependency(
+                depName,
+                .{
+                    .target = target,
+                    .optimize = optimize,
+                    .static_build = static_build,
+                },
+            );
+
+            const run = b.addRunArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
+            const output = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}_fwd.zig", .{depName}));
+
+            const modFwd = b.addModule(depName, .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .root_source_file = output,
+            });
+
+            mod.addImport(b.fmt("{s}", .{depName}), modFwd);
+            modFwd.addImport("module", dep.module(depName));
+
+            // mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
+        }
+
+        // link in large platform support functions... special case.
+        {
+            const dep = b.dependency("sdl3", .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .static_build = static_build,
+            });
+            const lib = dep.module("SDL3");
+
+            mod.addImport("sdl3_fwd", lib);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn generateApi(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, moduleList: []const []const u8, dynamicModules: ?[]const *DynamicModule) *std.Build.Module {
+    // std.debug.print("GENERATE API:: {s}\n", .{programName});
+
+    for (moduleList) |mod| {
+        _ = mod;
+        // std.debug.print("{s}\n", .{mod});
+    }
+    //
+    if (self.generatedApis.get(programName)) |m| {
+        return m;
+    }
+
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.apigen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}Api.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    for (moduleList) |modName| {
+        run.addArg(modName);
+    }
+
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+    for (moduleList) |modName| {
+        mod.addImport(modName, self.nwdep.module(modName));
+    }
+
+    const loadStatics = self.generateInstallStaticResources(programName, "content/_shaders") catch unreachable;
+    mod.addImport("staticShaderLoader", loadStatics);
+
+    // deal with dynamics
+    if (dynamicModules) |dynamics| {
+        const loadDynamics = self.generateLoadDynamics(programName, dynamics) catch @panic("unknown");
+        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", loadDynamics);
+    } else {
+        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", self.nwdep.module("loadDynamicsStub"));
+    }
+
+    self.generatedApis.put(self.b.allocator, programName, mod) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub fn generateRc(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, iconPath: []const u8) !std.Build.LazyPath {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.rcGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}.rc", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    run.addArg(iconPath);
+
+    return output;
+}
+
+pub fn generateLoadDynamics(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, dynamics: []const *DynamicModule) !*std.Build.Module {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.loadDynamicsGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}LoadDynamics.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    if (self.staticBuild) {
+        run.addArg("static");
+    } else {
+        run.addArg("dynamic");
+    }
+
+    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
+        run.addArg(dyn.name);
+    }
+
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+
+    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
+        const dynmod = dyn.compileInstall();
+        mod.addImport(dyn.name, dynmod.root_module);
+    }
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub fn generateInstallStaticResources(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, shadersPath: []const u8) !*std.Build.Module {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.shaderEmbedGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}ShaderGen.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    run.addArg(shadersPath);
+
+    const b = self.b;
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+
+    var dir = try std.fs.cwd().openDir("content/_shaders", .{ .iterate = true });
+    defer dir.close();
+
+    var walker = dir.iterate();
+    while (try walker.next()) |shaderType| {
+        if (shaderType.kind == .directory) {
+            var d2 = try dir.openDir(shaderType.name, .{ .iterate = true });
+            defer d2.close();
+            var w2 = d2.iterate();
+            while (try w2.next()) |shaderName| {
+                const shaderPath = b.fmt("content/_shaders/{s}/{s}", .{ shaderType.name, shaderName.name });
+                mod.addAnonymousImport(shaderName.name, .{
+                    .root_source_file = b.path(shaderPath),
+                });
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return mod;
+}

build.zig

@@ -1,42 +1,27 @@
 // MVK_CONFIG_USE_METAL_ARGUMENT_BUFFERS=1 -- use this if you're getting that odd crash on mac
 b: *std.Build,
-nw_builder: *std.Build,
-target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
-optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
+bEngine: *std.Build, // used to resolve executable paths from within the engine's root directory
+opts: bh.Options,
 nw_mod: *std.Build.Module,
 gltf2ozz: ozz.GltfToOzz,
 options: *std.Build.Step.Options,
 cookShaders: bool,
 
 backlogRoot: []const u8,
+
 // list of all shaders discovered under
 // content/_shaders/def
 reflectShaderPathList: [][]u8 = undefined,
 
-staticBuild: bool = false,
-
 nwdep: *std.Build.Dependency,
-apigen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+// apigen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
 shaderEmbedGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
 loadDynamicsGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
 rcGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
+specGen: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
 generatedApis: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(*std.Build.Module) = .{},
 
-const engineDepList = [_][]const u8{
-    "assets",
-    "audio",
-    "core",
-    "net",
-    "papyrus",
-    "platform",
-    "rend",
-    "ui",
-    "imgui",
-    "physics",
-    "sys",
-};
-
-const BuildSystem = @This();
+pub const BuildSystem = @This();
 const std = @import("std");
 const Build = std.Build;
 const LazyPath = Build.LazyPath;
@@ -46,41 +31,47 @@ const ozz = @import("ozz");
 pub const InitOptions = struct {
     import_name: []const u8 = "Backlog",
     backlogRoot: []const u8 = "./BacklogEngine",
-    staticBuild: bool = false,
-    target: Build.ResolvedTarget,
+    target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
     optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
 };
 
-pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
-    var buildOpts = declareBuildOptions(b);
+pub fn init(b: *std.Build, initOptions: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
+    const buildOpts = declareBuildOptions(b);
+
+    const opts = bh.Options{
+        .target = initOptions.target,
+        .optimize = initOptions.optimize,
+        .static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false,
+        .tracy = b.option(bool, "tracy", "builds with tracy support") orelse false,
+    };
 
     if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .linux) {
-        // using a static build for linux... object loading hell is not fun
-        std.debug.print("Important! only supporting static builds for linux", .{});
-        buildOpts.static_build = true;
+        // using a static build for linux... object loading hell is not fun...
+        // i have skill issues in that realm right now
+        // std.debug.print("Important! only supporting static builds for linux", .{});
+        // opts.static_build = true;
     }
 
-    const nwdep = b.dependency(opts.import_name, .{
+    const nwdep = b.dependency(initOptions.import_name, .{
         .target = opts.target,
         .optimize = opts.optimize,
-        .static_build = buildOpts.static_build,
+        .static_build = opts.static_build,
     });
 
     var self = BuildSystem{
         .b = b,
-        .nw_builder = nwdep.builder,
-        .target = opts.target,
-        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .bEngine = nwdep.builder,
+        .opts = opts,
         .nw_mod = nwdep.module("Backlog"),
-        .backlogRoot = opts.backlogRoot,
-        .options = createGameOptions(b, buildOpts),
+        .backlogRoot = initOptions.backlogRoot,
+        .options = createGameOptions(b, buildOpts, opts),
         .gltf2ozz = ozz.GltfToOzz.init(nwdep.builder, .{}),
         .cookShaders = b.option(bool, "cookShaders", "generates shaders and updates .json files before running the build. (needs to be done whenever shaders are updated, this just runs tools/scripts/cook-shaders.py)") orelse false,
 
-        .staticBuild = buildOpts.static_build,
         .nwdep = nwdep,
-        .apigen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-apigen"),
+        // .apigen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-apigen"),
         .loadDynamicsGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-loadDynamics"),
+        .specGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-spec"),
         .rcGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-rc"),
         .shaderEmbedGen = nwdep.artifact("backlog-shaderEmbedGen"),
     };
@@ -110,509 +101,80 @@ pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
     return self;
 }
 
-pub const AddProgramOptions = struct {
-    name: []const u8,
-    desc: []const u8,
-    root_source_file: LazyPath,
-    imports: []const Build.Module.Import = &.{},
-};
-
-pub fn addProgram(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *std.Build.Module {
-    const b = self.b;
-
-    const exe = self.nw_builder.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = opts.name,
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = self.target,
-            .optimize = self.optimize,
-            .root_source_file = self.nw_builder.path("engine/main.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    b.installArtifact(exe);
-    const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(exe);
-    if (b.args) |args| {
-        runArtifact.addArgs(args);
-    }
-    const run_exe = b.step(self.b.fmt("run-{s}", .{opts.name}), opts.desc);
-    run_exe.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
-
-    // main path = name/main.zig
-    const mod = b.addModule(opts.name, .{
-        .target = self.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
-        .root_source_file = opts.root_source_file,
-        .imports = opts.imports,
-    });
-
-    exe.root_module.addImport("main", mod);
-    // todo.. remove this one and see what happens
-    exe.root_module.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
-    // mod.addImport("Backlog", self.nw_mod);
-    exe.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.options);
-
-    if (self.cookShaders) {
-        const cookShadersScript = b.fmt("{s}/tools/scripts/cookShaders.py", .{self.backlogRoot});
-        const cookShadersCommand = b.addSystemCommand(&[_][]const u8{"python"});
-        cookShadersCommand.addArg(cookShadersScript);
-
-        run_exe.dependOn(&cookShadersCommand.step);
-    }
-
-    b.getInstallStep().dependOn(self.nw_builder.getInstallStep());
-
-    // run_exe.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());
-
-    return mod;
-}
-
-pub const BuildOptions = struct {
+// Build Options for the engine,
+// should generally be written as false = default
+// true = enabling something
+const BuildOptions = struct {
     mutex_job_queue: bool,
-    static_build: bool,
     zero_logging: bool,
     slow_logging: bool,
     force_mailbox: bool,
 };
 
-pub fn declareBuildOptions(b: *std.Build) BuildOptions {
+fn declareBuildOptions(b: *std.Build) BuildOptions {
     return .{
         .mutex_job_queue = b.option(bool, "mutex_job_queue", "temporary test, reverts to old mutex based queue behaviour in jobs.zig:JobManager") orelse false,
-        .static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds the entire game as a single executable") orelse false,
         .zero_logging = b.option(bool, "zero_logging", "disables all logging, only intended for use on job dispatch testing") orelse false,
         .slow_logging = b.option(bool, "slow_logging", "Disables buffered logging, takes a hit to performance but gain timing information on logging") orelse false,
         .force_mailbox = b.option(bool, "force_mailbox", "forces mailbox mode for present mode. unlocks framerate to irresponsible levels") orelse false,
     };
 }
 
-pub fn createGameOptions(b: *std.Build, options: BuildOptions) *std.Build.Step.Options {
+fn createGameOptions(b: *std.Build, options: BuildOptions, bhopts: bh.Options) *std.Build.Step.Options {
     const opts = b.addOptions();
 
     inline for (@typeInfo(BuildOptions).@"struct".fields) |field| {
         opts.addOption(bool, field.name, @field(options, field.name));
     }
 
-    // build options for core.zig
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "mutex_job_queue",
-    // );
-
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "static_build",
-    // );
-
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "zero_logging",
-    // );
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "slow_logging",
-    // );
-    // opts.addOption(
-    //     bool,
-    //     "force_mailbox",
-    // );
+    // forward the options to the build options
+    opts.addOption(bool, "tracy", bhopts.tracy);
+    opts.addOption(bool, "static_build", bhopts.static_build);
 
     return opts;
 }
 
 pub fn addExtraModule(self: *BuildSystem, mod: *std.Build.Module, moduleName: []const u8) void {
-    const dep = self.b.dependency(moduleName, .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = self.optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild });
+    const dep = self.b.dependency(moduleName, .{ .target = self.opts.target, .optimize = self.opts.optimize, .static_build = self.opts.static_build });
     mod.addImport(moduleName, dep.module(moduleName));
 }
 
-pub fn addDependencyInstalls(self: *BuildSystem, b: *std.Build, optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode) void {
-    //if (self.staticBuild) {
-    //return;
-    // }
+fn addDependencyInstalls(self: *BuildSystem, b: *std.Build, optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode) void {
+    if (self.opts.static_build) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     inline for (DynamicDepList) |d| {
         b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
             d.dep,
-            .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
+            .{ .target = self.opts.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.opts.static_build },
         ).artifact(d.artifact));
     }
-
-    // b.installArtifact(b.dependency(
-    //     "sdl3",
-    //     .{ .target = self.target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = self.staticBuild },
-    // ).artifact("SDL3"));
 }
 
 const DynamicDepList: []const struct { dep: []const u8, artifact: []const u8 } = &.{
     .{ .dep = "sdl3", .artifact = "SDL3" },
-    .{ .dep = "spng", .artifact = "spng" },
-    .{ .dep = "lua", .artifact = "lua" },
-    .{ .dep = "miniaudio", .artifact = "miniaudio" },
-    .{ .dep = "zphysics", .artifact = "zphysics" },
+    .{ .dep = "spng", .artifact = "spng_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "lua", .artifact = "luac" },
+    .{ .dep = "miniaudio", .artifact = "miniaudio_c" },
+    .{ .dep = "zphysics", .artifact = "joltc" },
     // .{ .dep = "enet", .artifact = "enet_c" },
-    .{ .dep = "ozz", .artifact = "ozz" },
+    .{ .dep = "ozz", .artifact = "ozz_cpp" },
 };
 
-// all other modules are disabled by default
-pub const defaultEnabledModules: []const []const u8 = &.{
-    "core",
-    "assets",
-    "platform",
-    "rend",
-};
-
-pub const moduleOrder: []const []const u8 = &.{
-    "core",
-    "sys",
-    "assets",
-    "platform",
-    "net",
-    "physics",
-    "audio",
-    "rend",
-    "ui",
-    "imgui",
-    "papyrus",
-};
-
-pub const DynamicModule = struct {
+pub fn addProgram(
+    self: *@This(),
     name: []const u8,
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
-    programName: []const u8,
-    opts: AddProgramOptions,
-
-    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
-    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
-
-    library: ?*std.Build.Step.Compile = null,
-
-    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
-        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
-    }
-
-    pub fn init(name: []const u8, p: *Program) *@This() {
-        var self: *@This() = p.allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("out of memory");
-
-        self.* = .{
-            .opts = p.opts,
-            .programName = p.opts.name,
-            .buildSystem = p.buildSystem,
-            .allocator = p.allocator,
-            .name = name,
-        };
-
-        for (p.gameModules.items) |module| {
-            self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
-        }
-
-        for (p.extras.items) |module| {
-            self.extras.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
-        }
-
-        return self;
-    }
-
-    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Step.Compile {
-        if (self.library) |lib| {
-            return lib;
-        }
-
-        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
-        const static = self.buildSystem.staticBuild;
-        const lib = b.addLibrary(.{
-            .name = self.name,
-            .linkage = if (static) .static else .dynamic,
-            .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-                .root_source_file = self.opts.root_source_file,
-                .link_libc = true,
-                .optimize = self.buildSystem.optimize,
-                .target = self.buildSystem.target,
-            }),
-        });
-
-        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
-
-        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
-
-        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
-            if (mod.enabled) {
-                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
-            }
-        }
-
-        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
-            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(lib.root_module, extra.name);
-        }
-
-        lib.root_module.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.name, modlist.items, null));
-        lib.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.buildSystem.options);
-
-        if (static) {
-            // generateApi should create static callers for the main program
-        } else {
-            const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(lib, .{
-                .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },
-            });
-            b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&installExtern.step);
-        }
-
-        return lib;
-    }
-};
-
-pub const GameModule = struct {
-    name: []const u8,
-    enabled: bool = true,
-};
-
-pub const Program = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    opts: AddProgramOptions,
-    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
-    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
-    dynamicModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*DynamicModule) = .{},
-    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
-
-    iconPath: ?std.Build.LazyPath = null,
-
-    pub fn setIconPath(self: *@This(), path: []const u8) void {
-        if (self.iconPath != null) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        self.iconPath = self.buildSystem.generateRc(self.opts.name, path) catch return;
-    }
-
-    pub fn setModuleEnabled(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, enable: bool) void {
-        for (self.gameModules.items) |*m| {
-            if (std.mem.eql(u8, m.name, module)) {
-                m.enabled = enable;
-                return;
-            }
-        }
-
-        // module not found, add it here.
-        self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = enable }) catch @panic("out of memory");
-    }
-
-    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
-        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
-    }
-
-    pub fn addDynamicModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, root_source_file: std.Build.LazyPath) *DynamicModule {
-        const dynamicModule = DynamicModule.init(module, self);
-        dynamicModule.opts.root_source_file = root_source_file;
-        self.dynamicModules.append(self.allocator, dynamicModule) catch @panic("out of memory");
-
-        return dynamicModule;
-    }
-
-    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
-        const exe = self.buildSystem.addProgram(self.opts);
-        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
-
-        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
-
-        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
-            if (mod.enabled) {
-                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
-            }
-        }
-
-        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
-            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(exe, extra.name);
-        }
-
-        exe.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.opts.name, modlist.items, self.dynamicModules.items));
-
-        if (self.buildSystem.target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
-            if (self.iconPath) |ip| {
-                exe.addWin32ResourceFile(.{
-                    .file = ip,
-                    .flags = &.{},
-                });
-            }
-        }
-
-        return exe;
-    }
-};
-
-pub fn program(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *Program {
-    const prog = self.b.allocator.create(Program) catch unreachable;
-
-    prog.* = .{
-        .allocator = self.b.allocator,
-        .opts = opts,
+) *Program {
+    const p = self.b.allocator.create(Program) catch unreachable;
+    p.* = .{
+        .name = name,
+        .opts = self.opts,
         .buildSystem = self,
+        .allocator = self.b.allocator,
     };
 
