saving

Dev/buildhelper

CLAUDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+# CLAUDE.md
+
+This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.
+
+## Project Overview
+
+Backlog is a game engine written in Zig (version 0.14) with a modular architecture. The engine supports cross-platform development with Windows, macOS, and Linux targets, and includes support for both static and dynamic module loading.
+
+## Build System
+
+The project uses Zig's build system with a custom `BuildSystem` wrapper:
+
+### Key Build Commands
+
+- `zig build` - Build the engine and default projects
+- `zig build -Dcookshaders` - Build with shader compilation enabled
+- `zig build -Dstatic_build` - Force static linking (required for Linux)
+- `zig build tools` - Install development tools (gltf2ozz, spirv-reflect)
+- `zig build gltf2ozz -- [args]` - Run GLTF animation converter
+- `zig build spv-reflect -- [args]` - Run SPIRV reflection tool
+- `python tools/scripts/cookShaders.py` - Compile shaders from HLSL to SPIR-V, MSL, and DXIL formats, must be run after editing shader files
+
+### Project-Specific Commands
+
+From the `projects/` directory:
+- `zig build` - Build sample game and tools
+- `zig build run-sampleGame` - Run the sample game
+- `zig build run-newProject` - Run the project creation tool
+
+### Testing
+
+- `zig build test` - Run all tests (individual modules have their own test files in `tests/` subdirectories)
+
+### Setup Commands
+
+- `python tools/scripts/first-time-setup.py` - Initial setup script
+
+## Architecture
+
+### Engine Modules
+
+The engine is organized into these core modules:
+
+- **core** - Foundation systems (ECS, logging, memory tracking, jobs, scripting)
+- **platform** - Cross-platform windowing and input handling
+- **assets** - Asset loading and management system
+- **rend** - 3D rendering system with mesh, camera, and material support
+- **audio** - Sound engine integration
+- **ui** - User interface rendering system
+- **papyrus** - Text rendering and UI primitives
+- **imgui** - Debug UI integration
+- **physics** - Physics engine integration (Jolt)
+- **sys** - System utilities and subprocess management
+
+### Key Directories
+
+- `engine/` - Core engine modules, each with their own `build.zig`
+- `projects/` - Sample projects and games
+- `lib/` - Third-party dependencies and wrappers
+- `tools/` - Development utilities and scripts
+- `content/` - Game assets and resources (located at `projects/content/`)
+- `extras/` - Optional engine extensions
+
+### Engine Initialization
+
+The engine uses a spec-based initialization system where modules are conditionally enabled:
+
+```zig
+// Programs define which modules to enable
+sampleGame.setModuleEnabled("imgui", true);
+sampleGame.setModuleEnabled("physics", true);
+```
+
+### Dynamic Modules
+
+The engine supports dynamic module loading for game-specific code:
+
+```zig
+const externGame = sampleGame.addDynamicModule("externGame", b.path("sampleGame/externGame/externGame.zig"));
+```
+
+### Shader Pipeline
+
+Shaders are written in HLSL and compiled to multiple targets:
+- SPIR-V for Vulkan
+- MSL for Metal (macOS)
+- DXIL for DirectX
+
+The shader compilation system automatically discovers `.hlsl` files in `engine/*/shaders/` directories.
+
+## Development Notes
+
+- All memory allocations go through a centralized `MemoryTracker` for leak detection
+- The engine uses Tracy for profiling when enabled
+- Lua scripting is integrated for game logic
+- The build system generates API wrappers automatically for enabled modules
+- Content directory location is determined by `content.txt` file pointing to `projects/content/`
+
+## Common Development Tasks
+
+- Adding new engine modules: Create in `engine/` with `build.zig` and add to `engineDepList`
+- Creating new projects: Use the project template in `projects/minimal/`
+- Shader development: Add HLSL files to module `shaders/` directories, run `cookShaders.py`
+- Asset pipeline: Assets go in `projects/content/` and use `.cook` extensions for processed assets
+
+## Issue Tracking with git-bug
+
+This project uses git-bug for distributed issue tracking. Bug data is stored directly in the git repository. While named "git-bug", it can track all types of development work including bugs, features, tasks, and documentation.
+
+### Common Commands
+
+- `git bug bug` - List all issues
+- `git bug bug new -t "title" -m "message"` - Create a new issue with title and message
+- `git bug bug show <id>` - Display issue details
+- `git bug bug comment <id>` - Add a comment to an issue
+- `git bug bug status <id>` - Display issue status
+- `git bug bug label new <id> <label>` - Add a label to an issue
+- `git bug bug label rm <id> <label>` - Remove a label from an issue
+- `git bug bug label <id>` - Display labels for an issue
+- `git bug bug status:open` - List only open issues
+- `git bug pull` - Pull issue updates from remote
+- `git bug push` - Push issue updates to remote
+
+### Workflow
+
+- Issues are stored in the repository and sync with `git bug pull`/`git bug push`
+- Issue IDs can be abbreviated to the first few characters
+- Use labels to categorize issues by both type and component
+- Use `--non-interactive` flag for scripting
+- Keep issue descriptions factual and clear
+
+### Standard Labels
+
+Use these standard labels to categorize issues:
+
+- **Component labels**: `core`, `rendering`, `physics`, `build-system`, `platform`, `assets`, `audio`, `ui`, `documentation`
+- **Issue type labels**:
+  - `bug` - Defects, errors, or incorrect behavior
+  - `feature` - New functionality to implement
+  - `enhancement` - Improvements to existing features
+  - `task` - General development work items
+  - `documentation` - Documentation improvements or additions
+  - `question` - Design decisions or technical discussions
+  - `refactoring` - Code cleanup and restructuring
+- **Problem type labels** (for bugs):
+  - `memory` - Memory allocation, leaks, or performance issues
+  - `threading` - Job system, parallelization, race conditions, or deadlocks
+  - `crash` - Application crashes or critical failures
+  - `build` - Build system or compilation issues
+
+### Examples
+
+```bash
+# Create a feature request
+git bug bug new -t "Add procedural terrain generation" -m "Implement heightmap-based terrain system"
+git bug bug label new <id> feature rendering
+
+# Create a task
+git bug bug new -t "Update to Zig 0.15" -m "Migrate codebase to latest Zig version"
+git bug bug label new <id> task build-system
+
+# Create a documentation issue
+git bug bug new -t "Document shader pipeline" -m "Add comprehensive guide for shader development workflow"
+git bug bug label new <id> documentation rendering
+
+# Create a bug report
+git bug bug new -t "Memory leak in asset loader" -m "Assets not freed when unloading scenes"
+git bug bug label new <id> bug assets memory
+```

README.md

@@ -1,18 +1,100 @@
 # Backlog
 
-
 zig version: 0.15.1
 
 Backlog Labs Game Engine.
 