-    for (moduleOrder) |module| {
-        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, false);
-    }
-
-    for (defaultEnabledModules) |module| {
-        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, true);
-    }
-
-    return prog;
-}
-
-// ========= standalone build instance =======
-// maybe the default should be like an engine launcher/project launcher or something
-pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
-
-    const fwdGeneratorExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-generate-fwd",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateFwd.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    const generateExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-apigen",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateApi.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    const generateShaders = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-shaderEmbedGen",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateEmbeddedShaders.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    const generateRcExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-generate-rc",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateRc.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    const generateLoadDynamicsExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-        .name = "backlog-generate-loadDynamics",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = b.graph.host,
-            .optimize = .Debug,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("build/generateLoadDynamics.zig"),
-        }),
-    });
-
-    b.installArtifact(generateLoadDynamicsExe);
-    b.installArtifact(generateExe);
-    b.installArtifact(generateShaders);
-    b.installArtifact(generateRcExe);
-
-    {
-        const loadDynamicsStub = b.addModule("loadDynamicsStub", .{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/loadDynamicsStub.zig"),
-        });
-
-        _ = loadDynamicsStub;
-
-        const mod = b.addModule("Backlog", .{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/backlog.zig"),
-        });
-
-        for (engineDepList) |depName| {
-            const dep = b.dependency(
-                depName,
-                .{
-                    .target = target,
-                    .optimize = optimize,
-                    .static_build = static_build,
-                },
-            );
-
-            const run = b.addRunArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
-            const output = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}_fwd.zig", .{depName}));
-
-            const modFwd = b.addModule(depName, .{
-                .target = target,
-                .optimize = optimize,
-                .root_source_file = output,
-            });
-
-            mod.addImport(b.fmt("{s}", .{depName}), modFwd);
-            modFwd.addImport("module", dep.module(depName));
-
-            b.installArtifact(dep.artifact(depName));
-
-            // mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
-        }
-
-        // link in large platform support functions... special case.
-        {
-            const dep = b.dependency("sdl3", .{
-                .target = target,
-                .optimize = optimize,
-                .static_build = static_build,
-            });
-            const lib = dep.module("sdl3");
-
-            mod.addImport("sdl3_fwd", lib);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-pub fn generateApi(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, moduleList: []const []const u8, dynamicModules: ?[]const *DynamicModule) *std.Build.Module {
-    // std.debug.print("GENERATE API:: {s}\n", .{programName});
-
-    for (moduleList) |mod| {
-        _ = mod;
-        // std.debug.print("{s}\n", .{mod});
-    }
-    //
-    if (self.generatedApis.get(programName)) |m| {
-        return m;
-    }
-
-    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.apigen);
-    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}Api.zig", .{programName});
-    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
-    for (moduleList) |modName| {
-        run.addArg(modName);
-    }
-
-    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
-        .target = self.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
-        .root_source_file = output,
-    });
-    for (moduleList) |modName| {
-        mod.addImport(modName, self.nwdep.module(modName));
-        mod.linkLibrary(self.nwdep.artifact(modName));
-    }
-
-    const loadStatics = self.generateInstallStaticResources(programName, "content/_shaders") catch unreachable;
-    mod.addImport("staticShaderLoader", loadStatics);
-
-    // deal with dynamics
-    if (dynamicModules) |dynamics| {
-        const loadDynamics = self.generateLoadDynamics(programName, dynamics) catch @panic("unknown");
-        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", loadDynamics);
-    } else {
-        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", self.nwdep.module("loadDynamicsStub"));
-    }
-
-    self.generatedApis.put(self.b.allocator, programName, mod) catch @panic("out of memory");
-
-    return mod;
+    return p;
 }
 
 pub fn generateRc(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, iconPath: []const u8) !std.Build.LazyPath {
@@ -624,35 +186,6 @@ pub fn generateRc(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, iconPath: []const u8)
     return output;
 }
 
-pub fn generateLoadDynamics(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, dynamics: []const *DynamicModule) !*std.Build.Module {
-    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.loadDynamicsGen);
-    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}LoadDynamics.zig", .{programName});
-    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
-    if (self.staticBuild) {
-        run.addArg("static");
-    } else {
-        run.addArg("dynamic");
-    }
-
-    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
-        run.addArg(dyn.name);
-    }
-
-    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
-        .target = self.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
-        .root_source_file = output,
-    });
-
-    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
-    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
-        const dynmod = dyn.compileInstall();
-        mod.addImport(dyn.name, dynmod.root_module);
-    }
-
-    return mod;
-}
-
 pub fn generateInstallStaticResources(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, shadersPath: []const u8) !*std.Build.Module {
     const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.shaderEmbedGen);
     const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}ShaderGen.zig", .{programName});
@@ -661,8 +194,8 @@ pub fn generateInstallStaticResources(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, s
 
     const b = self.b;
     const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
-        .target = self.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .target = self.opts.target,
+        .optimize = self.opts.optimize,
         .root_source_file = output,
     });
     mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
@@ -687,3 +220,15 @@ pub fn generateInstallStaticResources(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, s
 
     return mod;
 }
+
+// ========= standalone build instance =======
+// maybe the default should be like an engine launcher/project launcher or something
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
+    engineDeps.buildGenerators(b, opts);
+}
+
+const bh = @import("bh");
+const engineDeps = @import("build/engineDeps.zig");
+const program = @import("build/program.zig");
+const Program = program.Program;

build.zig.zon

@@ -1,28 +1,23 @@
-.{
-    .name = .Backlog,
-    .version = "0.0.0",
-    .dependencies = .{
-        .assets = .{ .path = "engine/assets" },
-        .audio = .{ .path = "engine/audio" },
-        .core = .{ .path = "engine/core" },
-        .net = .{ .path = "engine/net" },
-        .papyrus = .{ .path = "engine/papyrus" },
-        .physics = .{ .path = "engine/physics" },
-        .platform = .{ .path = "engine/platform" },
-        .imgui = .{ .path = "engine/imgui" },
-        .ui = .{ .path = "engine/ui" },
-        .sys = .{ .path = "engine/sys" },
-        .rend = .{.path = "engine/rend" },
+.{ .name = .Backlog, .version = "0.0.0", .dependencies = .{
+    .assets = .{ .path = "engine/assets" },
+    .audio = .{ .path = "engine/audio" },
+    .core = .{ .path = "engine/core" },
+    .net = .{ .path = "engine/net" },
+    .papyrus = .{ .path = "engine/papyrus" },
+    .physics = .{ .path = "engine/physics" },
+    .platform = .{ .path = "engine/platform" },
+    .imgui = .{ .path = "engine/imgui" },
+    .ui = .{ .path = "engine/ui" },
+    .sys = .{ .path = "engine/sys" },
+    .rend = .{ .path = "engine/rend" },
 
-        .ozz = .{ .path = "lib/ozz" },
-        .spng = .{ .path = "lib/spng" },
-        .zphysics = .{ .path = "lib/zphysics" },
+    .ozz = .{ .path = "lib/ozz" },
+    .spng = .{ .path = "lib/spng" },
+    .zphysics = .{ .path = "lib/zphysics" },
 
-        .sdl3 = .{ .path = "lib/sdl3" },
-        .enet = .{ .path = "lib/enet" },
-    },
-    .paths = .{
-        "",
-    },
-    .fingerprint = 0xcf9bab998abe37e3 
-}
+    .sdl3 = .{ .path = "lib/sdl3" },
+    .enet = .{ .path = "lib/enet" },
+    .bh = .{ .path = "lib/bh" },
+}, .paths = .{
+    "",
+}, .fingerprint = 0xcf9bab998abe37e3 }

build/Program-old.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+pub const AddProgramOptions = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    desc: []const u8,
+    root_source_file: LazyPath,
+    imports: []const Build.Module.Import = &.{},
+};
+
+pub const Program = struct {
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    opts: AddProgramOptions,
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    dynamicModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*DynamicModule) = .{},
+    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+
+    iconPath: ?std.Build.LazyPath = null,
+
+    pub fn setIconPath(self: *@This(), path: []const u8) void {
+        if (self.iconPath != null) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        self.iconPath = self.buildSystem.generateRc(self.opts.name, path) catch return;
+    }
+
+    pub fn setModuleEnabled(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, enable: bool) void {
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |*m| {
+            if (std.mem.eql(u8, m.name, module)) {
+                m.enabled = enable;
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // module not found, add it here.
+        self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = enable }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
+        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn addDynamicModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8, root_source_file: std.Build.LazyPath) *DynamicModule {
+        const dynamicModule = DynamicModule.init(module, self);
+        dynamicModule.opts.root_source_file = root_source_file;
+        self.dynamicModules.append(self.allocator, dynamicModule) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+        return dynamicModule;
+    }
+
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
+        const exe = self.buildSystem.addProgram(self.opts);
+        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
+
+        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
+            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(exe, extra.name);
+        }
+
+        exe.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.opts.name, modlist.items, self.dynamicModules.items));
+
+        if (self.buildSystem.target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
+            if (self.iconPath) |ip| {
+                exe.addWin32ResourceFile(.{
+                    .file = ip,
+                    .flags = &.{},
+                });
+            }
+        }
+
+        return exe;
+    }
+};
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const Build = std.Build;
+const LazyPath = Build.LazyPath;
+

build/engineDeps.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+const engineDepList = [_][]const u8{
+    "assets",
+    "audio",
+    "core",
+    "net",
+    "papyrus",
+    "platform",
+    "rend",
+    "ui",
+    "imgui",
+    "physics",
+    "sys",
+};
+
+pub fn depList() []const []const u8 {
+    return &engineDepList;
+}
+
+pub fn buildGenerators(b: *std.Build, opts: bh.Options) void {
+    const target = opts.target;
+    const optimize = opts.optimize;
+    const static_build = opts.static_build;
+
+    const fwdGeneratorExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-fwd",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateFwd.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateModApiExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-modapi",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateModApi.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateProgramSpecExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-spec",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateProgramSpec.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateShaders = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-shaderEmbedGen",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateEmbeddedShaders.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateRcExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-rc",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateRc.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateLoadDynamicsExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-loadDynamics",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateLoadDynamics.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateLoadDynamicsExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateProgramSpecExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateShaders);
+    b.installArtifact(generateRcExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateModApiExe);
+
+    {
+        const loadDynamicsStub = b.addModule("loadDynamicsStub", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/loadDynamicsStub.zig"),
+        });
+
+        _ = loadDynamicsStub;
+
+        const mod = b.addModule("Backlog", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/backlog.zig"),
+        });
+
+        for (depList()) |depName| {
+            const dep = b.dependency(
+                depName,
+                .{
+                    .target = target,
+                    .optimize = optimize,
+                    .static_build = static_build,
+                },
+            );
+
+            const run = b.addRunArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
+            const output = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}_fwd.zig", .{depName}));
+
+            const modFwd = b.addModule(depName, .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .root_source_file = output,
+            });
+
+            mod.addImport(b.fmt("{s}", .{depName}), modFwd);
+            modFwd.addImport("module", dep.module(depName));
+        }
+
+        // link in large platform support functions... special case.
+        {
+            const dep = b.dependency("sdl3", .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .static_build = static_build,
+            });
+            const lib = dep.module("SDL3");
+
+            mod.addImport("sdl3_fwd", lib);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const bh = @import("bh");

build/modules-old.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+// legacy code, kept here as reference
+pub const GameModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    enabled: bool = true,
+};
+
+pub fn program(self: *BuildSystem, opts: AddProgramOptions) *Program {
+    const prog = self.b.allocator.create(Program) catch unreachable;
+
+    prog.* = .{
+        .allocator = self.b.allocator,
+        .opts = opts,
+        .buildSystem = self,
+    };
+
+    for (moduleOrder) |module| {
+        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, false);
+    }
+
+    for (defaultEnabledModules) |module| {
+        prog.setModuleEnabled(module, true);
+    }
+
+    return prog;
+}
+
+pub const DynamicModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+    programName: []const u8,
+    opts: Program.AddProgramOptions,
+
+    extras: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(Program.GameModule) = .{},
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(Program.GameModule) = .{},
+
+    library: ?*std.Build.Step.Compile = null,
+
+    pub fn addExtraModule(self: *@This(), module: []const u8) void {
+        self.extras.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = module, .enabled = true }) catch @panic("out of memory");
+    }
+
+    pub fn init(name: []const u8, p: *Program) *@This() {
+        var self: *@This() = p.allocator.create(@This()) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+        self.* = .{
+            .opts = p.opts,
+            .programName = p.opts.name,
+            .buildSystem = p.buildSystem,
+            .allocator = p.allocator,
+            .name = name,
+        };
+
+        for (p.gameModules.items) |module| {
+            self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
+        }
+
+        for (p.extras.items) |module| {
+            self.extras.append(self.allocator, module) catch @panic("out of memory");
+        }
+
+        return self;
+    }
+
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Step.Compile {
+        if (self.library) |lib| {
+            return lib;
+        }
+
+        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
+        const static = self.buildSystem.staticBuild;
+        const lib = b.addLibrary(.{
+            .name = self.name,
+            .linkage = if (static) .static else .dynamic,
+            .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+                .root_source_file = self.opts.root_source_file,
+                .link_libc = true,
+                .optimize = self.buildSystem.optimize,
+                .target = self.buildSystem.target,
+            }),
+        });
+
+        const allocator = self.buildSystem.b.allocator;
+
+        var modlist = std.ArrayList([]const u8){};
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                modlist.append(allocator, mod.name) catch @panic("out of memory");
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (self.extras.items) |extra| {
+            self.buildSystem.addExtraModule(lib.root_module, extra.name);
+        }
+
+        lib.root_module.addImport("backlog", self.buildSystem.generateApi(self.name, modlist.items, null));
+        lib.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.buildSystem.options);
+
+        if (!static) {
+            const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(lib, .{
+                .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },
+            });
+            b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&installExtern.step);
+        }
+
+        return lib;
+    }
+};
+
+pub fn generateApi(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, moduleList: []const []const u8, dynamicModules: ?[]const *DynamicModule,) *std.Build.Module {
+    // std.debug.print("GENERATE API:: {s}\n", .{programName});
+
+    for (moduleList) |mod| {
+        _ = mod;
+        // std.debug.print("{s}\n", .{mod});
+    }
+    //
+    if (self.generatedApis.get(programName)) |m| {
+        return m;
+    }
+
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.apigen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}Api.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    for (moduleList) |modName| {
+        run.addArg(modName);
+    }
+
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+    for (moduleList) |modName| {
+        mod.addImport(modName, self.nwdep.module(modName));
+    }
+
+    const loadStatics = self.generateInstallStaticResources(programName, "content/_shaders") catch unreachable;
+    mod.addImport("staticShaderLoader", loadStatics);
+
+    // deal with dynamics
+    if (dynamicModules) |dynamics| {
+        const loadDynamics = self.generateLoadDynamics(programName, dynamics) catch @panic("unknown");
+        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", loadDynamics);
+    } else {
+        mod.addImport("loadDynamics", self.nwdep.module("loadDynamicsStub"));
+    }
+
+    self.generatedApis.put(self.b.allocator, programName, mod) catch @panic("out of memory");
+
+    return mod;
+}
+
+pub fn generateLoadDynamics(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, dynamics: []const *DynamicModule) !*std.Build.Module {
+    const run = self.b.addRunArtifact(self.loadDynamicsGen);
+    const pfile = self.b.fmt("{s}LoadDynamics.zig", .{programName});
+    const output = run.addOutputFileArg(pfile);
+    if (self.staticBuild) {
+        run.addArg("static");
+    } else {
+        run.addArg("dynamic");
+    }
+
+    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
+        run.addArg(dyn.name);
+    }
+
+    const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
+        .target = self.target,
+        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = output,
+    });
+
+    mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
+    for (dynamics) |dyn| {
+        const dynmod = dyn.compileInstall();
+        mod.addImport(dyn.name, dynmod.root_module);
+    }
+
+    return mod;
+}

build/program.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+pub const AddProgramOptions = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    opt: bh.Options,
+    root_source_file: std.Build.LazyPath,
+};
+
+// all other modules are disabled by default
+pub const defaultEnabledModules: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    "core",
+    "assets",
+    "platform",
+    "rend",
+};
+
+pub const moduleOrder: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    "core",
+    "sys",
+    "assets",
+    "platform",
+    "net",
+    "physics",
+    "audio",
+    "rend",
+    "ui",
+    "imgui",
+    "papyrus",
+};
+
+pub const GameModule = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    enabled: bool = true,
+};
+
+pub const Program = struct {
+    name: []const u8,
+    opts: bh.Options,
+
+    // root_path: not used yet, we will create a second module that dynamically loads in to that root_path
+
+    gameModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(GameModule) = .{},
+    gameModulesMap: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(bool) = .{},
+    buildSystem: *backlog.BuildSystem,
+    iconPath: ?std.Build.LazyPath = null,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator, //  just set this to the build allocator
+
+    pub fn setModuleEnabled(self: *@This(), name: []const u8, enabled: bool) void {
+        const r = self.gameModulesMap.getOrPut(self.allocator, name) catch unreachable;
+        r.value_ptr.* = enabled;
+    }
+
+    fn finalizeModules(self: *@This()) void {
+        self.gameModules.clearRetainingCapacity();
+
+        for (moduleOrder) |mod| {
+            var enabled: bool = false;
+            for (defaultEnabledModules) |default| {
+                if (std.mem.eql(u8, default, mod)) {
+                    enabled = true;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (self.gameModulesMap.get(mod)) |value| {
+                enabled = value;
+            }
+
+            if (enabled) {
+                self.gameModules.append(self.allocator, .{ .name = mod, .enabled = enabled }) catch unreachable;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn setIconPath(self: *@This(), path: []const u8) void {
+        if (self.iconPath != null) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        self.iconPath = self.buildSystem.generateRc(self.name, path) catch return;
+    }
+
+    pub fn makeSpec(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
+        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
+        const run = b.addRunArtifact(self.buildSystem.specGen);
+        const pfile = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}-spec.zig", .{self.name}));
+        run.addArg(self.name);
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled)
+                run.addArg(mod.name);
+        }
+
+        const mod = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = self.opts.target,
+            .optimize = self.opts.optimize,
+            .root_source_file = pfile,
+        });
+
+        const core = self.buildSystem.nwdep.module("core");
+        mod.addImport("core", core);
+
+        return mod;
+    }
+
+    pub fn makeGameApi(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
+        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
+        const apigen = self.buildSystem.nwdep.artifact("backlog-generate-modapi");
+        const run = b.addRunArtifact(apigen);
+        const pfile = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}-api.zig", .{self.name}));
+
+        run.addArg(self.name);
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                run.addArg(mod.name);
+            }
+        }
+
+        const api = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = self.opts.target,
+            .optimize = self.opts.optimize,
+            .root_source_file = pfile,
+        });
+
+        for (self.gameModules.items) |mod| {
+            if (mod.enabled) {
+                api.addImport(mod.name, self.buildSystem.nwdep.module(mod.name));
+            }
+        }
+
+        return api;
+    }
+
+    pub fn makeGameModule(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Step.Compile {
+        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
+        const bEngine = self.buildSystem.bEngine;
+
+        const opts = self.opts;
+
+        // 1. generate the main launch codeset.
+        const lib = b.addLibrary(.{
+            .name = b.fmt("{s}-mod", .{self.name}),
+            .linkage = if (opts.static_build) .static else .dynamic,
+            .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+                .target = opts.target,
+                .optimize = opts.optimize,
+                .root_source_file = bEngine.path("engine/modulelaunch.zig"),
+            }),
+        });
+
+        if (opts.static_build) {
+            // b.installArtifact(lib);
+        } else {
+            const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(lib, .{
+                .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },
+            });
+            b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&installExtern.step);
+        }
+
+        return lib;
+    }
+
+    pub fn generateStaticShaders(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Module {
+        const loadStatics = self.buildSystem.generateInstallStaticResources(self.name, "content/_shaders") catch unreachable;
+        return loadStatics;
+    }
+
+    // spec is linked in both the base trampoline
+    pub fn compileInstall(self: *@This()) *std.Build.Step.Compile {
+        const bEngine = self.buildSystem.bEngine;
+        const b = self.buildSystem.b;
+        const core = self.buildSystem.nwdep.module("core");
+        self.finalizeModules();
+
+        // 1. create the loader
+        const exe = bEngine.addExecutable(.{
+            .name = self.name,
+            .root_module = bEngine.createModule(.{
+                .target = self.opts.target,
+                .optimize = self.opts.optimize,
+                .root_source_file = bEngine.path("engine/main2.zig"),
+            }),
+        });
+
+        // link core
+        const spec = self.makeSpec();
+        exe.root_module.addImport("gamespec", spec);
+        exe.root_module.addImport("core", core);
+        exe.root_module.addOptions("BacklogOptions", self.buildSystem.options);
+
+        if (!self.opts.static_build) {
+            const platform = self.buildSystem.nwdep.module("platform");
+            exe.root_module.addImport("platform", platform);
+        }
+
+        if (self.opts.static_build) {
+            exe.root_module.addImport("staticShaderLoader", self.generateStaticShaders());
+        }
+
+        const gameModule = self.makeGameModule();
+        const gameApi = self.makeGameApi();
+        gameModule.root_module.addImport("backlog", gameApi);
+        gameModule.root_module.addImport("gamespec", spec);
+
+        if (self.opts.static_build) {
+            exe.root_module.addImport("backlog", gameApi);
+        }
+
+        // self.buildSystem.b.installArtifact(exe);
+        const installed = self.buildSystem.b.addInstallArtifact(exe, .{});
+
+        {
+            const run = b.addSystemCommand(&.{b.fmt("zig-out/bin/{s}", .{self.name})});
+            run.step.dependOn(&installed.step);
+
+            if (b.args) |args| {
+                run.addArgs(args);
+            }
+
+            const run_exe = b.step(b.fmt("run-{s}", .{self.name}), "runs the program");
+            run_exe.dependOn(&run.step);
+        }
+
+        return exe;
+    }
+};
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const bh = @import("bh");
+const backlog = @import("../build.zig");