+## Getting Started
+
 run tools/scripts/first-time-setup.py
 
 ffmpeg -i INPUT.mp4 -c:v libtheora -q:v 7 -c:a libvorbis -q:a 4 OUTPUT.ogv
 
+## git-bug Cheat Sheet
 
-/// --------------------------------------------------------
+This project uses git-bug for distributed issue tracking. Issues are stored directly in the repository.
-void* malloc(size_t size); // gives you a pointer to a memory buffer of size
+
-void free(void* ptr); // releases a pointer to memory
+### Common Commands
-/// --------------------------------------------------------
+
+**Listing Issues**
+```bash
+git bug bug                    # List all issues
+git bug bug status:open        # List only open issues
+git bug bug status:closed      # List only closed issues
+```
+
+**Creating Issues**
+```bash
+git bug bug new -t "title" -m "message"              # Create new issue
+git bug bug new -t "Add feature X" -m "Description"  # Example
+```
+
+**Viewing & Managing Issues**
+```bash
+git bug bug show <id>          # Show issue details
+git bug bug comment <id>       # Add a comment to an issue
+git bug bug close <id>         # Close an issue
+git bug bug open <id>          # Reopen an issue
+git bug bug status <id>        # Show issue status
+```
+
+**Labels**
+```bash
+git bug bug label <id>              # Show labels for an issue
+git bug bug label new <id> <label>  # Add a label
+git bug bug label rm <id> <label>   # Remove a label
+```
+
+**Syncing**
+```bash
+git bug pull                   # Pull issue updates from remote
+git bug push                   # Push issue updates to remote
+```
+
+### Standard Labels
+
+**Component Labels**: `core`, `rendering`, `physics`, `build-system`, `platform`, `assets`, `audio`, `ui`, `documentation`
+
+**Type Labels**:
+- `bug` - Defects or incorrect behavior
+- `feature` - New functionality
+- `enhancement` - Improvements to existing features
+- `task` - General development work
+- `documentation` - Documentation improvements
+- `question` - Design decisions or discussions
+- `refactoring` - Code cleanup
+
+**Problem Type Labels** (for bugs):
+- `memory` - Memory issues
+- `threading` - Concurrency issues
+- `crash` - Application crashes
+- `build` - Build system issues
+
+### Quick Examples
+
+```bash
+# Create a bug report
+git bug bug new -t "Memory leak in asset loader" -m "Assets not freed when unloading scenes"
+git bug bug label new <id> bug assets memory
+
+# Create a feature request
+git bug bug new -t "Add terrain generation" -m "Implement heightmap-based terrain"
+git bug bug label new <id> feature rendering
+
+# Create a task
+git bug bug new -t "Update to Zig 0.15" -m "Migrate to latest Zig version"
+git bug bug label new <id> task build-system
+
+# View and comment on an issue
+git bug bug show abc123
+git bug bug comment abc123
+```
+
+### Tips
+
+- Issue IDs can be abbreviated (first few characters)
+- Use `--non-interactive` flag for scripting
+- Issues sync with `git bug pull/push`
+- Keep descriptions factual and clear
 
 

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,
+bEngine: *std.Build, // used to resolve executable paths from within the engine's root directory
-target: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
+opts: bh.Options,
-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,
+// 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{
+pub const BuildSystem = @This();
-    "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;
@@ -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: std.Build.ResolvedTarget,
-    target: Build.ResolvedTarget,
     optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode,
 };
 
-pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
+pub fn init(b: *std.Build, initOptions: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
-    var buildOpts = declareBuildOptions(b);
+    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
+        // using a static build for linux... object loading hell is not fun...
-        std.debug.print("Important! only supporting static builds for linux", .{});
+        // i have skill issues in that realm right now
-        buildOpts.static_build = true;
+        // 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,
+        .bEngine = nwdep.builder,
-        .target = opts.target,
+        .opts = opts,
-        .optimize = opts.optimize,
         .nw_mod = nwdep.module("Backlog"),
-        .backlogRoot = opts.backlogRoot,
+        .backlogRoot = initOptions.backlogRoot,
-        .options = createGameOptions(b, buildOpts),
+        .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"),
     };
@@ -110,135 +101,55 @@ pub fn init(b: *std.Build, opts: InitOptions) BuildSystem {
     return self;
 }
 
-pub const AddProgramOptions = struct {
+// Build Options for the engine,
-    name: []const u8,
+// should generally be written as false = default
-    desc: []const u8,
+// true = enabling something
-    root_source_file: LazyPath,
+const BuildOptions = struct {
-    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 {
+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
+    // forward the options to the build options
-    // opts.addOption(
+    opts.addOption(bool, "tracy", bhopts.tracy);
-    //     bool,
+    opts.addOption(bool, "static_build", bhopts.static_build);
-    //     "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 });
+    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 {
+fn addDependencyInstalls(self: *BuildSystem, b: *std.Build, optimize: std.builtin.OptimizeMode) void {
-    //if (self.staticBuild) {
+    if (self.opts.static_build) {
-    //return;
+        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 } = &.{
@@ -251,365 +162,19 @@ const DynamicDepList: []const struct { dep: []const u8, artifact: []const u8 } =
     .{ .dep = "ozz", .artifact = "ozz_cpp" },
 };
 
-// all other modules are disabled by default
+pub fn addProgram(
-pub const defaultEnabledModules: []const []const u8 = &.{
+    self: *@This(),
-    "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,
+) *Program {
-    buildSystem: *BuildSystem,
+    const p = self.b.allocator.create(Program) catch unreachable;
-    programName: []const u8,
+    p.* = .{
-    opts: AddProgramOptions,
+        .name = name,
-
+        .opts = self.opts,
-    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,
+        .allocator = self.b.allocator,
     };
 
-    for (moduleOrder) |module| {
+    return p;
-        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 {
@@ -621,35 +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});
@@ -658,8 +194,8 @@ pub fn generateInstallStaticResources(self: *@This(), programName: []const u8, s
 
     const b = self.b;
     const mod = self.b.addModule(pfile, .{
-        .target = self.target,
+        .target = self.opts.target,
-        .optimize = self.optimize,
+        .optimize = self.opts.optimize,
         .root_source_file = output,
     });
     mod.addImport("core", self.nwdep.module("core"));
@@ -684,3 +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 = .{
-    .name = .Backlog,
+    .assets = .{ .path = "engine/assets" },
-    .version = "0.0.0",
+    .audio = .{ .path = "engine/audio" },
-    .dependencies = .{
+    .core = .{ .path = "engine/core" },
-        .assets = .{ .path = "engine/assets" },
+    .net = .{ .path = "engine/net" },
-        .audio = .{ .path = "engine/audio" },
+    .papyrus = .{ .path = "engine/papyrus" },
-        .core = .{ .path = "engine/core" },
+    .physics = .{ .path = "engine/physics" },
-        .net = .{ .path = "engine/net" },
+    .platform = .{ .path = "engine/platform" },
-        .papyrus = .{ .path = "engine/papyrus" },
+    .imgui = .{ .path = "engine/imgui" },
-        .physics = .{ .path = "engine/physics" },
+    .ui = .{ .path = "engine/ui" },
-        .platform = .{ .path = "engine/platform" },
+    .sys = .{ .path = "engine/sys" },
-        .imgui = .{ .path = "engine/imgui" },
+    .rend = .{ .path = "engine/rend" },
-        .ui = .{ .path = "engine/ui" },
-        .sys = .{ .path = "engine/sys" },
-        .rend = .{.path = "engine/rend" },
 
-        .ozz = .{ .path = "lib/ozz" },
+    .ozz = .{ .path = "lib/ozz" },
-        .spng = .{ .path = "lib/spng" },
+    .spng = .{ .path = "lib/spng" },
-        .zphysics = .{ .path = "lib/zphysics" },
+    .zphysics = .{ .path = "lib/zphysics" },
 
-        .sdl3 = .{ .path = "lib/sdl3" },
+    .sdl3 = .{ .path = "lib/sdl3" },
-        .enet = .{ .path = "lib/enet" },
+    .enet = .{ .path = "lib/enet" },
-    },
+    .bh = .{ .path = "lib/bh" },
-    .paths = .{
+}, .paths = .{
-        "",
+    "",
-    },
+}, .fingerprint = 0xcf9bab998abe37e3 }
-    .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, .{});
+pub fn buildGenerators(b: *std.Build, opts: bh.Options) void {
-    defer file.close();
+    const target = opts.target;
-    const filesize = (try file.stat()).size + 1; // add null byte
+    const optimize = opts.optimize;
-    const buffer: []align(alignment) u8 = try allocator.alignedAlloc(u8, alignment, filesize);
+    const static_build = opts.static_build;
-    errdefer allocator.free(buffer);
+
-    try file.reader().readNoEof(buffer[0 .. buffer.len - 1]);
+    const fwdGeneratorExe = b.addExecutable(.{
-    buffer[buffer.len - 1] = 0;
+        .name = "backlog-generate-fwd",
-    return buffer;
+        .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/archive/generateApi.zig

@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
         \\ pub fn startEngine(vtable: *core.EngineObjectVTable, spec: *core.SpecVariantMap) bool {
         \\     const args = getArgs() catch return false;
         \\ 
-        \\     var backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator = std.heap.c_allocator;
+        \\     var backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator = std.heap.smp_allocator;
         \\     var gpa: std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{
         \\         .stack_trace_frames = 20,
         \\     }) = .{};
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
         try writer.print(allocator, ".{s} = true,\n", .{mod});
     }
 
-    try writer.print(allocator, "}},  std.heap.c_allocator); }}\n", .{});
+    try writer.print(allocator, "}},  std.heap.smp_allocator); }}\n", .{});
 
     try writer.print(allocator, "const std = @import(\"std\");\n\n", .{});
 