build/resources.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const Build = std.Build;
+const LazyPath = Build.LazyPath;

build/utils.zig

@@ -1,19 +1,114 @@
-pub fn loadFileAlloc(filename: []const u8, comptime alignment: usize, allocator: std.mem.Allocator) ![]u8 {
-    var file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile(filename, .{});
-    defer file.close();
-    const filesize = (try file.stat()).size + 1; // add null byte
-    const buffer: []align(alignment) u8 = try allocator.alignedAlloc(u8, alignment, filesize);
-    errdefer allocator.free(buffer);
-    try file.reader().readNoEof(buffer[0 .. buffer.len - 1]);
-    buffer[buffer.len - 1] = 0;
-    return buffer;
+
+pub fn buildGenerators(b: *std.Build, opts: bh.Options) void {
+    const target = opts.target;
+    const optimize = opts.optimize;
+    const static_build = opts.static_build;
+
+    const fwdGeneratorExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-fwd",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateFwd.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-apigen",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateApi.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateShaders = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-shaderEmbedGen",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateEmbeddedShaders.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateRcExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-rc",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateRc.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    const generateLoadDynamicsExe = b.addExecutable(.{
+        .name = "backlog-generate-loadDynamics",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = b.graph.host,
+            .optimize = .Debug,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("buildgen/generateLoadDynamics.zig"),
+        }),
+    });
+
+    b.installArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateLoadDynamicsExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateExe);
+    b.installArtifact(generateShaders);
+    b.installArtifact(generateRcExe);
+
+    {
+        const loadDynamicsStub = b.addModule("loadDynamicsStub", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/loadDynamicsStub.zig"),
+        });
+
+        _ = loadDynamicsStub;
+
+        const mod = b.addModule("Backlog", .{
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
+            .root_source_file = b.path("engine/backlog.zig"),
+        });
+
+        for (depList()) |depName| {
+            const dep = b.dependency(
+                depName,
+                .{
+                    .target = target,
+                    .optimize = optimize,
+                    .static_build = static_build,
+                },
+            );
+
+            const run = b.addRunArtifact(fwdGeneratorExe);
+            const output = run.addOutputFileArg(b.fmt("{s}_fwd.zig", .{depName}));
+
+            const modFwd = b.addModule(depName, .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .root_source_file = output,
+            });
+
+            mod.addImport(b.fmt("{s}", .{depName}), modFwd);
+            modFwd.addImport("module", dep.module(depName));
+
+            // mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
+        }
+
+        // link in large platform support functions... special case.
+        {
+            const dep = b.dependency("sdl3", .{
+                .target = target,
+                .optimize = optimize,
+                .static_build = static_build,
+            });
+            const lib = dep.module("SDL3");
+
+            mod.addImport("sdl3_fwd", lib);
+        }
+    }
 }
 
-pub fn checkAndFormatAst(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, input: []const u8) ![]u8 {
-    var ast = try std.zig.Ast.parse(allocator, @as([:0]const u8, @ptrCast(input)), .zig);
-    const out = try ast.render(allocator);
-
-    return out;
-}
 
 const std = @import("std");
+const bh = @import("bh");

buildgen/generateEmbeddedShaders.zig

@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ pub fn main() !void {
 
     var ast = try std.zig.Ast.parse(allocator, @as([:0]const u8, @ptrCast(writer.items[0 .. writer.items.len - 1])), .zig);
 
-    // std.debug.print("output=\n{s}", .{content.items[0 .. content.items.len - 1]});
     defer ast.deinit(allocator);
     const out = try ast.renderAlloc(allocator);
 
+    std.debug.print("output=\n{s}", .{out});
     // Write the content to the file
     try file.writeAll(out);
 }

buildgen/generateModApi.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+pub fn usage() void {
+    std.debug.print("generates a loader module which calls the start_modules for all the modules that the game module depends on.\ngenerate-mod-api <output file name> <module_name> <module list>\n", .{});
+}
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    var arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(std.heap.page_allocator);
+    defer arena.deinit();
+    const allocator = arena.allocator();
+
+    // Get output filename from build system
+    const args = try std.process.argsAlloc(allocator);
+    if (args.len < 3) {
+        usage();
+        @panic("Missing output filename\n");
+    }
+    const out_path = args[1];
+    const module_name = args[2];
+    const module_list = args[3..];
+
+    var writer = std.ArrayList(u8){};
+
+    try writer.print(allocator, "pub const moduleName:[]const u8 = \"{s}\";\n", .{module_name});
+
+    try writer.print(allocator, "pub const moduleList:[]const []const u8 = &.{{\n", .{});
+    for (module_list) |mod| {
+        try writer.print(allocator, "\"{s}\",\n", .{mod});
+    }
+    try writer.print(allocator, "}};\n", .{});
+
+    for (module_list) |mod| {
+        try writer.print(allocator, "pub const {s} = @import(\"{s}\").module;\n", .{ mod, mod });
+    }
+
+    try writer.append(allocator, 0);
+
+    const file = try std.fs.cwd().createFile(out_path, .{});
+    defer file.close();
+
+    var ast = try std.zig.Ast.parse(allocator, @as([:0]const u8, @ptrCast(writer.items[0 .. writer.items.len - 1])), .zig);
+
+    // std.debug.print("output=\n{s}", .{writer.items[0 .. writer.items.len - 1]});
+    defer ast.deinit(allocator);
+    const out = try ast.renderAlloc(allocator);
+
+    // Write the content to the file
+    try file.writeAll(out);
+}

buildgen/generateProgramSpec.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+
+pub fn usage() void {
+    std.debug.print("generate-program-spec <output file name> <spec_name> <module list>\n", .{});
+}
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    var arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(std.heap.page_allocator);
+    defer arena.deinit();
+    const allocator = arena.allocator();
+
+    // Get output filename from build system
+    const args = try std.process.argsAlloc(allocator);
+    if (args.len < 3) {
+        usage();
+        @panic("Missing output filename\n");
+    }
+    const out_path = args[1];
+
+    const programName = args[2];
+    const modules = args[3..];
+
+    // Generate Zig code content
+    var writer = std.ArrayList(u8){};
+    _ = try writer.appendSlice(allocator,
+        \\const core = @import("core").module;
+        \\
+        \\ const std = @import("std");
+        \\ pub fn getSpec() !*core.SpecVariantMap {
+        \\     const spec = try std.heap.smp_allocator.create(core.SpecVariantMap);
+        \\     spec.* = try core.createSpecVariant(.{
+        \\         .useGPA = true,
+    );
+
+    try writer.print(allocator, ".name = \"{s}\",\n", .{programName});
+    try writer.print(allocator, ".moduleName = \"{s}-mod\",\n", .{programName});
+
+    for (modules) |mod| {
+        try writer.print(allocator, ".{s} = true,\n", .{mod});
+    }
+
+    _ = try writer.appendSlice(allocator,
+        \\     }, std.heap.smp_allocator);
+        \\
+        \\     return spec;
+        \\ }
+        \\
+    );
+
+    _ = try writer.print(allocator, "pub const programName = \"{s}\";", .{programName});
+
+    try writer.append(allocator, 0);
+
+    // Write to specified output file
+    // Open or create the file for writing (overwrites if it exists)
+    const file = try std.fs.cwd().createFile(out_path, .{});
+    defer file.close();
+
+    var ast = try std.zig.Ast.parse(allocator, @as([:0]const u8, @ptrCast(writer.items[0 .. writer.items.len - 1])), .zig);
+
+    // std.debug.print("output=\n{s}", .{content.items[0 .. content.items.len - 1]});
+    defer ast.deinit(allocator);
+    const out = try ast.renderAlloc(allocator);
+
+    // Write the content to the file
+    try file.writeAll(out);
+}

buildgen/templates/launcher-templ.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+// templated file
+//
+// should still be a formattable zig file
+// even if it is not compile-able
+//
+// definitions marked with // TEMPLATE_DEFINITION
+// are removed during the templating step
+
+const programName = "__program_name"; // TEMPLATE_DEFINITION
+
+export fn loadModule() void {}

buildgen/templates/launcher.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+// templated file
+//
+// should still be a formattable zig file
+// even if it is not compile-able
+//
+// definitions marked with // TEMPLATE_DEFINITION
+// are removed during the templating step
+
+const core = @import("core");
+
+const programName = "__program_name"; // TEMPLATE_DEFINITION
+
+pub export fn startup_module(p_allocator: *anyopaque, p_a: ?*anyopaque) bool {
+    const allocator = core.modulePreamble(p_allocator, p_a) catch return false;
+    _ = allocator;
+    // imgui.setupFromModule();
+    // platform.setupFromModule();
+    // sys.setupFromModule();
+    // rend.setupFromModule();
+    // backlog.physics.setupFromModule();
+
+    core.engine_logs("creating externgame");
+    // start_module(core.startup_getArgs(p_a.?)) catch return false;
+
+    return true;
+}

buildgen/templates/moduleLaunch.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+pub export fn startup_module(p_allocator: *anyopaque, p_a: ?*anyopaque) bool {
+    const allocator = core.modulePreamble(p_allocator, p_a) catch return false;
+    _ = allocator;
+    core.engine_logs("module started");
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+pub export fn shutdown_module() void {}
+
+// const backlog = @import("backlog");
+// const core = backlog.core;
+
+const core = @import("core").module;

buildgen/utils.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+pub fn loadFileAlloc(filename: []const u8, comptime alignment: usize, allocator: std.mem.Allocator) ![]u8 {
+    var file = try std.fs.cwd().openFile(filename, .{});
+    defer file.close();
+    const filesize = (try file.stat()).size + 1; // add null byte
+    const buffer: []align(alignment) u8 = try allocator.alignedAlloc(u8, alignment, filesize);
+    errdefer allocator.free(buffer);
+    try file.reader().readNoEof(buffer[0 .. buffer.len - 1]);
+    buffer[buffer.len - 1] = 0;
+    return buffer;
+}
+
+pub fn checkAndFormatAst(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, input: []const u8) ![]u8 {
+    var ast = try std.zig.Ast.parse(allocator, @as([:0]const u8, @ptrCast(input)), .zig);
+    const out = try ast.render(allocator);
+
+    return out;
+}
+
+const std = @import("std");

depot/zuck/main.zig

@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
 }
 
 pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
+    // Engine handles memory deallocation
+    _ = self;
 }
 
 pub fn main() anyerror!void {

engine/assets/build.zig

@@ -1,25 +1,28 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-const core = @import("core");
-
-const depList = [_][]const u8{
-    "core",
-    "packer",
-};
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = core.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "assets",
+    const mod = b.addModule("assets", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/assets.zig"),
     });
 
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&depList);
-    engineMod.install();
+    const core_dep = b.dependency(
+        "core",
+        .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build },
+    );
+    mod.addImport("core", core_dep.module("core"));
+
+    const packer_dep = b.dependency(
+        "packer",
+        .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build },
+    );
+
+    mod.addImport("packer", packer_dep.module("packer"));
 
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for assets");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
@@ -30,7 +33,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         }),
     });
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("assets", engineMod.mod);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("assets", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     b.installArtifact(tests);

engine/assets/src/asset_references.zig

@@ -120,11 +120,6 @@ pub const AssetLoaderInterface = struct {
             unreachable;
         }
 
-        if (!@hasDecl(TargetType, "destroy")) {
-            @compileLog("Tried to generate AssetLoaderInterface for type ", TargetType, "but it's missing func destroy.");
-            unreachable;
-        }
-
         const self = @This(){
             .typeName = @typeName(TargetType),
             .typeSize = @sizeOf(TargetType),
@@ -159,15 +154,15 @@ pub const AssetReferenceSys = struct {
 
     pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "AssetReference");
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
+
         self.* = @This(){
             .loaders = .{},
             .allocator = allocator,
             .outstandingAssetJobs = std.atomic.Value(i32).init(0),
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn registerLoader(self: *@This(), loader: anytype) !void {
@@ -210,6 +205,5 @@ pub const AssetReferenceSys = struct {
         //     i.destroy(self.allocator);
         // }
         self.loaders.deinit(self.allocator);
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };

engine/audio/build.zig

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-const core = @import("core");
 
 const depList = [_][]const u8{
     "miniaudio",
@@ -12,15 +11,17 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = core.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "audio",
+    const mod = b.addModule("audio", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/audio.zig"),
     });
 
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&depList);
-    engineMod.install();
+    for (depList) |depName| {
+        const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+
+        mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
+    }
 
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for audio");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         }),
     });
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("audio", engineMod.mod);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("audio", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     b.installArtifact(tests);

engine/audio/src/sound_engine.zig

@@ -73,8 +73,10 @@ pub const SoundEngine = struct {
     allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
     volume: f32 = 1.0,
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
+
         self.* = @This(){
             .engine = allocator.create(ma.ma_engine) catch unreachable,
             .sounds = .{},
@@ -83,8 +85,6 @@ pub const SoundEngine = struct {
         };
 
         _ = ma.ma_engine_init(null, self.engine);
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn shutdown(self: *@This()) void {

engine/core/api/coreApi.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+pub const std = @import("std");
+const core = @import("core");
+const impl = core;
+
+pub const inputs = struct {
+    pub const getInputStack = inputs.getInputStack;
+};

engine/core/build.zig

@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-pub const bh = @import("bh");
-
-pub const ModLib = bh.ModLib;
-pub const MakeModLib = bh.MakeModLib;
 
 const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
     "p2",
@@ -11,43 +7,31 @@ const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
     "packer", // packer no longer has C deps.
 };
 
-pub fn MakeEngineMod(b: *std.Build, name: []const u8) ModLib {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
-
-    const engineMod = MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = name,
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
-    });
-
-    return engineMod;
-}
-
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "core",
+    const mod = b.addModule("core", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/core.zig"),
     });
 
-    engineMod.install();
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&dependencyList);
+    for (dependencyList) |depName| {
+        const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+        mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
+    }
 
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for core");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
             .target = target,
             .optimize = optimize,
+            .link_libc = true,
             .root_source_file = b.path("tests/tests.zig"),
         }),
+        .use_llvm = true,
     });
 
     const sampleGameExtern = b.addLibrary(.{
@@ -58,9 +42,10 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
             .target = target,
         }),
         .linkage = .dynamic,
+        .use_llvm = true,
         .name = "external",
     });
-    sampleGameExtern.root_module.addImport("core", engineMod.mod);
+    sampleGameExtern.root_module.addImport("core", mod);
 
     const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(sampleGameExtern, .{
         .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },
@@ -68,7 +53,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
 
     b.getInstallStep().dependOn(&installExtern.step);
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("core", engineMod.mod);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("core", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     runArtifact.step.dependOn(b.getInstallStep());

engine/core/build.zig.zon

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
         // with -Dtracy = false, this one pulls in no C dependencies
         .tracy = .{ .path = "../../lib/tracy" },
-        .bh = .{ .path = "../../lib/bh" },
 
         // these are zig only
         .zmath = .{ .path = "../../lib/zmath" }, 

engine/core/src/configVars.zig

@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
 pub const ConfigRegistry = struct {
     pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "core.ConfigRegistry");
 
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
     configMap: ?ConfigMap = null,
 
-    pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
 
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     // by convention this should be in the root
@@ -38,11 +37,10 @@ pub const ConfigRegistry = struct {
 
     }
 
-    pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+    pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
         if (self.configMap) |*map| {
             map.deinit();
         }
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/core/src/console.zig

@@ -8,21 +8,22 @@ pub const ConsoleCommand = struct {
 pub const Console = struct {
     pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "core.Console");
 
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
+    arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator = undefined,
 
     commandMap: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(ConsoleCommand) = .{},
 
-    pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         self.* = .{
             .arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(allocator),
             .allocator = allocator,
         };
 
         core.engine_logs("console system created");
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn addConsoleCommand(self: *@This(), funcName: []const u8, func: ConsoleFunc) !void {
@@ -56,10 +57,9 @@ pub const Console = struct {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+    pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
         self.arena.deinit();
         self.commandMap.deinit(self.allocator);
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/core/src/core.zig

@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ pub const debugLine = debug_draw.debugLine;
 
 pub const engineTime = @import("engineTime.zig");
 pub const engineObject = @import("engineObject.zig");
+pub const EngineObjectOpts = engineObject.EngineObjectOpts;
+pub const ObjectOpts = engineObject.EngineObjectOpts;
 pub const EngineObjectVTable = engineObject.EngineObjectVTable;
 pub const MakeTypeName = engineObject.MakeTypeName;
 pub const PatchStruct = engineObject.PatchStruct;
@@ -170,7 +172,7 @@ pub const packer = @import("packer");
 
 pub const StackCompactor = stacks.StackCompactor;
 
-var staticsInitialized = false;
+pub var staticsInitialized = false;
 var gEngine: *Engine = undefined;
 pub const PackerFS = packer.PackerFS;
 var gPackerFS: *PackerFS = undefined;
@@ -272,8 +274,6 @@ pub fn maybeInitPackerFs(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !void {
 }
 
 pub fn start_module_(map: *SpecVariantMap, args: anytype, allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !void {
-    staticsInitialized = true;
-
     if (map.get("utility")) |x| {
         if (x.boolean == true) {
             engine_logs("utility mode - no gui");
@@ -297,8 +297,7 @@ pub fn start_module_(map: *SpecVariantMap, args: anytype, allocator: std.mem.All
 
     gEngine = try allocator.create(Engine);
     gEngine.* = try Engine.init(allocator);
-    _ = try createObject(ModuleLoader, .{});
-    try console.start();
+    staticsInitialized = true;
 
     const engineName = try std.fmt.allocPrint(allocator, "{s}Engine.ini", .{name});
     defer allocator.free(engineName);
@@ -309,14 +308,15 @@ pub fn start_module_(map: *SpecVariantMap, args: anytype, allocator: std.mem.All
         try logging.setupLogging(gEngine);
     }
 
-    try ecs.setup(allocator);
-
-    _ = try gEngine.createObject(scene.SceneSystem, .{ .can_tick = true });
-
     try algorithm.string_pool.setup(allocator);
+    gEngine.stringContext = algorithm.string_pool.gStringContext;
 
+    _ = try createObject(ModuleLoader, .{});
+    _ = try createObject(ecs.EcsRegistry, .{ .can_tick = true, .isCore = true });
+    _ = try createObject(scene.SceneSystem, .{ .can_tick = true });
     _ = try createObject(GameObjectSystem, .{ .can_tick = true });
-    _ = try inputs.initInputStack();
+    _ = try createObject(inputs.InputStack, .{});
+    _ = try createObject(console.Console, .{});
 
     // components define
     try ecs.defineComponentList(ComponentList, allocator);
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ pub fn setupFromModule(__args: ModuleLoaderArgs) !void {
     gEngine = __args.engine;
     gPackerFS = __args.packerFS;
     algorithm.names.gRegistry = __args.nameRegistry;
+    algorithm.string_pool.gStringContext = gEngine.stringContext;
     logging.setupLoggingFromModule();
     staticsInitialized = true;
 
@@ -525,7 +526,11 @@ pub fn startup_getArgs(p_allocator: *anyopaque) ModuleLoaderArgs {
 pub fn modulePreamble(p_allocator: *anyopaque, p_a: ?*anyopaque) !std.mem.Allocator {
     const args = startup_getArgs(p_a.?);
     const allocator = startup_getAllocator(p_allocator);
-    try setupFromModule(args);
+
+    if (comptime !BuildOption("static_build")) {
+        try setupFromModule(args);
+    }
+
     return allocator;
 }
 
@@ -609,3 +614,7 @@ pub fn itof32(i: anytype) f32 {
 pub fn itof64(i: anytype) f32 {
     return @as(f32, @floatFromInt(i));
 }
+
+pub fn setShutdownModule(shutdownFunction: *const fn () callconv(.c) void) void {
+    getEngine().shutdownModuleFunction = shutdownFunction;
+}

engine/core/src/ecs.zig

@@ -210,15 +210,15 @@ pub const EcsRegistry = struct {
 
     pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "core.EcsRegistry");
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first) {
+            return;
+        }
 
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .baseSet = BaseSet.init(allocator),
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn registerContainer(self: *@This(), ref: EcsContainerRef, _containerName: core.Name) !void {
@@ -279,13 +279,11 @@ pub const EcsRegistry = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
-        self.destroy();
-    }
+        // this should never work... wtf?
+        // for (self.containers.items) |ref| {
+        //     ref.vtable.evictFromRegistry(ref.ptr);
+        // }
 
-    pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-        for (self.containers.items) |ref| {
-            ref.vtable.evictFromRegistry(ref.ptr);
-        }
         for (self.systems.items) |ref| {
             ref.vtable.destroy(ref.ptr);
         }
@@ -300,7 +298,6 @@ pub const EcsRegistry = struct {
         self.containers.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.containerNames.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.containersByName.deinit(self.allocator);
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/core/src/engine.zig

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ const time = @import("engineTime.zig");
 const core = @import("core.zig");
 const jobs = @import("jobs.zig");
 const math = @import("math.zig");
+const builtin = @import("builtin");
 const pscopes = core.algorithm.pscopes;
 
 const tracy = @import("tracy").t;
@@ -91,6 +92,9 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
     calibrationPeriod: f64 = 1.0, // in seconds
     first: bool = true,
 
+    shutdownModuleFunction: ?*const fn () callconv(.c) void = null,
+    stringContext: *core.algorithm.string_pool.StringContext = undefined,
+
     pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !@This() {
         const rv = Engine{
             .allocator = allocator,
@@ -126,9 +130,7 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
             var i: i32 = @intCast(self.destroyListCore.items.len - 1);
             while (i >= 0) : (i -= 1) {
                 const item = self.destroyListCore.items[@as(usize, @intCast(i))];
-                if (item.vtable.deinit_func) |deinitFn| {
-                    deinitFn(item.ptr);
-                }
+                self.destroyObject(item);
             }
         }
         self.destroyListCore.deinit(self.allocator);
@@ -159,6 +161,10 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
         return @ptrCast(@alignCast(rv));
     }
 
+    const DebugSlack = struct {
+        slack: [1024 * 64]u8 align(16) = undefined,
+    };
+
     // creates an engine object using the engine's allocator.
     pub fn createObjectVTable(self: *@This(), vtable: *core.EngineObjectVTable, params: NeonObjectParams) !*anyopaque {
         if (self.createObjectLock) {
@@ -170,7 +176,17 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
         self.createObjectLock = true;
         defer self.createObjectLock = false;
         const newIndex = self.engineObjects.items.len;
-        const newObjectPtr = try vtable.init_func(self.allocator); // call this thing with the special allocator that adds vtable. slackSize to it.
+        var newObjectPtr: *anyopaque = undefined; //self.allocator.create(DebugSlack);
+
+        if (comptime core.BuildOption("static_build")) {
+            newObjectPtr = @ptrCast(@alignCast((try self.allocator.alignedAlloc(u8, .@"16", vtable.typeSize))));
+        } else {
+            newObjectPtr = @ptrCast(@alignCast((try self.allocator.create(DebugSlack))));
+        }
+
+        try vtable.init_func(newObjectPtr, self.allocator, true);
+
+        // try vtable.init_func(self.allocator); // call this thing with the special allocator that adds vtable. slackSize to it.
 
         const newObjectRef = EngineObjectRef{
             .ptr = @as(*anyopaque, @ptrCast(newObjectPtr)),
@@ -356,14 +372,29 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
         self.destroyDependents();
     }
 
+    fn destroyObject(self: *@This(), item: EngineObjectRef) void {
+        core.engine_log("destroying object {s}", .{item.vtable.typeName});
+        if (item.vtable.deinit_func) |deinitFn| {
+            deinitFn(item.ptr);
+        }
+
+        if (comptime core.BuildOption("static_build")) {
+            var slice: []u8 = undefined;
+            slice.ptr = @ptrCast(@alignCast(item.ptr));
+            slice.len = item.vtable.typeSize;
+            self.allocator.rawFree(slice, .@"16", @returnAddress());
+        } else {
+            const asStruct: *DebugSlack = @ptrCast(@alignCast(item.ptr));
+            self.allocator.destroy(asStruct);
+        }
+    }
+
     fn destroyDependents(self: *@This()) void {
         if (self.destroyListSimple.items.len > 0) {
             var i: i32 = @intCast(self.destroyListSimple.items.len - 1);
             while (i >= 0) : (i -= 1) {
                 const item = self.destroyListSimple.items[@as(usize, @intCast(i))];
-                if (item.vtable.deinit_func) |deinitFn| {
-                    deinitFn(item.ptr);
-                }
+                self.destroyObject(item);
             }
         }
         self.dependentsDestroyed.store(true, .seq_cst);

engine/core/src/engineObject.zig

@@ -68,10 +68,6 @@ pub fn updateEngineVTable(comptime T: type) void {
 
     vtable.* = T.NeonObjectTable;
     vtable.version = version + 1;
-
-    if (@hasDecl(T, "objectReload")) {
-        core.get(T).objectReload();
-    }
 }
 
 pub fn PatchStruct(comptime T: type, p: *T, old: []const FieldInfo) void {
@@ -167,7 +163,8 @@ pub const EngineObjectVTable = struct {
 
     singletonName: ?[]const u8 = null,
 
-    init_func: *const fn (std.mem.Allocator) EngineDataEventError!*anyopaque,
+    // new init_function passes in an already created object
+    init_func: *const fn (*anyopaque, std.mem.Allocator, bool) EngineDataEventError!void,
     tick_func: ?*const fn (*anyopaque, f64) void = null,
     engineDraw_func: ?*const fn (*anyopaque, f64) void = null,
     preTick_func: ?*const fn (*anyopaque, f64) EngineDataEventError!void = null,
@@ -271,11 +268,10 @@ pub const EngineObjectVTable = struct {
 
         if (@hasDecl(TargetType, "init")) {
             const wrappedInit = struct {
-                const funcFind: @TypeOf(@field(TargetType, "init")) = @field(TargetType, "init");
-
-                pub fn func(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) EngineDataEventError!*anyopaque {
-                    const newObject = funcFind(allocator) catch return error.BadInit;
-                    return @as(*anyopaque, @ptrCast(newObject));
+                pub fn func(p: *anyopaque, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) EngineDataEventError!void {
+                    const newObject: *TargetType = @ptrCast(@alignCast(p)); // funcFind(allocator) catch return error.BadInit;
+                    newObject.init(allocator, first) catch return error.BadInit;
+                    // return @as(*anyopaque, @ptrCast(newObject));
                 }
             };
 
@@ -284,11 +280,10 @@ pub const EngineObjectVTable = struct {
 
         if (@hasDecl(TargetType, "create")) {
             const wrappedInit = struct {
-                const funcFind: @TypeOf(@field(TargetType, "create")) = @field(TargetType, "create");
-
-                pub fn func(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) EngineDataEventError!*anyopaque {
-                    const newObject = funcFind(allocator) catch return error.BadInit;
-                    return @as(*anyopaque, @ptrCast(newObject));
+                pub fn func(p: *anyopaque, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) EngineDataEventError!void {
+                    const newObject: *TargetType = @ptrCast(@alignCast(p)); // funcFind(allocator) catch return error.BadInit;
+                    newObject.create(allocator, first) catch return error.BadInit;
+                    // return @as(*anyopaque, @ptrCast(newObject));
                 }
             };
 

engine/core/src/engineTime.zig

@@ -5,8 +5,12 @@ const pscopes = core.algorithm.pscopes;
 
 // returns time since engine started in nanoseconds
 pub fn getEngineTime() f64 {
-    const read = core.getEngine().rootTimer.read();
-    return @as(f64, @floatFromInt(read)) / std.time.ns_per_s;
+    if (core.staticsInitialized) {
+        const read = core.getEngine().rootTimer.read();
+        return @as(f64, @floatFromInt(read)) / std.time.ns_per_s;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
 }
 
 // returns a pscopes.TimingScope for the current time.

engine/core/src/extern/externModule.zig

@@ -121,22 +121,23 @@ fn dllChangedCallback(pathChanged: []const u8, ctx: ?*anyopaque) void {
 }
 
 pub const ModuleLoader = struct {
-    backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator,
+    backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
+    arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator = undefined,
     loadedModules: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*LoadedModule) = .{},
     watchInitialized: bool = false,
     watchInitializeFn: ?*const fn () void = null,
 
     pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "core.ModuleLoader");
-    pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first) {
+            return;
+        }
 
         self.* = .{
             .backingAllocator = allocator,
             .arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(allocator),
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn addModule(self: *@This(), moduleName: []const u8) !void {
@@ -169,6 +170,7 @@ pub const ModuleLoader = struct {
         }
 
         try core.fs().addFileChangedCallback(libFileName, dllChangedCallback, loaded);
+        core.engine_log("[ModuleLoader]: addFileChangedCallback '{s}'", .{libFileName});
 
         try self.loadedModules.append(self.arena.allocator(), loaded);
     }
@@ -214,10 +216,9 @@ pub const ModuleLoader = struct {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+    pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
         // std.fs.cwd().deleteTree(".modulecache") catch {};
         self.arena.deinit();
-        self.backingAllocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/core/src/gameObject.zig

@@ -71,21 +71,20 @@ pub const GameObjectSystem = struct {
     // this is the new one, GameObjectList should be deleted after this passes initial usability
     pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "core.GameObjectSystem");
 
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
     objectDefinitions: std.AutoHashMapUnmanaged(u32, GameObjectInterfaceVTable) = .{},
-    typesArena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator,
+    typesArena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator = undefined,
 
     objectSpawnEvents: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(SpawnEvent) = .{},
 
-    pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
 
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .typesArena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(self.allocator),
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn spawnObject(self: *@This(), comptime T: type, objectName: []const u8, parameters: SpawnParameters) !*T {
@@ -177,9 +176,8 @@ pub const GameObjectSystem = struct {
         _ = dt;
     }
 
-    pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+    pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
         self.typesArena.deinit();
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/core/src/inputs/inputStack.zig

@@ -574,11 +574,11 @@ pub const BindingLayer = struct {
 
 // not gonna actually deal with layers right now
 pub const InputStack = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
 
-    active: ?*BindingLayer,
+    active: ?*BindingLayer = undefined,
     bindingStack: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*BindingLayer) = .{},
-    arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator,
+    arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator = undefined,
 
     keysDown: std.AutoHashMapUnmanaged(Key, bool) = .{},
 
@@ -591,8 +591,10 @@ pub const InputStack = struct {
 
     pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "core.InputStack");
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first) {
+            return;
+        }
 
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
@@ -601,8 +603,6 @@ pub const InputStack = struct {
         };
 
         core.EngineObject(@This()).gInstance = self;
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn updatePreviousInputs(self: *@This()) void {
@@ -716,7 +716,6 @@ pub const InputStack = struct {
         if (self.active) |active| {
             active.destroy();
         }
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/core/src/logging.zig

@@ -192,13 +192,13 @@ pub const FileLog = struct {
 pub const LoggerSys = struct {
     pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "core.LoggerSys");
 
-    writeOutBuffer: std.ArrayList(u8),
-    flushBuffer: std.ArrayList(u8),
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    logFilePath: []const u8,
-    logFile: std.fs.File,
-    consoleFile: std.fs.File,
-    writerBuffer: []u8,
+    writeOutBuffer: std.ArrayList(u8) = .{},
+    flushBuffer: std.ArrayList(u8) = .{},
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
+    logFilePath: []const u8 = "none",
+    logFile: std.fs.File = undefined,
+    consoleFile: std.fs.File = undefined,
+    writerBuffer: []u8 = undefined,
     lock: std.Thread.Mutex = .{},
     flushing: std.atomic.Value(bool) = std.atomic.Value(bool).init(false),
 
@@ -306,12 +306,14 @@ pub const LoggerSys = struct {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first) {
+            return;
+        }
         const cwd = std.fs.cwd();
         const ofile = std.fmt.allocPrint(allocator, core.DefaultSavePath ++ "/{s}", .{"Session_Log.txt"}) catch unreachable;
         cwd.makePath(core.DefaultSavePath) catch unreachable;
 
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
         self.* = @This(){
             .allocator = allocator,
             .writeOutBuffer = std.ArrayList(u8).initCapacity(allocator, LogBufferSize) catch unreachable,
@@ -321,8 +323,6 @@ pub const LoggerSys = struct {
             .logFile = cwd.createFile(ofile, .{}) catch unreachable,
             .consoleFile = std.fs.File.stdout(),
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
@@ -333,8 +333,6 @@ pub const LoggerSys = struct {
 
         self.writeOutBuffer.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.flushBuffer.deinit(self.allocator);
-
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 
     pub fn processEvents(self: *@This(), frameNumber: u64) core.EngineDataEventError!void {

engine/core/src/scene.zig

@@ -296,9 +296,9 @@ fn childAllocator() std.mem.Allocator {
 pub const SceneSystem = struct {
     pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "core.SceneSystem");
 
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
     dynamicObjects: ArrayListUnmanaged(core.ObjectHandle) = .{},
-    childrenArena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator,
+    childrenArena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator = undefined,
     tickCount: u32 = 0,
     sceneObjectContainer: *SceneObjectSet = undefined,
 
@@ -385,8 +385,11 @@ pub const SceneSystem = struct {
     pub const MaxWorkerCount = 24;
 
     // ----- NeonObject interace ----
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .childrenArena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(allocator),
@@ -401,8 +404,6 @@ pub const SceneSystem = struct {
             try self.cachedOutputs.append(self.allocator, .{});
             try self.writeOutList.append(self.allocator, .{});
         }
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn getOutputList(self: *@This(), threadId: u32) !*std.ArrayList(usize) {
@@ -446,7 +447,6 @@ pub const SceneSystem = struct {
         Scene.SceneObjectContainer.destroy();
         self.cachedOutputs.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.writeOutList.deinit(self.allocator);
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/core/tests/samplesubsystem.zig

@@ -1,22 +1,17 @@
 pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "testing.sampleSubsystem");
 
-allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-scene: *anyopaque,
-setPositionPtr: *const anyopaque,
+allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
+scene: *anyopaque = undefined,
+setPositionPtr: *const anyopaque = undefined,
+
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first) {
+        return;
+    }
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
-        .scene = undefined,
-        .setPositionPtr = undefined,
     };
-
-    return self;
-}
-
-pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
 }
 
 const exampleScene = @import("exampleScene.zig");

engine/imgui/build.zig

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-const core = @import("core");
 
 const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
     "core",
@@ -14,15 +13,17 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = core.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "imgui",
+    const mod = b.addModule("imgui", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/imgui.zig"),
     });
 
-    engineMod.install();
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&dependencyList);
+    for (dependencyList) |depName| {
+        const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+        const dep_mod = dep.module(depName);
+        mod.addImport(depName, dep_mod);
+    }
 
     // ========== tests ==========
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     });
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for imgui");
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("platform", engineMod.mod);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("platform", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     b.installArtifact(tests);

engine/imgui/src/sgpu/backend_impl.zig

@@ -15,14 +15,13 @@ pub const Impl = struct {
     };
 