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/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+.fontcache/
+Saved/

depot/build.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+const std = @import("std");
+const Backlog = @import("Backlog");
+
+pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
+    const target = b.standardTargetOptions(.{});
+    const optimize = b.standardOptimizeOption(.{});
+
+    var blbuild = Backlog.init(b, .{
+        .target = target,
+        .optimize = optimize,
+        .backlogRoot = "../",
+    });
+
+    // blbuild.addDependencyInstalls(b, .ReleaseFast); //.ReleaseFast);
+    const zuck = blbuild.program(.{
+        .name = "zuck",
+        .desc = "A tiny shooter made with this engine.",
+        .root_source_file = b.path("zuck/main.zig"),
+    });
+
+    zuck.setModuleEnabled("imgui", true);
+    zuck.setModuleEnabled("audio", true);
+    zuck.setModuleEnabled("physics", true);
+    zuck.setModuleEnabled("ui", true);
+    zuck.setModuleEnabled("sys", true);
+    zuck.setModuleEnabled("net", true);
+    zuck.addExtraModule("gameExtras");
+
+    {
+        const zuckGame = zuck.addDynamicModule("zuckGame", b.path("zuck/game.zig"));
+        _ = zuckGame.compileInstall();
+    }
+
+    _ = zuck.compileInstall();
+}

depot/build.zig.zon

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+.{
+    .name = .MyProjects,
+    .version = "0.0.0",
+    .dependencies = .{
+        // Neonwood's /lib folder contains
+        // third party libraries.
+        //
+        // They can be directly accessed
+        //
+        // as well as any of the engine/ libraries
+        //
+        // in the general case though,
+
+        // engine libraries
+        .Backlog = .{ .path = "../" },
+
+
+        .SpirvReflect = .{ .path = "../lib/spirv-reflect-zig" },
+
+        .gameExtras = .{.path = "../extras/gameExtras"},
+
+        .zphysics = .{.path = "../lib/zphysics"},
+        .spng = .{ .path = "../lib/spng" },
+        .ozz = .{ .path = "../lib/ozz" },
+        .sdl3 = .{ .path = "../lib/sdl3" },
+        .miniaudio = .{ .path = "../lib/miniaudio" },
+        .lua = .{ .path = "../lib/lua" },
+
+        .enet = .{ .path = "../lib/enet" },
+    },
+    .paths = .{
+        "",
+    },
+    .fingerprint = 0x14099f73bcfb78d8,
+}

depot/content/_shaders/msl/lit_mesh.frag.msl

@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+#include <metal_stdlib>
+#include <simd/simd.h>
+
+using namespace metal;
+
+struct type_Uniforms
+{
+    float4 viewPos;
+    float4 lightPosition;
+    float4 directionalLight;
+    float4 directionalLightColor;
+    float2 screenSize;
+    float lightPower;
+    float time;
+};
+
+struct Scene
+{
+    float4x4 Model;
+    uint textureMode;
+    int animation;
+    uint flags;
+    float float0;
+};
+
+struct type_StructuredBuffer_Scene
+{
+    Scene _m0[1];
+};
+
+constant float4 _92 = {};
+constant float3 _94 = {};
+
+struct main0_out
+{
+    float4 out_var_SV_Target0 [[color(0)]];
+    float4 out_var_SV_Target1 [[color(1)]];
+    float4 out_var_SV_Target2 [[color(2)]];
+    float4 out_var_SV_Target3 [[color(3)]];
+};
+
+struct main0_in
+{
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD0 [[user(locn0)]];
+    float3 in_var_TEXCOORD1 [[user(locn1)]];
+    float3 in_var_TEXCOORD2 [[user(locn2)]];
+    float4 in_var_TEXCOORD3 [[user(locn3)]];
+    uint in_var_TEXCOORD4 [[user(locn4)]];
+    float3 in_var_TEXCOORD5 [[user(locn5)]];
+};
+
+fragment main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], constant type_Uniforms& Uniforms [[buffer(0)]], const device type_StructuredBuffer_Scene& scene [[buffer(1)]], texture2d<float> Texture0 [[texture(0)]], texture2d<float> Texture1 [[texture(1)]], texture2d<float> Texture2 [[texture(2)]], texture2d<float> DirectionalShadowDepthMap [[texture(3)]], sampler Sampler0 [[sampler(0)]], sampler Sampler1 [[sampler(1)]], sampler Sampler2 [[sampler(2)]], sampler DirectionalShadowSampler [[sampler(3)]])
+{
+    main0_out out = {};
+    int _104 = int(scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD4].textureMode);
+    int _105 = _104 & 240;
+    float4 _139;
+    if (_105 == 16)
+    {
+        float3 _126 = float3(Texture0.sample(Sampler0, in.in_var_TEXCOORD0).x, Texture1.sample(Sampler1, in.in_var_TEXCOORD0).x, Texture2.sample(Sampler2, in.in_var_TEXCOORD0).x) + float3(-0.0625, -0.5, -0.5);
+        _139 = float4(dot(_126, float3(1.164000034332275390625, 0.0, 1.7929999828338623046875)), dot(_126, float3(1.164000034332275390625, -0.212999999523162841796875, -0.53299999237060546875)), dot(_126, float3(1.164000034332275390625, 2.111999988555908203125, 0.0)), 1.0);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        float4 _138;
+        if (_105 == 0)
+        {
+            _138 = Texture0.sample(Sampler0, in.in_var_TEXCOORD0);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _138 = _92;
+        }
+        _139 = _138;
+    }
+    float4 _145;
+    if ((_104 & 1) == 1)
+    {
+        _145 = powr(_139, float4(2.2000000476837158203125));
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _145 = _139;
+    }
+    if (_145.w < 0.00999999977648258209228515625)
+    {
+        discard_fragment();
+    }
+    float3 _155 = float3(0.800000011920928955078125, 0.800000011920928955078125, 0.5) * Uniforms.lightPower;
+    float3 _202;
+    do
+    {
+        float3 _159 = Uniforms.lightPosition.xyz - in.in_var_TEXCOORD1;
+        float _160 = length(_159);
+        float _161 = _160 * _160;
+        float _167;
+        if (_160 > 2.0)
+        {
+            _167 = 0.5 / _161;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _167 = 1.0 / _161;
+        }
+        float _172;
+        if (_160 > 4.0)
+        {
+            _172 = _167 * 0.5;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _172 = _167;
+        }
+        float _174 = (_160 > 15.0) ? 0.0 : _172;
+        float _176 = (_174 > 1.0) ? 1.0 : _174;
+        if (length(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2) < 0.100000001490116119384765625)
+        {
+            _202 = (in.in_var_TEXCOORD1 * _155) * _176;
+            break;
+        }
+        float3 _183 = fast::normalize(_159);
+        _202 = ((_155 * precise::max(dot(_183, in.in_var_TEXCOORD2), 0.0)) * _176) + (((_155 * powr(precise::max(dot(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2, fast::normalize(_183 + fast::normalize(in.in_var_TEXCOORD1 - Uniforms.viewPos.xyz))), 0.0), 30.0)) * 2.0) * _176);
+        break;
+    } while(false);
+    float3 _219 = ((in.in_var_TEXCOORD3.xyz / float3(in.in_var_TEXCOORD3.w)) * 0.5) + float3(0.5);
+    float3 _221;
+    _221.x = _219.x;
+    float2 _222 = _221.xy;
+    _222.y = -_219.y;
+    float _229;
+    int _232;
+    int _234;
+    _229 = 0.0;
+    _232 = 0;
+    _234 = -2;
+    float _230;
+    int _233;
+    for (; _234 <= 2; _229 = _230, _232 = _233, _234++)
+    {
+        _233 = _232;
+        _230 = _229;
+        for (int _243 = -2; _243 <= 2; )
+        {
+            _233++;
+            _230 += float((in.in_var_TEXCOORD3.z - 0.0030000000260770320892333984375) > DirectionalShadowDepthMap.sample(DirectionalShadowSampler, (_222 + float2(float(_243) * 0.000244140625, float(_234) * 0.000244140625))).x);
+            _243++;
+            continue;
+        }
+    }
+    float3 _272;
+    if ((_104 & 2) > 0)
+    {
+        _272 = powr(_145.xyz, float3(0.4545454680919647216796875));
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _272 = _145.xyz * ((float3(0.100000001490116119384765625) + _202) + ((Uniforms.directionalLightColor.xyz * precise::max(dot(Uniforms.directionalLight.xyz, in.in_var_TEXCOORD2), 0.0)) * (1.0 - (_229 / float(_232)))));
+    }
+    float4 _289;
+    if (_272.x > 1.0)
+    {
+        float4 _288 = float4(0.0);
+        _288.x = _272.x;
+        _289 = _288;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _289 = float4(0.0);
+    }
+    float4 _294;
+    if (_272.y > 1.0)
+    {
+        float4 _293 = _289;
+        _293.y = _272.y;
+        _294 = _293;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _294 = _289;
+    }
+    float4 _299;
+    if (_272.z > 1.0)
+    {
+        float4 _298 = _294;
+        _298.z = _272.z;
+        _299 = _298;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _299 = _294;
+    }
+    out.out_var_SV_Target0 = float4(_272, _145.w);
+    out.out_var_SV_Target1 = _299;
+    out.out_var_SV_Target2 = float4(in.in_var_TEXCOORD1, 1.0);
+    out.out_var_SV_Target3 = float4(in.in_var_TEXCOORD5, 1.0);
+    return out;
+}
+