     // renderer plugin
-    pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
 
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     const ImguiArgs = struct { imguiIni: []const u8 = "imgui.ini" };
@@ -109,11 +108,6 @@ pub const Impl = struct {
         _ = ig.dockSpaceOverViewport(ig.getMainViewport(), .{ .passthru_central_node = true }, null);
         _ = dt;
     }
-
-    // renderer plugin
-    pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
-    }
 };
 const c = @import("cimgui").c;
 const ig = @import("cimgui");

engine/imgui/src/utils/TopBar.zig

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "game.TopBar");
-pub const Slack = core.SlackStruct(@This(), 256);
 
 allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
 arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator,
@@ -7,8 +6,10 @@ windowsMenu: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*MenuEntry) = .{},
 entriesByName: std.AutoHashMapUnmanaged(u32, *MenuEntry) = .{},
 menuOpen: bool = false,
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try Slack.create(allocator);
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
+
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(allocator),
@@ -21,8 +22,6 @@ pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
         .ctx = self,
         .windowFunction = windowOpen,
     });
-
-    return self;
 }
 
 pub fn setEntryOpen(self: *@This(), name: []const u8, open: ?bool) void {
@@ -108,7 +107,6 @@ pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
 
 pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
     self.arena.deinit();
-    self.allocator.destroy(Slack.fromPtr(self));
 }
 
 pub const MenuEntry = struct {

engine/imgui/src/utils/consoleWindow.zig

@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@ consolePressedEnter: bool = false,
 
 pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "extras.consoleWindow");
 
-pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
+
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .buffer = core.logging.LogBuffer.init(allocator),
     };
 
     self.setup();
-
-    return self;
 }
 
 pub fn setup(self: *@This()) void {
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ pub fn windowOpen(entry: *imgui.utils.MenuEntry, dt: f64) void {
 
 pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
     self.buffer.deinit();
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
 }
 
 const imgui = @import("../imgui.zig");

engine/main2.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const core = @import("core").module;
+const panickers = core.panickers;
+
+// const realMain = @import("main");
+
+pub const gamespec = @import("gamespec");
+pub const options = @import("BacklogOptions");
+
+pub const std_options = std.Options{
+    .enable_segfault_handler = true,
+};
+
+//pub const build_options = @import("build_options");
+//pub const tracy_enabled = build_options.tracy_enabled;
+
+// pub fn panic(msg: []const u8, error_return_trace: ?*std.builtin.StackTrace, x: ?usize) noreturn {
+//     core.forceFlush();
+//     core.script.lua.takeDump();
+//     std.debug.defaultPanic(error_return_trace, x, msg);
+// }
+
+pub const NwArgs = struct {
+    useGPA: bool = false, // slower zig based memory allocator, provides detailed tracking of leaks and memory violations
+    vulkanValidation: bool = true,
+    fastTest: bool = false,
+    dmt: bool = false, // detailed memory tracking, implements a timeline for tracking all memory allocations
+    fatDump: bool = false, // takes a full fat minidump on crash, very large files are produced
+};
+
+pub fn getArgs() !NwArgs {
+    const a = try core.ParseArgs(NwArgs);
+
+    return a;
+}
+
+fn fileExists(path: []const u8) bool {
+    std.fs.cwd().access(path, .{}) catch return false;
+    return true;
+}
+
+pub fn run() !void {
+    core.engine_logs("calling gEngine.run");
+
+    try core.getEngine().run();
+
+    while (!core.getEngine().exitFinished()) {
+        const z = core.tracy.ZoneN(@src(), "shutdown poll");
+        z.End();
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn startEngine(spec: *core.SpecVariantMap) bool {
+    const args = getArgs() catch return false;
+
+    var backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator = std.heap.smp_allocator;
+    var gpa: std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{
+        .stack_trace_frames = 20,
+    }) = .{};
+
+    defer {
+        const cleanupStatus = gpa.deinit();
+        if (cleanupStatus == .leak) {
+            std.debug.print("gpa cleanup leaked memory\n", .{});
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (spec.get("useGPA")) |arg| {
+        if (arg.boolean == true) {
+            backingAllocator = gpa.allocator();
+        }
+    }
+
+    const memory = core.MemoryTracker;
+    memory.MTSetup(backingAllocator, .{ .timeline = args.dmt });
+    defer memory.MTShutdown();
+
+    var tracker = memory.MTGet().?;
+    const allocator = tracker.allocator();
+
+    _ = core.createNameRegistry(allocator) catch return false;
+    core.maybeInitPackerFs(allocator) catch return false;
+
+    if (comptime core.BuildOption("static_build")) {
+        core.engine_log("static build, using embedded shaders", .{});
+        const loader = @import("staticShaderLoader");
+        loader.installStaticResources() catch return false;
+    }
+
+    core.start_module(spec, args, allocator) catch return false;
+
+    const moduleName = spec.get("moduleName").?.string;
+
+    if (comptime core.BuildOption("static_build")) {
+        core.engine_logs("static build");
+        const modlaunch = @import("modulelaunch.zig");
+        var modargs = core.externModule.getModuleLoaderArgs(true);
+        var modalloc = allocator;
+        _ = modlaunch.startup_module(&modalloc, &modargs);
+    } else {
+        core.engine_logs("using hot reloading");
+        const platform = @import("platform").module;
+        platform.watchModules();
+
+        //if (comptime @hasDecl(backlog, "platform")) {
+        //backlog.platform.watchModules();
+        // }
+        core.loadModule(moduleName, true) catch return false;
+    }
+
+    // load the shared object and call startup()
+    // core.beginLoading("");
+
+    // if (!start_modules(spec, args, allocator)) return false;
+    // defer shutdown_modules(allocator);
+
+    run() catch return false;
+
+    if (core.getEngine().shutdownModuleFunction) |shutdownFunc| {
+        shutdownFunc();
+    } else {
+        core.shutdown_module(allocator);
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+pub fn main() !void {
+    if (!core.BuildOption("RootDeploymentOnly")) {
+        // if we don't see a content/ folder or a
+        // content.pak file in the current directory,
+        // walk up the directory tree until we see one, then change dirs to that before doing anything else
+
+        var iterations: u32 = 0;
+        var BUFFER: [8192]u8 = undefined;
+
+        while (iterations < 8) : (iterations += 1) {
+            if (fileExists("content") or fileExists("content.pak")) {
+                break;
+            }
+
+            var dir = try std.fs.cwd().openDir("..", .{});
+            defer dir.close();
+            core.engine_log("content not found scanning dir {s}", .{try dir.realpath(".", &BUFFER)});
+            try dir.setAsCwd();
+        }
+        core.engine_log("Working Dir set: {s}", .{try std.fs.cwd().realpath(".", &BUFFER)});
+    }
+
+    const spec = try gamespec.getSpec();
+    _ = startEngine(spec);
+
+    // panickers.attachSegfaultHandler();
+    // try realMain.main();
+
+    shutdown_hook();
+}
+
+pub fn shutdown_hook() void {
+    std.debug.print("[engine] shutting down now! goodbye!", .{});
+}

engine/modulelaunch.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+pub const NwArgs = struct {
+    useGPA: bool = false, // slower zig based memory allocator, provides detailed tracking of leaks and memory violations
+    vulkanValidation: bool = true,
+    fastTest: bool = false,
+    dmt: bool = false, // detailed memory tracking, implements a timeline for tracking all memory allocations
+    fatDump: bool = false, // takes a full fat minidump on crash, very large files are produced
+};
+
+pub fn getArgs() !NwArgs {
+    const a = try core.ParseArgs(NwArgs);
+
+    return a;
+}
+
+var shutdownList: std.ArrayListUnmanaged(*const fn (std.mem.Allocator) void) = .{};
+var shutdownModuleNames: std.ArrayListUnmanaged([]const u8) = .{};
+
+var gAllocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined;
+
+pub export fn startup_module(p_allocator: *anyopaque, p_a: ?*anyopaque) bool {
+    const allocator = core.modulePreamble(p_allocator, p_a) catch return false;
+    gAllocator = allocator;
+
+    core.engine_log("module started {s}", .{backlog.moduleName});
+
+    const spec = gamespec.getSpec() catch return false;
+
+    const args = getArgs() catch NwArgs{};
+
+    const moduleArgs = core.startup_getArgs(p_a.?);
+
+    if (moduleArgs.firstLoad) {
+        inline for (backlog.moduleList) |feature| {
+            if (@hasDecl(backlog, feature) and !std.mem.eql(u8, "core", feature)) {
+                const Struct = @field(backlog, feature);
+                if (core.isModuleEnabled(Struct.Module, spec)) {
+                    var z1 = core.tracy.ZoneN(@src(), @ptrCast("Initializing Module"));
+                    defer z1.End();
+                    core.engine_logs("starting module >>>> " ++ feature ++ " <<<<");
+                    core.tracy.Message(Struct.Module.name);
+                    Struct.start_module(spec, args, allocator) catch @panic("start_module failed");
+
+                    if (core.MemoryTracker.MTGet()) |_| {
+                        core.MemoryTracker.MTPrintStatsDelta();
+                    }
+
+                    shutdownList.append(allocator, Struct.shutdown_module) catch return false;
+                    shutdownModuleNames.append(allocator, feature) catch return false;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        core.setShutdownModule(shutdown_module);
+    } else {
+        inline for (backlog.moduleList) |feature| {
+            if (@hasDecl(backlog, feature)) {
+                core.engine_log("reloading module: {s}", .{feature});
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+pub export fn shutdown_module() void {
+    var i: usize = shutdownList.items.len;
+    while (i > 0) {
+        const j = i - 1;
+        shutdownList.items[j](gAllocator);
+        i -= 1;
+    }
+
+    shutdownList.deinit(gAllocator);
+    shutdownModuleNames.deinit(gAllocator);
+
+    core.shutdown_module(gAllocator);
+}
+
+const gamespec = @import("gamespec");
+
+const backlog = @import("backlog");
+const core = backlog.core;
+const std = @import("std");

engine/net/build.zig

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-const core = @import("core");
 
 const depList = [_][]const u8{
     "core",
@@ -11,15 +10,17 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = core.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "net",
+    const mod = b.addModule("net", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/net.zig"),
     });
 
-    engineMod.install();
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&depList);
+    for (depList) |depName| {
+        const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+
+        mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
+    }
 
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for net");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         }),
     });
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("net", engineMod.mod);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("net", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     b.installArtifact(tests);

engine/net/src/enet/EnetTransport.zig

@@ -159,8 +159,9 @@ const ENetSessionData = struct {
     }
 };
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+pub fn create(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !*@This() {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
 
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
@@ -399,7 +400,6 @@ pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
     self.deadSessions.deinit(self.allocator);
 
     enet_mod.deinitialize();
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
 }
 
 const core = @import("core");

engine/net/src/netEngine.zig

@@ -28,15 +28,14 @@ pub const NetEngine = struct {
     arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator,
     transport: ?TransportRef = null,
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !*@This() {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
 
         self.* = @This(){
             .allocator = allocator,
             .arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(allocator),
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn arenaAllocator(self: *@This()) std.mem.Allocator {

engine/papyrus/build.zig

@@ -1,9 +1,4 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-const core = @import("core");
-
-const depList = [_][]const u8{
-    "core",
-};
 
 // very tiny, not intended to build anything just to run tests linked with libc
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
@@ -11,18 +6,18 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = core.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "papyrus",
+    const mod = b.addModule("papyrus", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .link_libc = true,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/papyrus.zig"),
     });
-    engineMod.lib.linkLibC();
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("src/"));
+    mod.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/compat.cpp") });
 
-    engineMod.install();
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&depList);
-    engineMod.addIncludePath("src/");
-    engineMod.lib.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/compat.cpp"), .flags = &.{} });
+    const core_dep = b.dependency("core", .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+
+    mod.addImport("core", core_dep.module("core"));
 
     // Creates a step for unit testing.
     const main_tests = b.addTest(.{
@@ -34,9 +29,10 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         }),
     });
 
-    main_tests.root_module.addImport("papyrus", engineMod.mod);
+    main_tests.root_module.addImport("core", core_dep.module("core"));
+    main_tests.root_module.addImport("papyrus", mod);
     main_tests.root_module.addIncludePath(b.path("src/"));
-    main_tests.linkLibrary(engineMod.lib);
+
     main_tests.linkLibC();
     main_tests.linkLibCpp();
     const run_tests = b.addRunArtifact(main_tests);

engine/papyrus/src/BmpRenderer.zig

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const papyrus = @import("papyrus.zig");
 const Context = papyrus.Context;
 
-const core = papyrus.core;
+const core = @import("core");
 const Vector2i = core.Vector2i;
 const Vector2 = core.Vector2;
 

engine/papyrus/src/Font.zig

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const c = @import("c.zig").c;
 
-const core = @import("papyrus.zig").core;
+const core = @import("core");
 const Vector2i = core.Vector2i;
 const Vector2f = core.Vector2f;
 const Name = core.Name;

engine/papyrus/src/papyrus.zig

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-pub const c = @cImport({
+const c = @cImport({
     @cInclude("stb_ttf.h");
 });
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ pub const TextEntrySystem = @import("TextEntrySystem.zig");
 pub const DrawCommand = @import("DrawCommand.zig");
 pub const DrawList = std.ArrayList(DrawCommand);
 
-pub const core = @import("core");
+const core = @import("core");
 const colors = core.colors;
 pub const Color = colors.Color;
 pub const ColorRGBA8 = colors.RGBA8;

engine/papyrus/tests/testing.zig

@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const papyrus = @import("papyrus");
 const localization = papyrus.localization;
 const utils = papyrus.utils;
-const c = papyrus.c;
+const c = @cImport({
+    @cInclude("stb_ttf.h");
+});
+
 const PapyrusContext = papyrus.Context;
 const PapyrusNode = papyrus.Node;
 const MakeText = localization.MakeText;
@@ -11,7 +14,7 @@ const grapvizDotToPng = utils.grapvizDotToPng;
 const BmpRenderer = papyrus.BmpRenderer;
 const BmpWriter = BmpRenderer.BmpWriter;
 
-const core = papyrus.core;
+const core = @import("core");
 const colors = core.colors;
 const Color = colors.Color;
 const ColorRGBA8 = colors.ColorRGBA8;

engine/physics/build.zig

@@ -1,9 +1,4 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-const core = @import("core");
-
-const depList = [_][]const u8{
-    "core",
-};
 
 // very tiny, not intended to build anything just to run tests linked with libc
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
@@ -11,24 +6,25 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = core.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "physics",
+    const mod = b.addModule("physics", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .link_libc = true,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/physics.zig"),
     });
 
-    engineMod.install();
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&depList);
+    const core_dep = b.dependency("core", .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
 
     const zphysics_dep = b.dependency("zphysics", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
+        .enable_cross_platform_determinism = false,
         .static_build = static_build,
     });
 
-    engineMod.mod.addImport("zphysics", zphysics_dep.module("root"));
-    engineMod.lib.linkLibrary(zphysics_dep.artifact("zphysics"));
+    mod.addImport("core", core_dep.module("core"));
+    mod.addImport("zphysics", zphysics_dep.module("root"));
+    mod.linkLibrary(zphysics_dep.artifact("joltc"));
 
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for physics");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
@@ -39,8 +35,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         }),
     });
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("physics", engineMod.mod);
-    tests.root_module.linkLibrary(zphysics_dep.artifact("zphysics"));
+    tests.root_module.addImport("physics", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     b.installArtifact(tests);

engine/physics/src/physicsSystem.zig

@@ -139,8 +139,11 @@ pub const PhysicsRuntime = struct {
         try self.idToEntity.put(self.allocator, bodyId, entity);
     }
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         try zphysics.init(std.heap.smp_allocator, .{});
         //try zphysics.init(allocator, .{});
 
@@ -162,11 +165,6 @@ pub const PhysicsRuntime = struct {
         );
 
         self.system = system;
-
-        //try core.defineComponent(PhysicsCharacter, self.allocator);
-        // try core.defineComponent(PhysicsCollider, self.allocator);
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
@@ -230,7 +228,6 @@ pub const PhysicsRuntime = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
-        const allocator = self.allocator;
         self.system.optimizeBroadPhase();
         for (PhysicsCharacter.BaseContainer.list.items) |physChar| {
             physChar.deinit();
@@ -266,8 +263,6 @@ pub const PhysicsRuntime = struct {
         self.system.destroy();
 
         zphysics.deinit();
-
-        allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 
     pub fn createShape(self: *@This(), name: *core.Name, settings: ShapeSettings) !void {

engine/physics/src/physicsSystem_old.zig

@@ -1,308 +0,0 @@
-const std = @import("std");
-const zphysics = @import("zphysics");
-const core = @import("core");
-const zm = core.zm;
-
-pub const ObjectLayers = struct {
-    pub const non_moving: zphysics.ObjectLayer = 0;
-    pub const moving: zphysics.ObjectLayer = 1;
-    pub const len: u32 = 2;
-};
-
-pub const BroadPhaseLayers = struct {
-    pub const non_moving: zphysics.BroadPhaseLayer = 0;
-    pub const moving: zphysics.BroadPhaseLayer = 1;
-    pub const len: u32 = 2;
-};
-
-const BroadPhaseLayerInterface = extern struct {
-    usingnamespace zphysics.BroadPhaseLayerInterface.Methods(@This());
-    __v: *const zphysics.BroadPhaseLayerInterface.VTable = &vtable,
-
-    object_to_broad_phase: [ObjectLayers.len]zphysics.BroadPhaseLayer = undefined,
-
-    const vtable = zphysics.BroadPhaseLayerInterface.VTable{
-        .getNumBroadPhaseLayers = _getNumBroadPhaseLayers,
-        .getBroadPhaseLayer = _getBroadPhaseLayer,
-    };
-
-    fn init() BroadPhaseLayerInterface {
-        var layer_interface: BroadPhaseLayerInterface = .{};
-        layer_interface.object_to_broad_phase[ObjectLayers.non_moving] = BroadPhaseLayers.non_moving;
-        layer_interface.object_to_broad_phase[ObjectLayers.moving] = BroadPhaseLayers.moving;
-        return layer_interface;
-    }
-
-    fn _getNumBroadPhaseLayers(_: *const zphysics.BroadPhaseLayerInterface) callconv(.c) u32 {
-        return BroadPhaseLayers.len;
-    }
-
-    fn _getBroadPhaseLayer(
-        interface_self: *const zphysics.BroadPhaseLayerInterface,
-        object_layer: zphysics.ObjectLayer,
-    ) callconv(.c) zphysics.BroadPhaseLayer {
-        const self: *const BroadPhaseLayerInterface = @ptrCast(interface_self);
-        return self.object_to_broad_phase[object_layer];
-    }
-};
-
-const ObjectVsBroadPhaseLayerFilter = extern struct {
-    usingnamespace zphysics.ObjectVsBroadPhaseLayerFilter.Methods(@This());
-    __v: *const zphysics.ObjectVsBroadPhaseLayerFilter.VTable = &vtable,
-
-    const vtable = zphysics.ObjectVsBroadPhaseLayerFilter.VTable{ .shouldCollide = _shouldCollide };
-
-    fn _shouldCollide(
-        _: *const zphysics.ObjectVsBroadPhaseLayerFilter,
-        object_layer: zphysics.ObjectLayer,
-        broad_phase_layer: zphysics.BroadPhaseLayer,
-    ) callconv(.c) bool {
-        return switch (object_layer) {
-            ObjectLayers.non_moving => broad_phase_layer == BroadPhaseLayers.moving,
-            ObjectLayers.moving => true,
-            else => unreachable,
-        };
-    }
-};
-
-const ObjectLayerPairFilter = extern struct {
-    usingnamespace zphysics.ObjectLayerPairFilter.Methods(@This());
-    __v: *const zphysics.ObjectLayerPairFilter.VTable = &vtable,
-
-    const vtable = zphysics.ObjectLayerPairFilter.VTable{ .shouldCollide = _shouldCollide };
-
-    fn _shouldCollide(
-        _: *const zphysics.ObjectLayerPairFilter,
-        a: zphysics.ObjectLayer,
-        b: zphysics.ObjectLayer,
-    ) callconv(.c) bool {
-        return switch (a) {
-            ObjectLayers.non_moving => b == ObjectLayers.moving,
-            ObjectLayers.moving => true,
-            else => unreachable,
-        };
-    }
-};
-
-pub const PhysicsRuntime = struct {
-    allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    bpli: BroadPhaseLayerInterface,
-    ovbplf: ObjectVsBroadPhaseLayerFilter,
-    olpf: ObjectLayerPairFilter,
-    max_bodies: u32,
-
-    system: *zphysics.PhysicsSystem = undefined,
-
-    primBoxSettings: *zphysics.BoxShapeSettings = undefined,
-    primBoxShape: *zphysics.Shape = undefined,
-
-    primSphereSettings: *zphysics.SphereShapeSettings = undefined,
-    primSphereShape: *zphysics.Shape = undefined,
-
-    floorShapeSettings: *zphysics.BoxShapeSettings = undefined,
-    floorShape: *zphysics.Shape = undefined,
-
-    spherePositions: std.ArrayList(core.Vectorf),
-    sphereRotations: std.ArrayList(core.Quat),
-    sphereIds: std.ArrayList(zphysics.BodyId),
-
-    newBallTime: f64 = 5,
-    offset: f32 = 0,
-
-    pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This());
-
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
-
-        self.* = .{
-            .allocator = allocator,
-            .bpli = BroadPhaseLayerInterface.init(),
-            .ovbplf = .{},
-            .olpf = .{},
-            .spherePositions = std.ArrayList(core.Vectorf).init(allocator),
-            .sphereRotations = std.ArrayList(core.Quat).init(allocator),
-            .sphereIds = std.ArrayList(zphysics.BodyId).init(allocator),
-            .max_bodies = 8192,
-        };
-
-        const system = try zphysics.PhysicsSystem.create(
-            @as(*const zphysics.BroadPhaseLayerInterface, @ptrCast(&self.bpli)),
-            @as(*const zphysics.ObjectVsBroadPhaseLayerFilter, @ptrCast(&self.ovbplf)),
-            @as(*const zphysics.ObjectLayerPairFilter, @ptrCast(&self.olpf)),
-            .{
-                .max_bodies = self.max_bodies,
-                .num_body_mutexes = 0,
-                .max_body_pairs = 8192 * 2,
-                .max_contact_constraints = 8192 * 2,
-            },
-        );
-
-        self.system = system;
-
-        const bodyInterface = self.system.getBodyInterfaceMut();
-
-        // primBoxSettings: *zphysics.BoxShapeSettings = undefined,
-        // primBoxShape: *zphysics.Shape = undefined,
-
-        // primSphereSettings: *zphysics.SphereShapeSettings = undefined,
-        // primSphereShape: *zphysics.Shape = undefined,
-
-        // setup primitives for settings.
-        self.primBoxSettings = try zphysics.BoxShapeSettings.create(.{ 2.0, 2.0, 2.0 });
-        self.primBoxShape = try self.primBoxSettings.createShape();
-
-        self.primSphereSettings = try zphysics.SphereShapeSettings.create(0.5);
-        self.primSphereShape = try self.primSphereSettings.createShape();
-
-        self.floorShapeSettings = try zphysics.BoxShapeSettings.create(.{ 300, 1, 300 });
-        self.floorShape = try self.floorShapeSettings.createShape();
-
-        // create floor
-        _ = try bodyInterface.createAndAddBody(.{
-            .position = .{ 0, -1, 0, 1 },
-            .rotation = .{ 0, 0, 0, 1 },
-            .shape = self.floorShape,
-            .motion_type = .static,
-            .object_layer = ObjectLayers.non_moving,
-        }, .activate);
-
-        const roomSize = 7;
-        // create up and down walls
-        {
-            const rotation = zm.quatFromMat(zm.rotationZ(core.radians(90.0)));
-            _ = try bodyInterface.createAndAddBody(.{
-                .position = .{ roomSize, -1, 0, 1 },
-                .rotation = rotation,
-                .shape = self.floorShape,
-                .motion_type = .static,
-                .object_layer = ObjectLayers.non_moving,
-            }, .activate);
-
-            _ = try bodyInterface.createAndAddBody(.{
-                .position = .{ -roomSize, -1, 0, 1 },
-                .rotation = rotation,
-                .shape = self.floorShape,
-                .motion_type = .static,
-                .object_layer = ObjectLayers.non_moving,
-            }, .activate);
-        }
-
-        // create left and right walls
-        {
-            const rotation = zm.quatFromMat(zm.rotationX(core.radians(90.0)));
-            _ = try bodyInterface.createAndAddBody(.{
-                .position = .{ 0, -1, -roomSize, 1 },
-                .rotation = rotation,
-                .shape = self.floorShape,
-                .motion_type = .static,
-                .object_layer = ObjectLayers.non_moving,
-            }, .activate);
-
-            _ = try bodyInterface.createAndAddBody(.{
-                .position = .{ 0, -1, roomSize, 1 },
-                .rotation = rotation,
-                .shape = self.floorShape,
-                .motion_type = .static,
-                .object_layer = ObjectLayers.non_moving,
-            }, .activate);
-        }
-
-        for (0..2) |i| {
-            _ = try bodyInterface.createAndAddBody(
-                .{
-                    .position = .{ 0, @as(f32, @floatFromInt(i)) * 1.1 + 1.0, 2, 1 },
-                    .rotation = .{ 0, 0, 0, 1 },
-                    .shape = self.primSphereShape,
-                    .motion_type = .dynamic,
-                    .object_layer = ObjectLayers.moving,
-                    .restitution = 0.4,
-                    .angular_velocity = .{ 0, 0, 0, 0 },
-                },
-                .activate,
-            );
-            _ = try bodyInterface.createAndAddBody(
-                .{
-                    .position = .{ 5, @as(f32, @floatFromInt(i)) * 1.1 + 1.0, 2, 1 },
-                    .rotation = .{ 0, 0, 0, 1 },
-                    .shape = self.primSphereShape,
-                    .motion_type = .dynamic,
-                    .restitution = 0.4,
-                    .object_layer = ObjectLayers.moving,
-                    .angular_velocity = .{ 0, 0, 0, 0 },
-                },
-                .activate,
-            );
-        }
-
-        self.system.optimizeBroadPhase();
-
-        return self;
-    }
-
-    pub fn updateSpherePositions(self: *@This()) !void {
-        try self.system.getBodyIds(&self.sphereIds);
-        try self.spherePositions.resize(self.sphereIds.items.len);
-        try self.sphereRotations.resize(self.sphereIds.items.len);
-        const lockInterface = self.system.getBodyLockInterface();
-
-        for (self.sphereIds.items, 0..) |bodyId, i| {
-            var readLock: zphysics.BodyLockRead = .{};
-            readLock.lock(lockInterface, bodyId);
-            defer readLock.unlock();
-
-            if (readLock.body) |body| {
-                self.spherePositions.items[i] = core.Vectorf.fromArray(body.position);
-                self.sphereRotations.items[i] = body.rotation;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    // todo... schedule physics timers
-    pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
-        self.system.update(@floatCast(dt), .{}) catch unreachable;
-        self.updateSpherePositions() catch unreachable;
-
-        // self.newBallTime -= dt;
-
-        // if (self.newBallTime < 0) {
-        //     const bodyInterface = self.system.getBodyInterfaceMut();
-        //     self.newBallTime = 5.0;
-        //     self.offset += 0.01;
-
-        //     _ = bodyInterface.createAndAddBody(
-        //         .{
-        //             .position = .{ 0 + self.offset, 15, 0, 1 },
-        //             .rotation = .{ 0, 0, 0, 1 },
-        //             .shape = self.primSphereShape,
-        //             .motion_type = .dynamic,
-        //             .object_layer = ObjectLayers.moving,
-        //             .restitution = 0.4,
-        //             .angular_velocity = .{ 0, 0, 0, 0 },
-        //             .inertia_multiplier = 30,
-        //         },
-        //         .activate,
-        //     ) catch unreachable;
-
-        //     self.system.optimizeBroadPhase();
-        // }
-    }
-
-    pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
-        const allocator = self.allocator;
-
-        self.primSphereShape.release();
-        self.primSphereSettings.release();
-
-        self.floorShape.release();
-        self.floorShapeSettings.release();
-
-        self.primBoxShape.release();
-        self.primBoxSettings.release();
-
-        self.system.destroy();
-        self.sphereIds.deinit();
-        self.spherePositions.deinit();
-        self.sphereRotations.deinit();
-        allocator.destroy(self);
-    }
-};

engine/platform/build.zig

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const sdl3 = @import("sdl3");
-const core = @import("core");
 
 const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
     "core",
@@ -14,16 +13,12 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = core.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "platform",
-        .optimize = optimize,
+    const mod = b.addModule("platform", .{
         .target = target,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/platform.zig"),
     });
 
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&dependencyList);
-    engineMod.install();
-
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
             .target = target,
@@ -32,10 +27,16 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         }),
     });
 
-    const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for platform");
-    tests.root_module.addImport("platform", engineMod.mod);
-    tests.linkLibrary(engineMod.lib);
+    for (dependencyList) |depName| {
+        const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+        const dep_mod = dep.module(depName);
+        mod.addImport(depName, dep_mod);
+        tests.root_module.addImport(depName, dep_mod);
+    }
 
+    const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for platform");
+
+    tests.root_module.addImport("platform", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     b.installArtifact(tests);

engine/platform/src/gameInput.zig

@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-const std = @import("std");
-const core = @import("core");
-const windowing = @import("windowing.zig");
-
-// GameInput implements the RawInputListenerInterface
-// This is a data driven input system where mappings are defined,
-// and keys are assigned to mapping contexts
-
-pub const GameInputSystem = struct {
-    pub const RawInputListenerVTable = windowing.RawInputListenerInterface.from(@This());
-
-    stub: u32 = 0,
-
-    pub fn OnIoEvent(self: *@This(), event: windowing.IOEvent) windowing.InputListenerError!void {
-        _ = event;
-        _ = self;
-    }
-
-    pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
-        _ = self;
-    }
-};

engine/platform/src/platform.zig

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 const std = @import("std");
-pub const core = @import("core");
+const core = @import("core");
 const test_vert = @import("test.vert");
 
 pub const nfd = @import("nfd");
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ pub fn start_module(spec: *core.SpecVariantMap, args: anytype, allocator: std.me
         return;
     }
 
-    core.getModuleLoader().watchInitializeFn = watchModules;
+    // core.getModuleLoader().watchInitializeFn = watchModules;
 
     const parameters = windowing.PlatformParams.init();
 

engine/platform/src/windowing.zig

@@ -191,8 +191,6 @@ pub const PlatformInstance = struct {
         self.allocator.free(self.iconPath);
         self.processFuncs.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.platformRequests.deinit(self.allocator);
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
-        // shutdown
     }
 
     pub fn onExitSignal(self: *@This()) !void {
@@ -204,10 +202,10 @@ pub const PlatformInstance = struct {
         return self.windowDestroyed;
     }
 
-    pub fn init(
-        allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
-    ) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
+
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .nfdRuntime = try nfd.NFDRuntime.create(allocator, .{}),
@@ -217,8 +215,6 @@ pub const PlatformInstance = struct {
             //.extent = .{ .x = @floatFromInt(params.extent.x), .y = @floatFromInt(params.extent.y) },
             //.hasVideo = params.hasVideo,
         };
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn setParams(self: *@This(), params: PlatformParams) !void {

engine/platform/tests/tests.zig

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
+const core = @import("core");
 const platform = @import("platform");
-const core = @import("platform").core;
 
 const std = @import("std");
 

engine/rend/build.zig

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const sdl3 = @import("sdl3");
-const core = @import("core");
 
 const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
     "core",
@@ -20,47 +19,38 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const engineMod = core.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "rend",
+    const mod = b.addModule("rend", .{
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/rend.zig"),
     });
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&dependencyList);
-    engineMod.install();
 
-    // const mod = b.addModule("rend", .{
-    //     .target = target,
-    //     .optimize = optimize,
-    //     .root_source_file = b.path("src/rend.zig"),
-    // });
+    for (dependencyList) |depName| {
+        const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+        const dep_mod = dep.module(depName);
+        mod.addImport(depName, dep_mod);
 
-    // for (dependencyList) |depName| {
-    //     const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
-    //     const dep_mod = dep.module(depName);
-    //     mod.addImport(depName, dep_mod);
+        if (std.mem.eql(u8, depName, "ozz")) {
+            mod.linkLibrary(dep.artifact("ozz_cpp"));
+        }
+    }
 
-    //     if (std.mem.eql(u8, depName, "ozz")) {
-    //         mod.linkLibrary(dep.artifact("ozz_cpp"));
-    //     }
-    // }
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "sample.vert", b.path("shaders/sample.vert.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "meshes.vert", b.path("shaders/meshes.vert.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "lit_mesh.frag", b.path("shaders/lit_mesh.frag.json"));
 
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "sample.vert", b.path("shaders/sample.vert.json"));
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "meshes.vert", b.path("shaders/meshes.vert.json"));
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "lit_mesh.frag", b.path("shaders/lit_mesh.frag.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "debug.frag", b.path("shaders/debug.frag.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "debug.vert", b.path("shaders/debug.vert.json"));
 
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "debug.frag", b.path("shaders/debug.frag.json"));
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "debug.vert", b.path("shaders/debug.vert.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "depthOnly.frag", b.path("shaders/depthOnly.frag.json"));
 
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "depthOnly.frag", b.path("shaders/depthOnly.frag.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "skybox.frag", b.path("shaders/skybox.frag.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "skybox.vert", b.path("shaders/skybox.vert.json"));
 
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "skybox.frag", b.path("shaders/skybox.frag.json"));
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "skybox.vert", b.path("shaders/skybox.vert.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "postProc.frag", b.path("shaders/postProc.frag.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "postProc.vert", b.path("shaders/postProc.vert.json"));
 
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "postProc.frag", b.path("shaders/postProc.frag.json"));
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "postProc.vert", b.path("shaders/postProc.vert.json"));
-
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "ssao.frag", b.path("shaders/ssao.frag.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "ssao.frag", b.path("shaders/ssao.frag.json"));
 
     // ========== tests ==========
     const tests = b.addTest(.{

engine/rend/src/animations/animationSystem.zig

@@ -417,8 +417,10 @@ pub const AnimationSystem = struct {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn init(alloc: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try alloc.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), alloc: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
+
         self.* = .{
             .backingAllocator = alloc,
             .arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(alloc),
@@ -433,7 +435,6 @@ pub const AnimationSystem = struct {
         Animator.allocator = alloc;
 
         core.engine_logs("Animation System initialized");
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
@@ -466,7 +467,6 @@ pub const AnimationSystem = struct {
         self.arena.deinit();
         self.skeletons.deinit(self.backingAllocator);
         self.animTracks.deinit(self.backingAllocator);
-        self.backingAllocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/rend/src/animations/loaders.zig

@@ -19,19 +19,14 @@ pub const AnimationLoader = struct {
         self.sys.newAnimTrack(assetRef.name, animation) catch return error.UnableToLoad;
     }
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
 
         self.* = .{
             .sys = animation_system.gAnimationSys,
             .allocator = allocator,
         };
-
-        return self;
-    }
-
-    pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 
@@ -56,19 +51,14 @@ pub const SkeletonLoader = struct {
         self.sys.newSkeleton(assetRef.name, sk) catch return error.UnableToLoad;
     }
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
 
         self.* = .{
             .sys = animation_system.gAnimationSys,
             .allocator = allocator,
         };
-
-        return self;
-    }
-
-    pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/rend/src/particles/particles.zig

@@ -410,8 +410,9 @@ pub const ParticleSystem = struct {
 
     pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "rend.ParticleSystem");
 
-    pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
 
         self.* = .{
             .particleArena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(allocator),
@@ -420,8 +421,6 @@ pub const ParticleSystem = struct {
 
         ParticleRandRangef.randomEngine = std.Random.DefaultPrng.init(0x1234);
         ParticleRandRangef.randomFunc = ParticleRandRangef.randomEngine.random();
-
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
@@ -437,7 +436,6 @@ pub const ParticleSystem = struct {
 
     pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
         self.particleArena.deinit();
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/rend/src/sgpu/DebugDrawSystem.zig

@@ -35,8 +35,10 @@ const assetReferences = [_]assets.AssetImportReference{
     ),
 };
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
+
     self.* = .{
         .debugDraws = try core.RingQueueU(DebugPrimitive).init(allocator, MaxObjectCount),
         .allocator = allocator,
@@ -50,8 +52,6 @@ pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
     try assets.loadList(assetReferences);
 
     gDebugDrawSys = self;
-
-    return self;
 }
 
 pub fn updateMeshes(self: *@This()) void {
@@ -243,7 +243,6 @@ pub fn setup(self: *@This(), device: *gpu.GPUDevice) !void {
 pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
     self.debugDraws.deinit(self.allocator);
     self.drawsThisFrame.deinit(self.allocator);
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
 }
 