depot/content/_shaders/msl/meshes.vert.msl

@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+#include <metal_stdlib>
+#include <simd/simd.h>
+
+using namespace metal;
+
+struct Scene
+{
+    float4x4 Model;
+    uint textureMode;
+    int animation;
+    uint flags;
+    float float0;
+};
+
+struct type_StructuredBuffer_Scene
+{
+    Scene _m0[1];
+};
+
+struct BoneTransform
+{
+    float4x4 final;
+};
+
+struct type_StructuredBuffer_BoneTransform
+{
+    BoneTransform _m0[1];
+};
+
+struct type_Uniforms
+{
+    float4x4 ViewProjection;
+    float4x4 NoTranslateView;
+    float4x4 ViewTransform;
+    float4x4 ShadowMapProjection;
+    float4 cameraPosition;
+    float time;
+};
+
+struct main0_out
+{
+    float2 out_var_TEXCOORD0 [[user(locn0)]];
+    float3 out_var_TEXCOORD1 [[user(locn1)]];
+    float3 out_var_TEXCOORD2 [[user(locn2)]];
+    float4 out_var_TEXCOORD3 [[user(locn3)]];
+    uint out_var_TEXCOORD4 [[user(locn4)]];
+    float3 out_var_TEXCOORD5 [[user(locn5)]];
+    float4 gl_Position [[position]];
+};
+
+struct main0_in
+{
+    float3 in_var_TEXCOORD0 [[attribute(0)]];
+    float3 in_var_TEXCOORD1 [[attribute(1)]];
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD3 [[attribute(3)]];
+    uint in_var_TEXCOORD4 [[attribute(4)]];
+    uint in_var_TEXCOORD5 [[attribute(5)]];
+};
+
+vertex main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], constant type_Uniforms& Uniforms [[buffer(0)]], const device type_StructuredBuffer_Scene& scene [[buffer(1)]], const device type_StructuredBuffer_BoneTransform& animationBuffer [[buffer(2)]], uint gl_InstanceIndex [[instance_id]])
+{
+    main0_out out = {};
+    float3 _111;
+    if (scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].animation != (-1))
+    {
+        float3 _83;
+        _83 = float3(0.0);
+        for (int _86 = 0; _86 < 4; )
+        {
+            uint _92 = (8u * uint(_86)) & 31u;
+            _83 += ((animationBuffer._m0[uint(scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].animation) + ((in.in_var_TEXCOORD4 >> _92) & 255u)].final * float4(in.in_var_TEXCOORD0, 1.0)).xyz * (float((in.in_var_TEXCOORD5 >> _92) & 255u) * 0.0039215688593685626983642578125));
+            _86++;
+            continue;
+        }
+        _111 = _83;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _111 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD0;
+    }
+    float4 _115 = float4(_111, 1.0);
+    float3 _207;
+    float3 _208;
+    float3 _209;
+    float4 _210;
+    float4 _211;
+    if (int(scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].flags & 4u) > 0)
+    {
+        float3 _127 = (scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model * float4(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0)).xyz;
+        float3 _132 = fast::normalize(Uniforms.cameraPosition.xyz - _127);
+        float3 _134 = fast::normalize(cross(float3(0.0, 1.0, 0.0), _132));
+        float4 _152 = float4((_127 + ((_134 * (-in.in_var_TEXCOORD0.x)) * scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].float0)) + ((cross(_132, _134) * in.in_var_TEXCOORD0.y) * scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].float0), 1.0);
+        _207 = _152.xyz;
+        _208 = _132;
+        _209 = float3(0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
+        _210 = Uniforms.ViewProjection * _152;
+        _211 = _152;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        float4 _159 = scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model * _115;
+        float4x4 _194 = float4x4(float4(fast::normalize(float3(scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[0][0], scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[1][0], scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[2][0])), 0.0), float4(fast::normalize(float3(scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[0][1], scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[1][1], scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[2][1])), 0.0), float4(fast::normalize(float3(scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[0][2], scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[1][2], scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model[2][2])), 0.0), float4(0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0));
+        float4 _198 = float4(in.in_var_TEXCOORD1, 1.0);
+        _207 = _159.xyz;
+        _208 = fast::normalize(_198 * _194).xyz;
+        _209 = (_198 * (_194 * transpose(Uniforms.NoTranslateView))).xyz;
+        _210 = Uniforms.ViewProjection * (scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].Model * _115);
+        _211 = _159;
+    }
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD0 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD3;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD1 = _207;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD2 = _208;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD3 = Uniforms.ShadowMapProjection * _211;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD4 = gl_InstanceIndex;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD5 = _209;
+    out.gl_Position = _210;
+    return out;
+}
+