 // ==================== Primitives ===================

engine/rend/src/sgpu/MeshAssetLoader.zig

@@ -5,23 +5,19 @@ allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
 pub var LoaderInterfaceVTable = assets.AssetLoaderInterface.from("Mesh", @This());
 pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "rend.MeshAssetLoader");
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
+
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
     };
-
-    return self;
 }
 
 pub fn discardAll(self: *@This()) void {
     _ = self;
 }
 
-pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
-}
-
 // unfortunately this one is blocking
 pub fn loadAsset(self: *@This(), assetRef: assets.AssetRef, propertiesBag: ?assets.AssetPropertiesBag) assets.AssetLoaderError!void {
     _ = self;

engine/rend/src/sgpu/ParticleRenderer.zig

@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ const SgpuParticleRenderInfo = struct {
     texture: *rend.Texture,
 };
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
+
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
     };
@@ -39,8 +41,6 @@ pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
         .size = MaxParticleCount * @sizeOf(meshes_vert.Scene),
         .props = 0,
     });
-
-    return self;
 }
 
 pub fn uploadSsbos(self: *@This(), copyPass: *gpu.GPUCopyPass) !void {
@@ -121,10 +121,9 @@ pub fn setup(self: *@This(), device: *gpu.GPUDevice) !void {
     _ = device;
 }
 
-pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
     self.spans.deinit(self.allocator);
     self.renderInfo.deinit(self.allocator);
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
 }
 
 const assets = @import("assets");

engine/rend/src/sgpu/SkyboxSystem.zig

@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@ brightnessFactor: f32 = 4.0,
 
 sampler: *gpu.GPUSampler = undefined,
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
-    self.* = .{ .allocator = allocator };
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
 
-    return self;
+    self.* = .{ .allocator = allocator };
 }
 
 pub fn setup(self: *@This(), device: *gpu.GPUDevice) !void {
@@ -87,10 +87,6 @@ fn createPipeline(self: *@This()) !void {
     }));
 }
 
-pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
-}
-
 pub fn render(self: *@This(), cmd: *gpu.GPUCommandBuffer) void {
     const targetInfo: [2]gpu.GPUColorTargetInfo = .{
         std.mem.zeroInit(gpu.GPUColorTargetInfo, .{

engine/rend/src/sgpu/TextureList.zig

@@ -9,19 +9,19 @@
 pub var LoaderInterfaceVTable = assets.AssetLoaderInterface.from("Texture", @This());
 pub var NeonObjectTable: core.EngineObjectVTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "rend.TextureList");
 
-allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
 device: *gpu.GPUDevice = undefined,
 
 map: std.AutoHashMapUnmanaged(u32, *Texture) = .{},
 requestMap: std.AutoHashMapUnmanaged(u32, bool) = .{},
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
+
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
     };
-
-    return self;
 }
 
 pub fn setup(self: *@This(), device: *gpu.GPUDevice) !void {
@@ -339,14 +339,13 @@ pub fn discardAll(self: *@This()) void {
     _ = self;
 }
 
-pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
     var iter = self.map.valueIterator();
     while (iter.next()) |x| {
         self.allocator.destroy(x.*);
     }
     self.requestMap.deinit(self.allocator);
     self.map.deinit(self.allocator);
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
 }
 
 const std = @import("std");

engine/rend/src/sgpu/renderer.zig

@@ -99,15 +99,14 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
 
     pub const MaxObjectCount = 50000;
 
-    pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
-
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+        if (!first)
+            return;
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
         };
 
         self.hdrTextureFormat = .textureformatR16g16b16a16Float;
-        return self;
     }
 
     pub fn imageExtents(self: @This()) core.Vectorf {
@@ -1178,7 +1177,6 @@ pub const Renderer = struct {
 
         self.uploads.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.destroys.deinit(self.allocator);
-        self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 };
 

engine/rend/src/sgpu/ssao.zig

@@ -21,14 +21,13 @@ enable: bool = true,
 // float bias; // = 0.025;
 // int numSamples; // up to 64
 
-pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
-    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
+    if (!first)
+        return;
 
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
     };
-
-    return self;
 }
 
 pub fn setup(self: *@This(), device: *gpu.GPUDevice) !void {
@@ -216,10 +215,6 @@ pub fn createPipeline(self: *@This()) !void {
     self.ssaoPipeline = ctx.device.createGPUGraphicsPipeline(&pci);
 }
 
-pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-    self.allocator.destroy(self);
-}
-
 const core = @import("core");
 const rend = @import("../rend.zig");
 const std = @import("std");

engine/sys/build.zig

@@ -1,27 +1,38 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const sdl3 = @import("sdl3");
-const core = @import("core");
 
 const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
     "core",
 };
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const engineMod = core.MakeEngineMod(b, "sys");
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&dependencyList);
-    engineMod.install();
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+
+    const mod = b.addModule("sys", .{
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/sys.zig"),
+    });
+
+    for (dependencyList) |depName| {
+        const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+        const dep_mod = dep.module(depName);
+        mod.addImport(depName, dep_mod);
+    }
 
     // ========== tests ==========
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = engineMod.target,
-            .optimize = engineMod.optimize,
+            .target = target,
+            .optimize = optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("tests/tests.zig"),
         }),
     });
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for ui");
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("sys", engineMod.mod);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("sys", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     b.installArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);

engine/sys/src/systemProc.zig

@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ pub const SubprocessTask = struct {
     allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
 
     child: ?std.process.Child = null,
-    completed: std.atomic.Value(bool) = std.atomic.Value(bool).init(false),
-    success: std.atomic.Value(bool) = std.atomic.Value(bool).init(false),
+    completed: bool = false,
+    success: bool = false,
 
     workingDir: ?[]const u8 = null,
 
@@ -76,29 +76,29 @@ pub const SubprocessTask = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
-        // self.mutex.lock();
+        self.mutex.lock();
         self.argsArena.deinit();
         self.argsOwned.deinit(self.allocator);
         if (self.child) |*child| {
             _ = child;
             core.engine_log("destroying child process", .{});
         }
-        // self.mutex.unlock();
+        self.mutex.unlock();
         self.stdout.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.stderr.deinit(self.allocator);
         self.allocator.destroy(self);
     }
 
     pub fn checkComplete(self: *@This()) bool {
-        return self.completed.load(.monotonic);
+        return self.completed;
     }
 
     pub fn wait(self: *@This()) void {
-        var completed: bool = self.completed.load(.monotonic);
+        var completed: bool = self.completed;
         while (completed == false) {
             std.Thread.sleep(1 * 1000 * 1000);
             self.mutex.lock();
-            completed = self.completed.load(.monotonic);
+            completed = self.completed;
             self.mutex.unlock();
         }
         debugPrint("task completed", .{});
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ pub const SubprocessTask = struct {
 
         switch (term) {
             .Exited => |m| {
-                if (m == 0) self.success.store(true, .release);
+                if (m == 0) self.success = true;
             },
             .Signal => |m| {
                 core.engine_log("process Signaled {d}", .{m});
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ pub const SubprocessTask = struct {
 
         self.mutex.lock();
         self.child = null;
+        self.completed = true;
         self.mutex.unlock();
-        self.completed.store(true, .release);
     }
 
     pub fn runCommand(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, argv: []const []const u8, cwd: ?[]const u8) !*@This() {

engine/trampoline.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+const core = @import("core");
+
+const modules = @import("modtree");
+
+pub fn launch() void {}
+
+pub fn shutdown() void {}
+
+pub fn loadModule() void {}

engine/ui/build.zig

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 const std = @import("std");
 const sdl3 = @import("sdl3");
-const core = @import("core");
 
 const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
     "core",
@@ -12,18 +11,28 @@ const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
 };
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const engineMod = core.MakeEngineMod(b, "ui");
-    engineMod.linkModLibs(&dependencyList);
-    engineMod.install();
-    const target = engineMod.target;
-    const optimize = engineMod.optimize;
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+
+    const mod = b.addModule("ui", .{
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/ui.zig"),
+    });
+
+    for (dependencyList) |depName| {
+        const dep = b.dependency(depName, .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+        const dep_mod = dep.module(depName);
+        mod.addImport(depName, dep_mod);
+    }
 
     // shaders
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "rect.vert", b.path("shaders/rect.vert.json"));
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "rect.frag", b.path("shaders/rect.frag.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "rect.vert", b.path("shaders/rect.vert.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "rect.frag", b.path("shaders/rect.frag.json"));
 
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "text.vert", b.path("shaders/text.vert.json"));
-    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, engineMod.mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "text.frag", b.path("shaders/text.frag.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "text.vert", b.path("shaders/text.vert.json"));
+    sdl3.shaderDefintion(b, mod, "../../lib/sdl3", target, optimize, "text.frag", b.path("shaders/text.frag.json"));
 
     // ========== tests ==========
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
@@ -35,8 +44,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     });
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for ui");
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("ui", engineMod.mod);
-    tests.root_module.linkLibrary(engineMod.lib);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("ui", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     b.installArtifact(tests);

lib/.claude/settings.local.json

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "permissions": {
+    "allow": [
+      "Bash(cat:*)",
+      "Bash(git log:*)",
+      "Bash(zig build:*)"
+    ],
+    "deny": [],
+    "ask": []
+  }
+}

lib/bh/build.zig

@@ -5,31 +5,9 @@ pub const ModLib = struct {
     lib: *std.Build.Step.Compile,
     mod: *std.Build.Module,
 
-    target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
-    optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
-    static_build: bool,
-
     pub fn install(self: @This()) void {
         self.b.installArtifact(self.lib);
     }
-
-    pub fn addIncludePath(self: @This(), path: []const u8) void {
-        self.lib.addIncludePath(self.b.path(path));
-        self.mod.addIncludePath(self.b.path(path));
-    }
-
-    pub fn linkModLibs(self: @This(), list: []const []const u8) void {
-        for (list) |depName| {
-            const dep = self.b.dependency(depName, .{
-                .target = self.target,
-                .optimize = self.optimize,
-                .static_build = self.static_build,
-            });
-
-            self.mod.addImport(depName, dep.module(depName));
-            self.lib.linkLibrary(dep.artifact(depName));
-        }
-    }
 };
 
 pub const ModLibOptions = struct {
@@ -44,11 +22,11 @@ pub const ModLibOptions = struct {
     stub: ?std.Build.LazyPath = null,
 };
 
-pub fn MakeModLib(b: *std.Build, o: ModLibOptions) ModLib {
+pub fn MakeModlib(b: *std.Build, o: ModLibOptions) ModLib {
     const mod = b.addModule(o.name, .{
         .target = o.target,
         .optimize = o.optimize,
-        .root_source_file = if (o.root != null) o.root.? else b.path(b.fmt("src/{s}.zig", .{o.name})),
+        .root_source_file = if (o.root != null) o.root.? else b.path(b.fmt("src/{s}", .{o.name})),
     });
 
     const empty_file = b.addWriteFile("stubs", "");
@@ -67,9 +45,23 @@ pub fn MakeModLib(b: *std.Build, o: ModLibOptions) ModLib {
         .b = b,
         .lib = lib,
         .mod = mod,
-        .target = o.target,
-        .optimize = o.optimize,
-        .static_build = o.static_build,
+    };
+}
+
+pub const Options = struct {
+    target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
+    optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
+    static_build: bool,
+    tracy: bool,
+};
+
+// standard set of options that all backlog modules and dependenices shall use.
+pub fn declareOptions(b: *std.Build) Options {
+    return .{
+        .target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{}),
+        .optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{}),
+        .static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false,
+        .tracy = b.option(bool, "tracy", "builds with tracy support") orelse false,
     };
 }
 
@@ -78,7 +70,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
     const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
 
-    const r = MakeModLib(b, .{
+    const r = MakeModlib(b, .{
         .name = "bh",
         .target = target,
         .optimize = optimize,

lib/cimgui/build.zig

@@ -3,37 +3,41 @@ const bh = @import("bh");
 
 // very tiny, not intended to build anything just to run tests linked with libc
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
-    const cimgui = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "cimgui",
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+    const mod = b.addModule("cimgui", .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .link_libc = true,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/cimgui.zig"),
     });
 
-    cimgui.install();
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/imgui"));
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/SDL/include"));
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("cimplot"));
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("cimplot/implot"));
 
-    cimgui.mod.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/SDL/include"));
-    cimgui.mod.addIncludePath(b.path("cimplot"));
-    cimgui.mod.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/imgui"));
-    cimgui.mod.addIncludePath(b.path("cimplot/implot"));
+    const cimgui = b.addLibrary(.{
+        .name = "cimgui",
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+        }),
+    });
 
-    cimgui.lib.linkLibC();
+    cimgui.linkLibC();
 
-    if (target.result.abi != .msvc)
-        cimgui.lib.linkLibCpp();
+    if (opts.target.result.abi != .msvc)
+        cimgui.linkLibCpp();
 
-    cimgui.lib.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui"));
-    cimgui.lib.addIncludePath(b.path("cimplot"));
-    cimgui.lib.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/imgui"));
-    cimgui.lib.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/imgui/backends"));
-    cimgui.lib.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/imgui/backends"));
-    cimgui.lib.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/SDL/include/"));
+    cimgui.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui"));
+    cimgui.addIncludePath(b.path("cimplot"));
+    cimgui.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/imgui"));
+    cimgui.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/imgui/backends"));
+    cimgui.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/imgui/backends"));
+    cimgui.addIncludePath(b.path("cimgui/SDL/include/"));
 
-    cimgui.lib.addCSourceFiles(.{
+    cimgui.addCSourceFiles(.{
         .root = b.path("cimgui/imgui"),
         .files = &[_][]const u8{
             "cimgui.cpp",
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         },
     });
 
-    cimgui.lib.addCSourceFiles(.{
+    cimgui.addCSourceFiles(.{
         .root = b.path("cimplot"),
         .files = &[_][]const u8{
             "cimplot.cpp",
@@ -58,20 +62,20 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         },
     });
 
+    mod.linkLibrary(cimgui);
+
     // I could've made cimgui a seperate lib,
     // I can seperate it out later if needed.
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for imgui");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("tests/tests.zig"),
         }),
     });
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("cimgui", cimgui.mod);
-    tests.root_module.linkLibrary(cimgui.lib);
-
+    tests.root_module.addImport("cimgui", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     b.installArtifact(tests);

lib/cimgui/tests/tests.zig

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-const cimgui = @import("cimgui");
-
-test "huh" {}

lib/enet/build.zig

@@ -2,9 +2,7 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const bh = @import("bh");
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
     // am i good to always have enet as static?
     // const enet = if (true) b.addStaticLibrary(.{
@@ -17,18 +15,18 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     //     .optimize = optimize,
     // });
 
-    const enet = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "enet",
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
+    const enet = b.addLibrary(.{
+        .name = "enet_c",
+        .linkage = .static,
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        }),
     });
 
-    enet.install();
+    enet.linkLibC();
 
-    enet.lib.linkLibC();
-
-    enet.lib.addCSourceFiles(.{
+    enet.addCSourceFiles(.{
         .root = b.path("enet-1.3.18"),
         .files = &.{
             "callbacks.c",
@@ -43,13 +41,14 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         },
         .flags = &.{"-DHAS_OFFSETOF=1"},
     });
-    enet.addIncludePath("enet-1.3.18/include");
+
+    enet.addIncludePath(b.path("enet-1.3.18/include"));
 
     // Platform-specific configuration
-    switch (target.result.os.tag) {
+    switch (opts.target.result.os.tag) {
         .windows => {
-            enet.lib.linkSystemLibrary("ws2_32");
-            enet.lib.linkSystemLibrary("winmm");
+            enet.linkSystemLibrary("ws2_32");
+            enet.linkSystemLibrary("winmm");
             // Use .def file to control exports and avoid CRT symbol conflicts
         },
         .linux, .macos => {
@@ -58,18 +57,29 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         else => {},
     }
 
+    b.installArtifact(enet);
+
+    const mod = b.addModule("enet", .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/enet.zig"),
+        .link_libc = true,
+    });
+
+    mod.linkLibrary(enet);
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("enet-1.3.18/include/"));
+
     const test_step = b.step("test", "run unit tests for enet");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
             .link_libc = true,
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/tests.zig"),
         }),
     });
 
-    tests.linkLibrary(enet.lib);
-    tests.root_module.addImport("enet", enet.mod);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("enet", mod);
     tests.root_module.addIncludePath(b.path("enet-1.3.18/include/"));
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
@@ -79,11 +89,11 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "test-server",
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/test_server.zig"),
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
         }),
     });
-    test_server.root_module.addImport("enet", enet.mod);
+    test_server.root_module.addImport("enet", mod);
     test_server.linkLibC();
 
     // Test client executable
@@ -91,11 +101,11 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "test-client",
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/test_client.zig"),
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
         }),
     });
-    test_client.root_module.addImport("enet", enet.mod);
+    test_client.root_module.addImport("enet", mod);
     test_client.linkLibC();
 
     // Install test programs
@@ -123,12 +133,6 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const build_tests_step = b.step("build-tests", "Build test server and client programs");
     build_tests_step.dependOn(&install_test_server.step);
     build_tests_step.dependOn(&install_test_client.step);
-
-    test_server.linkLibrary(enet.lib);
-    test_client.linkLibrary(enet.lib);
-
-    b.installArtifact(test_server);
-    b.installArtifact(test_client);
 }
 
 // Custom step to run server and client concurrently for loopback testing

lib/lua/build.zig

@@ -2,27 +2,28 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const bh = @import("bh");
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
-    const lua = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "lua",
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
-        .root = b.path("src/lua.zig"),
+    const mod = b.addModule("lua", .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/lua.zig"),
+        .link_libc = true,
     });
 
-    lua.install();
+    const luac = b.addLibrary(.{
+        .name = "luac",
+        .linkage = if (opts.static_build) .static else .dynamic,
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
+            .link_libc = true,
+        }),
+    });
 
-    // Add include paths to module (for Zig @cImport)
-    lua.addIncludePath("lua/src/");
-    lua.addIncludePath("src/");
+    b.installArtifact(luac);
 
-    // Configure library
-    lua.lib.linkLibC();
-    lua.lib.addCSourceFiles(.{
+    luac.addCSourceFiles(.{
         .root = b.path("lua/src/"),
         .files = &.{
             "lapi.c",
@@ -60,30 +61,37 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         },
     });
 
-    lua.lib.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/limited_io.c") });
+    luac.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/limited_io.c") });
 
-    if (target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
-        lua.lib.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/minidumpsetup.cpp") });
-        if (target.result.abi != .msvc)
-            lua.lib.linkLibCpp();
+    if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
+        luac.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/minidumpsetup.cpp") });
+        if (opts.target.result.abi != .msvc)
+            luac.linkLibCpp();
+        luac.linkLibC();
     } else {
-        lua.lib.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/minidumpstub.cpp") });
+        luac.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/minidumpstub.cpp") });
     }
 
+    luac.addIncludePath(b.path("lua/src/"));
+    luac.addIncludePath(b.path("src/"));
+
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("lua/src/"));
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("src/"));
+
+    mod.linkLibrary(luac);
+
     const run_step = b.step("test", "");
     const tests = b.addExecutable(.{
         .name = "run-lua",
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("test/test-lua.zig"),
             .link_libc = true,
         }),
     });
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("lua", lua.mod);
-    tests.root_module.linkLibrary(lua.lib);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("lua", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     run_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
-    b.installArtifact(tests);
 }

lib/miniaudio/build.zig

@@ -2,42 +2,40 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const bh = @import("bh");
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
-    const miniaudio = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "miniaudio",
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
-        .root = b.path("src/miniaudio.zig"),
+    const miniaudio_c = b.addLibrary(.{
+        .name = "miniaudio_c",
+        .linkage = if (opts.static_build) .static else .dynamic,
+        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
+            .link_libc = true,
+        }),
     });
 
-    miniaudio.install();
+    b.installArtifact(miniaudio_c);
+    miniaudio_c.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/miniaudio.cpp"), .flags = &.{"-fno-sanitize=all"}, .language = .c });
+    miniaudio_c.addIncludePath(b.path("include"));
 
-    // Add include paths to module (for Zig @cImport)
-    miniaudio.addIncludePath("./include");
+    const mod = b.addModule("miniaudio", .{ .target = opts.target, .optimize = opts.optimize, .root_source_file = b.path("src/miniaudio.zig") });
 
-    // Configure library
-    miniaudio.lib.linkLibC();
-
-    miniaudio.lib.addCSourceFile(.{ .file = b.path("src/miniaudio.cpp"), .flags = &.{"-fno-sanitize=all"}, .language = .c });
+    mod.linkLibrary(miniaudio_c);
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("./include"));
 
     // ======== tests ============
     const test_step = b.step("test", "");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/miniaudio-test.zig"),
             .link_libc = true,
         }),
     });
     tests.addIncludePath(b.path("./include"));
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("miniaudio", miniaudio.mod);
-    tests.root_module.linkLibrary(miniaudio.lib);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("miniaudio", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
 }

lib/nfd/build.zig

@@ -2,76 +2,67 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const bh = @import("bh");
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
-    const nfd = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "nfd",
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
-        .root = b.path("src/nfd.zig"),
+    const mod = b.addModule("nfd", .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/nfd.zig"),
+        .link_libc = true,
     });
 
-    nfd.install();
-
-    // Add include paths to module (for Zig @cImport)
-    nfd.addIncludePath("include");
-
-    // Configure library
-    nfd.lib.linkLibC();
-    nfd.lib.addCSourceFile(.{
+    mod.addCSourceFile(.{
         .file = b.path("src/nfd_common.c"),
         .flags = &.{},
     });
 
-    if (target.result.os.tag == .macos) {
-        nfd.lib.addCSourceFile(.{
+    mod.addIncludePath(b.path("include"));
+
+    if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .macos) {
+        mod.addCSourceFile(.{
             .file = b.path("src/nfd_cocoa.m"),
             .flags = &.{},
         });
-        nfd.lib.linkFramework("AppKit");
-    } else if (target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
-        nfd.lib.addCSourceFile(.{
+        mod.linkFramework("AppKit", .{});
+    } else if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .windows) {
+        mod.addCSourceFile(.{
             .file = b.path("src/nfd_win.cpp"),
             .flags = &.{},
         });
-        nfd.lib.linkSystemLibrary("ole32");
-    } else if (target.result.os.tag == .linux) {
-        // nfd.lib.addCSourceFile(.{
+        mod.linkSystemLibrary("ole32", .{});
+    } else if (opts.target.result.os.tag == .linux) {
+        // mod.addCSourceFile(.{
         //     .file = b.path("src/nfd_gtk.c"),
         //     .flags = &.{},
         // });
-        nfd.lib.addCSourceFile(.{
+        mod.addCSourceFile(.{
             .file = b.path("src/nfd_null.c"),
             .flags = &.{},
         });
-        // nfd.lib.linkSystemLibrary("gdk-3", .{});
-        // nfd.lib.linkSystemLibrary("atk-1.0", .{});
-        // nfd.lib.linkSystemLibrary("gtk-3", .{});
-        // nfd.lib.linkSystemLibrary("glib-2.0", .{});
-        // nfd.lib.linkSystemLibrary("gobject-2.0", .{});
+        // mod.linkSystemLibrary("gdk-3", .{});
+        // mod.linkSystemLibrary("atk-1.0", .{});
+        // mod.linkSystemLibrary("gtk-3", .{});
+        // mod.linkSystemLibrary("glib-2.0", .{});
+        // mod.linkSystemLibrary("gobject-2.0", .{});
     }
 
-    const p2dep = b.dependency("p2", .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
+    const p2dep = b.dependency("p2", .{ .target = opts.target, .optimize = opts.optimize, .static_build = opts.static_build });
 
     const p2mod = p2dep.module("p2");
-    nfd.mod.addImport("p2", p2mod);
+    mod.addImport("p2", p2mod);
 
     const test_step = b.step("test", "");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/nfd.zig"),
             .link_libc = true,
         }),
     });
     tests.addIncludePath(b.path("./include"));
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("nfd", nfd.mod);
-    tests.root_module.linkLibrary(nfd.lib);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("nfd", mod);
     tests.root_module.addImport("p2", p2mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);

lib/objLoader/build.zig

@@ -2,32 +2,25 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const bh = @import("bh");
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
-    const objLoader = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "objLoader",
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
-        .root = b.path("src/obj_loader.zig"),
+    const mod = b.addModule("objLoader", .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/obj_loader.zig"),
     });
 
-    objLoader.install();
-
     const test_step = b.step("test", "");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/obj_loader.zig"),
             .link_libc = true,
         }),
     });
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("objLoader", objLoader.mod);
-    tests.root_module.linkLibrary(objLoader.lib);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("objLoader", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
 }

lib/ozz/build.zig

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 //  ozz_animation_offline_fbx -- fbx importing, requires linking wiht fbx sdk... maybe i dont want this... fuck adobe
 
 const std = @import("std");
+const bh = @import("bh");
 
 const Build = std.Build;
 const LazyPath = LazyPath;
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ pub const GltfToOzz = struct {
         });
 
         const dep = b.dependency(opts.importName, .{});
-        const ozz_mod = dep.artifact("ozz");
+        const ozz_mod = dep.artifact("ozz_cpp");
         exe.root_module.linkLibrary(ozz_mod);
 
         exe.root_module.addIncludePath(b.path("ozz-animation/include"));
@@ -142,16 +143,14 @@ pub const GltfToOzz = struct {
 };
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
     const ozz_cpp = b.addLibrary(.{
-        .linkage = if (static_build) .static else .dynamic,
-        .name = "ozz",
+        .linkage = if (opts.static_build) .static else .dynamic,
+        .name = "ozz_cpp",
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
         }),
     });
 
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     ozz_cpp.addIncludePath(b.path("ozz-animation/src"));
     ozz_cpp.linkLibC();
 
-    if (target.result.abi != .msvc)
+    if (opts.target.result.abi != .msvc)
         ozz_cpp.linkLibCpp();
 
     const src_dir = "ozz-animation/src/";
@@ -208,8 +207,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .name = "ozz-tests",
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
             .root_source_file = b.path("tests/test.zig"),
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
         }),
     });
     b.installArtifact(tests);

lib/p2/build.zig

@@ -2,32 +2,25 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const bh = @import("bh");
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse true;
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
-    const p2 = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "p2",
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
-        .root = b.path("src/p2.zig"),
+    const mod = b.addModule("p2", .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/p2.zig"),
     });
 
-    p2.install();
-
     const test_step = b.step("test", "test p2");
     const tests = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/p2.zig"),
         }),
         // .link_libc = true,
     });
 
-    tests.root_module.addImport("p2", p2.mod);
-    tests.root_module.linkLibrary(p2.lib);
+    tests.root_module.addImport("p2", mod);
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
     test_step.dependOn(&runArtifact.step);
     if (b.args) |args| {

lib/p2/src/p2.zig

@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ pub const IndexPool = index_pool.IndexPool;
 
 pub const concurrent_queue = @import("structures/concurrent-queue.zig");
 pub const ConcurrentQueueU = concurrent_queue.ConcurrentQueueU;
-pub const ConcurrentQueueAdvanced = concurrent_queue.ConcurrentQueueAdvanced;
+pub const ConcurrentQueueUnmanagedAdvanced = concurrent_queue.ConcurrentQueueUnmanagedAdvanced;
 
 pub const string_pool = @import("structures/string-pool.zig");
 

lib/p2/src/structures/concurrent-queue.zig

@@ -14,11 +14,13 @@ pub const ConcurrentQueueError = error{
     QueueIsFull,
 };
 
-pub fn ConcurrentQueue(comptime T: type) type {
-    return ConcurrentQueueAdvanced(T, .{});
+pub fn ConcurrentQueueU(comptime T: type) type {
+    return ConcurrentQueueUnmanagedAdvanced(T, .{});
 }
 
-pub const ConcurrentQueueU = ConcurrentQueue;
+pub fn ConcurrentQueueAssert(comptime T: type) type {
+    return ConcurrentQueueUnmanagedAdvanced(T, .{ .allowAsserts = true });
+}
 
 // lock-free concurrent queue, fixed capacity,
 // will never resize.
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ pub const ConcurrentStatus = packed struct(usize) {
     generation: u63 = 0,
 };
 
-pub fn ConcurrentQueueAdvanced(comptime T: type, comptime opts: struct {
+pub fn ConcurrentQueueUnmanagedAdvanced(comptime T: type, comptime opts: struct {
     allowAsserts: bool = false,
     debug: bool = false,
 }) type {
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ test "concurrent queue basic correctness test" {
 
     const allocator = std.testing.allocator;
 
-    var y = try ConcurrentQueueAdvanced(Info, .{ .allowAsserts = true, .debug = true }).initCapacity(allocator, 420);
+    var y = try ConcurrentQueueUnmanagedAdvanced(Info, .{ .allowAsserts = true, .debug = true }).initCapacity(allocator, 420);
     defer y.deinit(allocator);
 
     try y.push(.{});
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@ test "concurrent queue basic correctness test" {
 
     try utils.assertf(y.count() == 0, "expected there to be {d} elements in queue, we saw {d}", .{ 0, y.count() });
 
-    var x = try ConcurrentQueue(Info).initCapacity(allocator, 12);
+    var x = try ConcurrentQueueU(Info).initCapacity(allocator, 12);
     defer x.deinit(allocator);
 
     try x.push(.{ .x = 0 });
@@ -187,7 +189,7 @@ test "concurrent queue multiple producer single consumer" {
         arb: [4096]u8 = undefined,
     };
 
-    const QueueType = ConcurrentQueueAdvanced(Payload, .{ .debug = false, .allowAsserts = true });
+    const QueueType = ConcurrentQueueUnmanagedAdvanced(Payload, .{ .debug = false, .allowAsserts = true });
 
     const Wrap = struct {
         pub fn threadFunc(queueRef: *QueueType, id: i64, exitSignal: *Atomic(bool), pushedCountResults: *Atomic(i64)) void {

lib/p2/src/structures/sparse-set.zig

@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ pub fn SparseMultiSetAdvanced(comptime T: type, comptime SparseSize: u32) type {
     return struct {
         pub const SetType = std.MultiArrayList(T);
 
+        pub const InnerType = T;
+
         allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
         denseIndices: ArrayListUnmanaged(SetHandle),
         dense: SetType,
@@ -311,6 +313,7 @@ pub fn SparseSetAdvanced(comptime T: type, comptime SparseSize: u32) type {
         opCount: u32 = 0,
 
         pub const StableReferences = false;
+        pub const InnerType = T;
 
         pub fn getStateCount(self: @This()) u32 {
             return self.opCount;
@@ -596,6 +599,7 @@ pub fn SparseMap(comptime T: type) type {
         containerListener: ?ContainerListener = null,
         opCount: u32 = 0,
 
+        pub const InnerType = T;
         pub const StableReferences = true;
 
         pub fn create(backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
@@ -720,6 +724,7 @@ const interface = @import("interface.zig");
 
 pub const EcsContainerInterface = interface.MakeInterface("EcsContainerInterfaceVTable", struct {
     containerTypeName: []const u8,
+    componentName: []const u8,
     handleExists: *const fn (*const anyopaque, SetHandle) bool,
     get: *const fn (*const anyopaque, SetHandle) ?*anyopaque,
     createWithHandle: *const fn (*anyopaque, SetHandle) *anyopaque,
@@ -787,6 +792,7 @@ pub const EcsContainerInterface = interface.MakeInterface("EcsContainerInterface
 
         return .{
             .containerTypeName = TargetType.ContainerTypeName,
+            .componentName = @typeName(TargetType.InnerType),
             .handleExists = Wrap.handleExists,
             .get = Wrap.get,
             .createWithHandle = Wrap.createWithHandle,

lib/p2/src/structures/string-pool.zig

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ const std = @import("std");
 // main purpose of this string-pool is to provide an RC-ableinterface for interface
 // with GC'ed systems such as lua
 
-var gStringContext: *StringContext = undefined;
+pub var gStringContext: *StringContext = undefined;
 
 pub const String = struct {
     index: u24,

lib/packer/build.zig

@@ -2,35 +2,27 @@ const std = @import("std");
 const bh = @import("bh");
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
+    const p2dep = b.dependency("p2", .{ .target = opts.target, .optimize = opts.optimize, .static_build = opts.static_build });
 
-    const packer = bh.MakeModLib(b, .{
-        .name = "packer",
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
-        .static_build = static_build,
-        .root = b.path("src/packer.zig"),
+    const mod = b.addModule("packer", .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/packer.zig"),
     });
 
-    packer.install();
-
-    const p2dep = b.dependency("p2", .{ .target = target, .optimize = optimize, .static_build = static_build });
-
     const p2mod = p2dep.module("p2");
-    packer.mod.addImport("p2", p2mod);
+    mod.addImport("p2", p2mod);
 
     const test_exe = b.addTest(.{
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("tests/test.zig"),
         }),
     });
-    test_exe.root_module.addImport("packer", packer.mod);
-    test_exe.root_module.linkLibrary(packer.lib);
+    test_exe.root_module.addImport("packer", mod);
     test_exe.root_module.addImport("p2", p2mod);
 
     const test_step = b.step("test", "runs sample unit tests for packer");

lib/packer/src/packerfs.zig

@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ pub const PackerFS = struct {
         }
 
         for (self.anyWatchCallbacks.items) |*watch| {
+            // std.debug.print("anywatch callback: {s}\n", .{watch.path});
             watch.call(std.mem.span(path));
         }
     }
@@ -341,6 +342,8 @@ pub const PackerFS = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn installFileBytesMount(self: *@This(), path: []const u8, fileBytes: []align(8) u8, embedded: bool) !?PackerBytesMapping {
+        // std.debug.print("mounting file path {s}\n", .{path});
+
         const pakMountIndex = self.pakMountings.items.len;
         try self.pakMountings.append(self.allocator, .{
             .filePath = try self.stringAlloc().dupe(u8, path),

lib/sdl3/build.zig

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 const std = @import("std");
+const bh = @import("bh");
 
 pub fn addShaderDefinition(
     b: *std.Build,
@@ -48,54 +49,47 @@ pub fn shaderDefintion(
 }
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
-    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
-    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+    const opts = bh.declareOptions(b);
 
-    const static_build = b.option(bool, "static_build", "builds backlog dependencies for static linking") orelse false;
-
-    const preferred_linkage: std.builtin.LinkMode = if (static_build) .static else .dynamic;
+    const preferred_linkage: std.builtin.LinkMode = if (opts.static_build) .static else .dynamic;
 
     const sdl_dep = b.dependency("sdl", .{
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
         .preferred_linkage = preferred_linkage,
     });
 
     const sdl3_lib = sdl_dep.artifact("SDL3");
-    b.installArtifact(sdl3_lib);
 
-    const sdl3_fwd = b.addLibrary(.{
-        .name = "sdl3",
-        .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
-            .root_source_file = b.path("src/sdl3_lib_fwd.zig"),
-        }),
+    const sdl3_fwd = b.addModule("SDL3", .{
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
+        .root_source_file = b.path("src/sdl3_lib_fwd.zig"),
     });
+
     sdl3_fwd.linkLibrary(sdl3_lib);
-    b.installArtifact(sdl3_fwd);
 
     const mod = b.addModule("sdl3", .{
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
         .root_source_file = b.path("src/sdl3.zig"),
     });
 
     const shaderTypes = b.dependency("shaderTypes", .{
-        .target = target,
-        .optimize = optimize,
+        .target = opts.target,
+        .optimize = opts.optimize,
     });
     mod.addImport("shaderTypes", shaderTypes.module("shaderTypes"));
 
     mod.addIncludePath(b.path("SDL/include"));
-    mod.linkLibrary(sdl_dep.artifact("SDL3"));
+    mod.linkLibrary(sdl3_lib);
 
     const test_step2 = b.step("test", "run unit tests for sdl3");
     const tests2 = b.addExecutable(.{
         .name = "hello-sdl",
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/samples/compiletest.zig"),
             .link_libc = true,
         }),
@@ -105,8 +99,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const tests = b.addExecutable(.{
         .name = "hello-triangle",
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/samples/hello-triangle.zig"),
             .link_libc = true,
         }),
@@ -116,8 +110,8 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     const hello_window_exe = b.addExecutable(.{
         .name = "hello-window",
         .root_module = b.createModule(.{
-            .target = target,
-            .optimize = optimize,
+            .target = opts.target,
+            .optimize = opts.optimize,
             .root_source_file = b.path("src/samples/hello-window.zig"),
             .link_libc = true,
         }),
@@ -128,7 +122,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
 
     tests.root_module.addImport("sdl3", mod);
 
-    const vertexDefinitions = addShaderDefinition(b, ".", target, optimize, "hello-triangle.vert", b.path("content/hello-triangle.vert.json"));
+    const vertexDefinitions = addShaderDefinition(b, ".", opts.target, opts.optimize, "hello-triangle.vert", b.path("content/hello-triangle.vert.json"));
     tests.root_module.addImport("hello-triangle.vert", vertexDefinitions);
 
     const runArtifact = b.addRunArtifact(tests);
@@ -138,6 +132,7 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
     test_step2.dependOn(&runArtifact2.step);
 
     b.installArtifact(hello_window_exe);
+    b.installArtifact(sdl3_lib);
     b.installArtifact(tests);
     b.installArtifact(tests2);
 }