depot/content/_shaders/msl/rect.frag.msl

@@ -0,0 +1,259 @@
+#include <metal_stdlib>
+#include <simd/simd.h>
+
+using namespace metal;
+
+struct Scene
+{
+    float2 imagePosition;
+    float2 _imageSize;
+    float2 anchorPoint;
+    float2 scale;
+    float alpha;
+    float borderWidth;
+    uint flags;
+    float4 baseColor;
+    float4 rounding;
+    float4 edgeColor;
+};
+
+struct type_StructuredBuffer_Scene
+{
+    Scene _m0[1];
+};
+
+struct main0_out
+{
+    float4 out_var_SV_Target0 [[color(0)]];
+};
+
+struct main0_in
+{
+    float4 in_var_TEXCOORD0 [[user(locn0)]];
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD1 [[user(locn1)]];
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD2 [[user(locn2)]];
+    uint in_var_TEXCOORD3 [[user(locn3)]];
+};
+
+fragment main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], const device type_StructuredBuffer_Scene& scene [[buffer(0)]], texture2d<float> Texture0 [[texture(0)]], sampler Sampler0 [[sampler(0)]])
+{
+    main0_out out = {};
+    bool _71 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.x < scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.x;
+    bool _78;
+    if (_71)
+    {
+        _78 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y < scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _78 = false;
+    }
+    float _95;
+    float3 _96;
+    if (_78)
+    {
+        float _82 = distance(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2, float2(scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.x));
+        float _93;
+        float3 _94;
+        if (_82 > scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.x)
+        {
+            discard_fragment();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (abs(_82 - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.x) < 1.0)
+            {
+                _93 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.w;
+                _94 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.xyz;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                _93 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].alpha;
+                _94 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD0.xyz;
+            }
+        }
+        _95 = _93;
+        _96 = _94;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _95 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].alpha;
+        _96 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD0.xyz;
+    }
+    float _99 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.x - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y;
+    bool _106;
+    if (in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.x > _99)
+    {
+        _106 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y < scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _106 = false;
+    }
+    float _123;
+    float3 _124;
+    if (_106)
+    {
+        float _110 = distance(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2, float2(_99, scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y));
+        float _121;
+        float3 _122;
+        if (_110 > scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y)
+        {
+            discard_fragment();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (abs(_110 - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y) < 1.0)
+            {
+                _121 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.w;
+                _122 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.xyz;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                _121 = _95;
+                _122 = _96;
+            }
+        }
+        _123 = _121;
+        _124 = _122;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _123 = _95;
+        _124 = _96;
+    }
+    bool _132;
+    if (_71)
+    {
+        _132 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y > (scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.y - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _132 = false;
+    }
+    float _151;
+    float3 _152;
+    if (_132)
+    {
+        float _138 = distance(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2, float2(scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.x, scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.y - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y));
+        float _149;
+        float3 _150;
+        if (_138 > scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y)
+        {
+            discard_fragment();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (abs(_138 - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y) < 1.0)
+            {
+                _149 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.w;
+                _150 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.xyz;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                _149 = _123;
+                _150 = _124;
+            }
+        }
+        _151 = _149;
+        _152 = _150;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _151 = _123;
+        _152 = _124;
+    }
+    bool _163;
+    if (in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.x > (scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.x - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.w))
+    {
+        _163 = (scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.y - in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y) < scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.w;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _163 = false;
+    }
+    float _183;
+    float3 _184;
+    if (_163)
+    {
+        float _170 = distance(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2, float2(scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.x - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.x, scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.y - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y));
+        float _181;
+        float3 _182;
+        if (_170 > scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y)
+        {
+            discard_fragment();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            if (abs(_170 - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].rounding.y) < 1.0)
+            {
+                _181 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.w;
+                _182 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.xyz;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                _181 = _151;
+                _182 = _152;
+            }
+        }
+        _183 = _181;
+        _184 = _182;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _183 = _151;
+        _184 = _152;
+    }
+    bool _191;
+    if (!(in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.x < scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].borderWidth))
+    {
+        _191 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.x > (scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.x - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].borderWidth);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _191 = true;
+    }
+    bool _198;
+    if (!_191)
+    {
+        _198 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y < scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].borderWidth;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _198 = true;
+    }
+    bool _207;
+    if (!_198)
+    {
+        _207 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y > (scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3]._imageSize.y - scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].borderWidth);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _207 = true;
+    }
+    float _212;
+    float3 _213;
+    if (_207)
+    {
+        _212 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.w;
+        _213 = scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].edgeColor.xyz;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _212 = _183;
+        _213 = _184;
+    }
+    float4 _238;
+    if ((scene._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].flags & 1u) > 0u)
+    {
+        float4 _227 = Texture0.sample(Sampler0, float2(in.in_var_TEXCOORD1.x, 1.0 - in.in_var_TEXCOORD1.y));
+        _238 = float4(_227.xyz, _227.w * _212);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _238 = float4(_213, _212);
+    }
+    out.out_var_SV_Target0 = _238;
+    return out;
+}
+

depot/content/_shaders/msl/rect.vert.msl

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#include <metal_stdlib>
+#include <simd/simd.h>
+
+using namespace metal;
+
+struct Scene
+{
+    float2 imagePosition;
+    float2 _imageSize;
+    float2 anchorPoint;
+    float2 scale;
+    float alpha;
+    float borderWidth;
+    uint flags;
+    float4 baseColor;
+    float4 rounding;
+    float4 edgeColor;
+};
+
+struct type_StructuredBuffer_Scene
+{
+    Scene _m0[1];
+};
+
+struct type_Uniforms
+{
+    float2 Extents;
+};
+
+struct main0_out
+{
+    float4 out_var_TEXCOORD0 [[user(locn0)]];
+    float2 out_var_TEXCOORD1 [[user(locn1)]];
+    float2 out_var_TEXCOORD2 [[user(locn2)]];
+    uint out_var_TEXCOORD3 [[user(locn3)]];
+    float4 gl_Position [[position]];
+};
+
+struct main0_in
+{
+    float3 in_var_TEXCOORD0 [[attribute(0)]];
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD3 [[attribute(3)]];
+};
+
+vertex main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], constant type_Uniforms& Uniforms [[buffer(0)]], const device type_StructuredBuffer_Scene& scene [[buffer(1)]], uint gl_InstanceIndex [[instance_id]])
+{
+    main0_out out = {};
+    float2 _63 = scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex]._imageSize / Uniforms.Extents;
+    float2 _69 = (((scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].imagePosition / Uniforms.Extents) * 2.0) - float2(1.0)) - ((scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].anchorPoint * _63) * scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].scale);
+    float _85 = _69.y + ((in.in_var_TEXCOORD0.y * _63.y) * scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].scale.y);
+    float4 _88 = float4(_69.x + ((in.in_var_TEXCOORD0.x * _63.x) * scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].scale.x), _85, in.in_var_TEXCOORD0.z, 1.0);
+    _88.y = -_85;
+    float2 _100 = ((in.in_var_TEXCOORD0.xy - scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].anchorPoint) * float2(0.5)) * scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex]._imageSize;
+    _100.y = scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex]._imageSize.y - _100.y;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD0 = scene._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].baseColor;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD1 = float2(1.0 - in.in_var_TEXCOORD3.x, in.in_var_TEXCOORD3.y);
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD2 = _100;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD3 = gl_InstanceIndex;
+    out.gl_Position = _88;
+    return out;
+}
+

depot/content/_shaders/msl/text.frag.msl

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+#include <metal_stdlib>
+#include <simd/simd.h>
+
+using namespace metal;
+
+struct FontInfo
+{
+    float2 position;
+    float2 size;
+    uint isSdf;
+    uint pad0;
+};
+
+struct type_StructuredBuffer_FontInfo
+{
+    FontInfo _m0[1];
+};
+
+struct main0_out
+{
+    float4 out_var_SV_Target0 [[color(0)]];
+};
+
+struct main0_in
+{
+    uint in_var_TEXCOORD0 [[user(locn0)]];
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD1 [[user(locn1)]];
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD2 [[user(locn2)]];
+    uint in_var_TEXCOORD3 [[user(locn3)]];
+};
+
+fragment main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], const device type_StructuredBuffer_FontInfo& fontBuffer [[buffer(0)]], texture2d<float> Texture0 [[texture(0)]], sampler Sampler0 [[sampler(0)]])
+{
+    main0_out out = {};
+    float4 _67 = Texture0.sample(Sampler0, in.in_var_TEXCOORD1);
+    bool _104;
+    do
+    {
+        bool _85;
+        if (in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.x >= fontBuffer._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].position.x)
+        {
+            _85 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.x <= (fontBuffer._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].position.x + fontBuffer._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].size.x);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _85 = false;
+        }
+        bool _92;
+        if (_85)
+        {
+            _92 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y >= fontBuffer._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].position.y;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _92 = false;
+        }
+        bool _101;
+        if (_92)
+        {
+            _101 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2.y <= (fontBuffer._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].position.y + fontBuffer._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].size.y);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            _101 = false;
+        }
+        if (_101)
+        {
+            _104 = true;
+            break;
+        }
+        _104 = false;
+        break;
+    } while(false);
+    if (!_104)
+    {
+        discard_fragment();
+    }
+    float _110 = float(in.in_var_TEXCOORD0 & 255u) * 0.0039215688593685626983642578125;
+    float _114 = float((in.in_var_TEXCOORD0 >> 8u) & 255u) * 0.0039215688593685626983642578125;
+    float _118 = float((in.in_var_TEXCOORD0 >> 16u) & 255u) * 0.0039215688593685626983642578125;
+    float _122 = float((in.in_var_TEXCOORD0 >> 24u) & 255u) * 0.0039215688593685626983642578125;
+    float4 _187;
+    if (fontBuffer._m0[in.in_var_TEXCOORD3].isSdf == 1u)
+    {
+        float _128 = _67.x;
+        float _129 = fwidth(_128);
+        float _130 = 0.529411792755126953125 - _129;
+        float _131 = 0.529411792755126953125 + _129;
+        float2 _137 = (dfdx(in.in_var_TEXCOORD1) + dfdy(in.in_var_TEXCOORD1)) * 0.3540000021457672119140625;
+        float4 _144 = float4(in.in_var_TEXCOORD1 - _137, in.in_var_TEXCOORD1 + _137);
+        float4 _176 = float4(_110, _114, _118, ((fast::clamp(smoothstep(_130, _131, _128), 0.0, 1.0) + (0.5 * (((fast::clamp(smoothstep(_130, _131, Texture0.sample(Sampler0, _144.xy).x), 0.0, 1.0) + fast::clamp(smoothstep(_130, _131, Texture0.sample(Sampler0, _144.zw).x), 0.0, 1.0)) + fast::clamp(smoothstep(_130, _131, Texture0.sample(Sampler0, _144.xw).x), 0.0, 1.0)) + fast::clamp(smoothstep(_130, _131, Texture0.sample(Sampler0, _144.zy).x), 0.0, 1.0)))) * 0.3333333432674407958984375) * _122);
+        float3 _178 = powr(_176.xyz, float3(2.2000000476837158203125));
+        _187 = float4(_178.x, _178.y, _178.z, _176.w);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        _187 = float4(_110, _114, _118, powr(_67.x / dot(float4(_110, _114, _118, _122).xyz, float3(0.2125999927520751953125, 0.715200006961822509765625, 0.072200000286102294921875)), 0.4545454680919647216796875) * _122);
+    }
+    out.out_var_SV_Target0 = _187;
+    return out;
+}
+

depot/content/_shaders/msl/text.vert.msl

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#include <metal_stdlib>
+#include <simd/simd.h>
+
+using namespace metal;
+
+struct FontInfo
+{
+    float2 position;
+    float2 size;
+    uint isSdf;
+    uint pad0;
+};
+
+struct type_StructuredBuffer_FontInfo
+{
+    FontInfo _m0[1];
+};
+
+struct type_Uniforms
+{
+    float2 Extents;
+};
+
+struct main0_out
+{
+    uint out_var_TEXCOORD0 [[user(locn0)]];
+    float2 out_var_TEXCOORD1 [[user(locn1)]];
+    float2 out_var_TEXCOORD2 [[user(locn2)]];
+    uint out_var_TEXCOORD3 [[user(locn3)]];
+    float4 gl_Position [[position]];
+};
+
+struct main0_in
+{
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD0 [[attribute(0)]];
+    float2 in_var_TEXCOORD1 [[attribute(1)]];
+    uint in_var_TEXCOORD2 [[attribute(2)]];
+};
+
+vertex main0_out main0(main0_in in [[stage_in]], constant type_Uniforms& Uniforms [[buffer(0)]], const device type_StructuredBuffer_FontInfo& fontBuffer [[buffer(1)]], uint gl_InstanceIndex [[instance_id]])
+{
+    main0_out out = {};
+    float2 _46 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD0 + fontBuffer._m0[gl_InstanceIndex].position;
+    float2 _51 = ((_46 / Uniforms.Extents) * 2.0) + float2(-1.0);
+    float4 _54 = float4(_51, 0.0, 1.0);
+    _54.y = -_51.y;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD0 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD2;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD1 = in.in_var_TEXCOORD1;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD2 = _46;
+    out.out_var_TEXCOORD3 = gl_InstanceIndex;
+    out.gl_Position = _54;
+    return out;
+}
+

depot/readme.md

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# studio games depot
+
+!! not for open source.

depot/zuck/actors/ZuckPlayer.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+pub const BoxObject = struct {
+    playing: bool = false,
+
+    pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, entity: core.Entity, params: core.SpawnParameters) !*@This() {
+        const position = params.posRot.position;
+
+        const box2 = entity;
+        const scene = box2.addComponent(core.Scene).?;
+
+        const mesh = box2.addComponent(rend.MeshComponent).?;
+        mesh.setMesh("m_crate");
+        mesh.setTexture("t_crate");
+
+        scene.setPosition(position);
+        scene.setScaleV(params.posRot.scale);
+        scene.setMobility(.moveable);
+
+        const collider = box2.addComponent(physics.PhysicsCollider).?;
+        try collider.setupByShapeName(core.MakeName("ph_small_box"), .{
+            .motion_type = .dynamic,
+            .object_layer = physics.ObjectLayers.moving,
+            .friction = 0.8,
+            .mass_properties_override = .{ .mass = 12 },
+            .override_mass_properties = .calc_inertia,
+        });
+
+        return try allocator.create(@This());
+    }
+
+    pub fn createSmoky(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, entity: core.Entity, params: core.SpawnParameters) !*@This() {
+        const rv = try create(allocator, entity, params);
+
+        const particle = entity.addComponent(rend.ParticleEmitter).?;
+        particle.start();
+        particle.gravity = .{ .y = 1.0 };
+        particle.particleVelocity = .{ .min = 0.6, .max = 1.2 };
+        particle.particleLife = .{ .min = 5, .max = 6 };
+        var name = core.MakeName("t_pixelSmoke");
+        particle.texture = rend.getTexture(&name).?;
+
+        return rv;
+    }
+
+    pub fn destroy(self: *@This(), alloc: std.mem.Allocator) void {
+        alloc.destroy(self);
+    }
+};
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const Backlog = @import("Backlog");
+const core = Backlog.core;
+const rend = Backlog.rend;
+const physics = Backlog.physics;

depot/zuck/game.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+const backlog = @import("backlog");
+const core = backlog.core;
+const imgui = backlog.imgui;
+const physics = backlog.physics;
+const rend = backlog.rend;
+const ig = imgui.api;
+const sys = backlog.sys;
+const ui = backlog.ui;
+const net = backlog.net;
+const audio = backlog.audio;
+const platform = backlog.platform;
+
+pub export fn shutdown_module() void {}
+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();
+
+    start_module(core.startup_getArgs(p_a.?)) catch return false;
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+pub fn start_module(args: core.ModuleLoaderArgs) !void {
+    _ = args;
+    core.PatchOrCreateObject(ZuckGame, .{});
+    // core.PatchOrCreateObject(ZuckEditor, .{});
+}
+
+const ZuckGame = @import("games/ZuckGame.zig");
+const ZuckEditor = @import("games/ZuckEditor.zig");
+
+const ZuckPlayer = @import("actors/ZuckPlayer.zig");

depot/zuck/games/ZuckEditor.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "zuck.game.Editor");
+
+allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
+
+pub const Slack = core.SlackStruct(@This(), 8192);
+
+pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
+    const self = try Slack.create(allocator);
+    self.* = .{
+        .allocator = allocator,
+    };
+
+    return self;
+}
+
+pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
+    _ = self;
+    _ = dt;
+}
+
+pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+    self.allocator.destroy(Slack.fromPtr(self));
+}
+
+const backlog = @import("backlog");
+const std = @import("std");
+const extras = @import("gameExtras");
+
+const core = backlog.core;

depot/zuck/games/ZuckGame.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "zuck.game.Root");
+
+allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
+
+pub const Slack = core.SlackStruct(@This(), 1024);
+
+pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
+    const self = try Slack.create(allocator);
+    self.* = .{
+        .allocator = allocator,
+    };
+
+    return self;
+}
+
+pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
+    _ = self;
+    _ = dt;
+}
+
+pub fn destroy(self: *@This()) void {
+    self.allocator.destroy(Slack.fromPtr(self));
+}
+
+const backlog = @import("backlog");
+const std = @import("std");
+const extras = @import("gameExtras");
+
+const core = backlog.core;

depot/zuck/main.zig

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+pub var NeonObjectTable = core.EngineObjectVTable.from(@This(), "main");
+
+allocator: std.mem.Allocator,
+
+pub fn init(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
+    const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+    self.* = .{
+        .allocator = allocator,
+    };
+    return self;
+}
+
+pub fn prepare(self: *@This()) !void {
+    _ = self;
+    try api.loadDynamicModules();
+}
+
+pub fn tick(self: *@This(), dt: f64) void {
+    _ = self;
+    _ = dt;
+}
+
+pub fn deinit(self: *@This()) void {
+    // Engine handles memory deallocation
+    _ = self;
+}
+
+pub fn main() anyerror!void {
+    var spec = try api.getSpec("minimal");
+    _ = api.startEngine(&NeonObjectTable, &spec);
+}
+
+const std = @import("std");
+const api = @import("backlog");
+const core = api.core;

docs/build-options.md

@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+# Backlog Engine Build Options
+
+This document provides comprehensive documentation for all `core.BuildOption` flags available in the Backlog game engine.
+
+## Overview
+
+Build options in Backlog are boolean flags that control various compilation behaviors and engine features. They are accessed at compile-time using `core.BuildOption("option_name")` and can be set via Zig's build system command line arguments.
+
+## Usage
+
+Build options are set when building the project:
+
+```bash
+zig build -Doption_name
+# or
+zig build -Doption_name=true
+```
+
+To disable an option explicitly:
+```bash
+zig build -Doption_name=false
+```
+
+## Core Engine Build Options
+
+### Performance & Development Options
+
+#### `mutex_job_queue`
+- **Type**: `bool`
+- **Default**: `false`
+- **Description**: Temporary test option that reverts to old mutex-based queue behavior in `jobs.zig:JobManager`
+- **Usage**: `zig build -Dmutex_job_queue`
+- **Impact**: Changes job system threading behavior for debugging/testing purposes
+- **Files**: `engine/core/src/jobs.zig:8`
+
+#### `force_mailbox`
+- **Type**: `bool`
+- **Default**: `false`
+- **Description**: Forces mailbox mode for present mode, unlocking framerate to very high levels
+- **Usage**: `zig build -Dforce_mailbox`
+- **Impact**: Disables VSync and allows unlimited framerate rendering
+- **Warning**: Can cause excessive GPU usage and heat generation
+
+### Logging Options
+
+#### `zero_logging`
+- **Type**: `bool`
+- **Default**: `false`
+- **Description**: Disables all logging completely, intended primarily for job dispatch performance testing
+- **Usage**: `zig build -Dzero_logging`
+- **Impact**: Removes all log output, improving performance but eliminating debug information
+- **Files**: `engine/core/src/logging.zig:7`
+
+#### `slow_logging`
+- **Type**: `bool`
+- **Default**: `false`
+- **Description**: Disables buffered logging, taking a performance hit but providing accurate timing information
+- **Usage**: `zig build -Dslow_logging`
+- **Impact**: Each log call is immediately flushed, providing precise timing but reducing performance
+- **Files**: `engine/core/src/logging.zig:6`
+
+### Build & Deployment Options
+
+#### `static_build`
+- **Type**: `bool`
+- **Default**: `false`
+- **Description**: Builds the entire game as a single executable with static linking
+- **Usage**: `zig build -Dstatic_build`
+- **Impact**:
+  - Required for Linux builds
+  - Disables dynamic module loading
+  - Creates self-contained executable
+- **Files**:
+  - `build.zig:190`
+  - `engine/core/src/extern/externModule.zig:139`
+  - `build/generateApi.zig:118`
+  - `engine/rend/src/sgpu/renderer.zig:1126`
+
+#### `RootDeploymentOnly`
+- **Type**: `bool`
+- **Default**: Not explicitly set (appears to default to `false`)
+- **Description**: Controls whether only root deployment operations are performed
+- **Usage**: `zig build -DRootDeploymentOnly`
+- **Impact**: Appears to limit engine initialization to root-level deployment only
+- **Files**: `engine/main.zig:28`
+
+### Development & Shader Options
+
+#### `cookShaders`
+- **Type**: `bool`
+- **Default**: `false`
+- **Description**: Generates shaders and updates `.json` files before running the build
+- **Usage**: `zig build -DcookShaders`
+- **Impact**:
+  - Automatically runs `tools/scripts/cookShaders.py`
+  - Compiles HLSL shaders to SPIR-V, MSL, and DXIL formats
+  - Must be run whenever shader files are modified
+- **Files**: `build.zig:80`
+
+### Third-Party Integration Options
+
+#### `tracy` (Tracy Profiler)
+- **Type**: `bool`
+- **Default**: `false`
+- **Description**: Enables Tracy profiler integration for performance analysis
+- **Usage**: `zig build -Dtracy`
+- **Impact**:
+  - Adds Tracy profiling instrumentation
+  - Enables real-time performance monitoring
+  - Increases binary size and may affect performance
+- **Files**: `lib/tracy/build_tracy.zig:37`
+
+## Build Option Categories
+
+### By Purpose
+
+**Performance Testing**:
+- `mutex_job_queue` - Job system behavior testing
+- `zero_logging` - Maximum performance logging
+- `force_mailbox` - Unlimited framerate testing
+
+**Development & Debugging**:
+- `slow_logging` - Precise timing information
+- `tracy` - Performance profiling
+- `cookShaders` - Shader development workflow
+
+**Deployment & Distribution**:
+- `static_build` - Self-contained executable creation
+- `RootDeploymentOnly` - Deployment scope control
+
+### By Impact Level
+
+**High Impact** (affects core engine behavior):
+- `static_build`
+- `zero_logging`
+- `mutex_job_queue`
+
+**Medium Impact** (affects specific subsystems):
+- `slow_logging`
+- `force_mailbox`
+- `cookShaders`
+
+**Low Impact** (development/profiling tools):
+- `tracy`
+- `RootDeploymentOnly`
+
+## Common Build Configurations
+
+### Development Build
+```bash
+zig build -Dslow_logging -Dtracy -DcookShaders
+```
+
+### Performance Testing Build
+```bash
+zig build -Dzero_logging -Dforce_mailbox -Dmutex_job_queue
+```
+
+### Production/Release Build
+```bash
+zig build -Dstatic_build
+```
+
+### Linux Build (Required)
+```bash
+zig build -Dstatic_build
+```
+
+## Implementation Details
+
+Build options are implemented through Zig's compile-time options system:
+
+1. **Definition**: Options are defined in `build.zig` in the `BuildOptions` struct
+2. **Access**: Runtime code accesses options via `core.BuildOption("option_name")`
+3. **Compilation**: The `core.BuildOption()` function checks for the option at compile-time
+4. **Fallback**: If an option is not defined, it defaults to `false`
+
+The `core.BuildOption()` function implementation:
+```zig
+pub fn BuildOption(comptime option: []const u8) bool {
+    if (@hasDecl(@import("root"), "options")) {
+        const r = @import("root").options;
+        if (@hasDecl(r, option)) {
+            return @field(r, option);
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+```
+
+## Notes
+
+- All build options are boolean flags
+- Options not explicitly set default to `false`
+- Some combinations may be incompatible (e.g., `zero_logging` + `slow_logging`)
+- Linux builds require `static_build=true`
+- Shader compilation via `cookShaders` should be run after modifying any `.hlsl` files

docs/overview.md

@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+# Backlog Game Engine Overview
+
+The Backlog Game Engine is a modern, modular game engine built with Zig, designed for cross-platform game development. It provides a comprehensive set of tools and systems for creating interactive 3D applications and games.
+
+### Prerequisites
+
+- **Zig 0.14** or later
+- **Python 3** for build scripts
+
+## Running Examples
+
+The engine comes with several examples to demonstrate its capabilities:
+
+### Sample Game
+
+The main example showcasing most engine features including:
+- 3D rendering with meshes and textures
+- Physics simulation
+- ImGui debug interface
+- Input handling
+- Dynamic module loading
+
+**To run the sample game:**
+
+```bash
+cd projects
+zig build run-sampleGame
+```
+
+To compile and target linux with cross compiling,
+
+```
+zig build -Dtarget=x86_64-linux-gnu
+```
+
+The linux build is always compiled as a static executable.
+
+**Sample Game Controls:**
+- `WASD` - Move camera
+- `Mouse` - Look around (toggle menu with `T`)
+- `E/Q` - Move up/down
+- `R` - Reload shaders
+- `Escape` - Exit
+
+### Minimal Example
+
+A basic template demonstrating the minimal setup required for a Backlog application:
+
+```bash
+cd projects/minimal
+zig build
+zig build run-minimal
+```
+
+This example shows:
+- Basic engine initialization
+- ImGui integration
+- Simple game loop structure
+
+## Creating New Projects
+
+The engine includes a project creation tool to help you get started with new projects quickly.
+
+### Using the New Project Tool
+
+1. Navigate to the projects directory:
+   ```bash
+   cd projects
+   ```
+
+2. Run the project creator:
+   ```bash
+   zig build run-newProject
+   ```
+
+3. Click "Create Project" to generate your new project structure
+
+### Manual Project Creation
+
+Alternatively, you can create projects manually by copying the minimal template:
+
+1. Copy the `projects/minimal` directory:
+   ```bash
+   cp -r projects/minimal projects/my-new-project
+   ```
+
+2. Edit `projects/my-new-project/build.zig` and update:
+   - Project name
+   - Root source file path
+   - Enabled modules as needed
+
+3. Modify `src/main.zig` to implement your game logic
+
+### Project Structure
+
+A typical Backlog project includes:
+
+```
+my-project/
+├── build.zig              # Build configuration
+├── build.zig.zon          # Dependencies
+├── src/
+│   └── main.zig          # Main game code
+├── content/              # Game assets (optional)
+└── Saved/                # Runtime generated files
+```
+
+## Engine Modules
+
+When creating projects, you can enable these modules:
+
+- **core** - Essential engine systems (always enabled)
+- **platform** - Windowing and input (always enabled) 
+- **assets** - Asset loading and management (always enabled)
+- **rend** - 3D rendering system (always enabled)
+- **imgui** - Debug UI and developer tools
+- **audio** - Sound and music playback
+- **physics** - Physics simulation (Jolt Physics)
+- **ui** - User interface rendering
+- **papyrus** - Text rendering and UI primitives
+- **sys** - System utilities
+
+## Asset Pipeline
+
+Assets are placed in the `content/` directory within your project:
+
+all shaders are cooked to the target system's native format. DXIL for dx12, msl for metal and spv for vulkan.
+
+These cooked format shaders are placed under content/_shaders
+
+## Building and Development
+
+### Building Projects
+
+From your project directory:
+```bash
+zig build                    # Build project
+zig build run-[projectname]  # Build and run
+```
+
+### Testing
+
+Run tests for the entire engine:
+```bash
+zig build test
+```
+
+Or test individual modules:
+```bash
+cd engine/core
+zig build test
+```

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() {
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+        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/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() {
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+        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/backlog.zig

@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ pub const createSpecVariant = core.createSpecVariant;
 pub export fn initAndRun(vtable: *core.EngineObjectVTable, spec: *core.SpecVariantMap) bool {
     const args = getArgs() catch return false;
 
-    var backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator = std.heap.c_allocator;
+    var backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator = std.heap.smp_allocator;
     var gpa: std.heap.GeneralPurposeAllocator(.{
         .stack_trace_frames = 20,
     }) = .{};

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

@@ -2,14 +2,9 @@ const std = @import("std");
 
 const dependencyList = [_][]const u8{
     "p2",
-    "tracy",
+    "tracy", // usually doesnt have C deps... unless we're compiled with it on, in which case we only support static builds
     "zmath",
-    "packer", // packer might need to be split into another setup that doesn't have C deps.
+    "packer", // packer no longer has C deps.
-
-    // these ones use c deps, but if i move them out to platform... then core will have zero c dependencies.
-    "lua",
-    "spng",
-    // "nfd",
 };
 
 pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
@@ -33,8 +28,10 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
         .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(.{
@@ -45,8 +42,10 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) void {
             .target = target,
         }),
         .linkage = .dynamic,
+        .use_llvm = true,
         .name = "external",
     });
+    sampleGameExtern.root_module.addImport("core", mod);
 
     const installExtern = b.addInstallArtifact(sampleGameExtern, .{
         .dest_dir = .{ .override = .{ .custom = "modules" } },

engine/core/build.zig.zon

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
     .name = .core,
     .version = "0.0.0",
     .dependencies = .{
-        .spng = .{ .path = "../../lib/spng" },
+        // .spng = .{ .path = "../../lib/spng" },
         // .nfd = .{ .path = "../../lib/nfd" },
 
         // with -Dtracy = false, this one pulls in no C dependencies
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
         .zmath = .{ .path = "../../lib/zmath" }, 
         .packer = .{ .path = "../../lib/packer" },
         .p2 = .{ .path = "../../lib/p2" },
-        .lua = .{ .path = "../../lib/lua" },
+        // .lua = .{ .path = "../../lib/lua" },
         // .zgltf = .{ .path = "../../lib/zgltf" },
     },
     .paths = .{

engine/core/src/MemoryTracker.zig

@@ -169,12 +169,12 @@ pub fn init(backingAllocator: std.mem.Allocator, settings: SetupSettings) @This(
         core.engine_logs("[dmt] Enabling Detailed Memory Tracking");
     }
 
-    const stackCompactor = if (EnableMemoryTimeline) core.StackCompactor.create(std.heap.c_allocator) catch null else null;
+    const stackCompactor = if (EnableMemoryTimeline) core.StackCompactor.create(std.heap.smp_allocator) catch null else null;
 
     return .{
         .backingAllocator = backingAllocator,
         .stackCompactor = stackCompactor,
-        .timeline = if (EnableMemoryTimeline) EventTimeline.init(std.heap.c_allocator) catch null else null,
+        .timeline = if (EnableMemoryTimeline) EventTimeline.init(std.heap.smp_allocator) catch null else null,
     };
 }
 

engine/core/src/args.zig

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const std = @import("std");
 
 pub fn ParseArgs(comptime T: type) !T {
     // I think i am actually totally cool with leaking this one and leaving it around... just dont spam call this function
-    var iter = try std.process.argsWithAllocator(std.heap.c_allocator);
+    var iter = try std.process.argsWithAllocator(std.heap.smp_allocator);
     var args: T = .{};
 
     const shortBuf: [32]u8 = undefined;

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() {
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+        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,
+    allocator: std.mem.Allocator = undefined,
-    arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator,
+    arena: std.heap.ArenaAllocator = undefined,
 
     commandMap: std.StringHashMapUnmanaged(ConsoleCommand) = .{},
 
-    pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !*@This() {
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+        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

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 // main public facing root file for core
 const std = @import("std");
 
+pub const machinery = @import("machinery/machinery.zig");
+
 pub const gameObjectList = @import("utils/gameObjectList.zig");
 pub const GameObjectList = gameObjectList.GameObjectList;
 pub const GameObjectInterface = gameObjectList.GameObjectInterface;
@@ -25,9 +27,10 @@ pub const debugBox = debug_draw.debugBox;
 pub const debugLine = debug_draw.debugLine;
 // pub const script_bindings = script.script_bindings;
 
-pub const misc = @import("misc.zig");
 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;
@@ -38,16 +41,13 @@ pub const EngineObjectDelegate = engineObject.EngineObjectDelegate;
 pub const FieldInfo = engineObject.FieldInfo;
 
 pub const jobs = @import("jobs.zig");
-pub const JobContext = jobs.JobContext;
+pub const JobContext = jobs.ThreadContext;
+pub const ThreadContext = jobs.ThreadContext;
 pub const JobManager = jobs.JobManager;
 pub const JobWorker = jobs.JobWorker;
 
-pub const file_utils = @import("file_utils.zig");
-pub const string_utils = @import("string_utils.zig");
-pub const type_utils = @import("type_utils.zig");
 pub const engine = @import("engine.zig");
 pub const tracy = @import("tracy").t;
-pub const png = @import("png.zig");
 
 pub const colors = @import("colors.zig");
 
@@ -140,8 +140,6 @@ pub const SceneSystem = scene.SceneSystem;
 
 pub const Engine = engine.Engine;
 
-pub const spng = @import("spng");
-
 pub const MemoryTracker = @import("MemoryTracker.zig");
 
 pub const DefaultSavePath = "Saved";
@@ -172,14 +170,16 @@ pub const defaultHighlight = logging.defaultHighlight;
 
 pub const packer = @import("packer");
 
-pub const FileSystem = packer.PackerFS;
-pub const PackerFS = packer.PackerFS;
-
 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;
+
+pub fn fs() *PackerFS {
+    return gPackerFS;
+}
 var fsInitialized: bool = false;
 
 pub fn EngineObject(comptime T: type) type {
@@ -216,8 +216,6 @@ pub const undefineComponentList = ecs.undefineComponentList;
 pub const Entity = ecs.Entity;
 pub const createEntity = ecs.createEntity;
 
-pub const script = @import("script.zig");
-
 pub const stacks = @import("stacks.zig");
 pub const walkAndPrintStack = stacks.walkAndPrintStack;
 
@@ -236,10 +234,6 @@ pub fn registerObjectAdvanced(comptime T: type, name: []const u8, comptime funcN
     try get(GameObjectSystem).registerObjectAdvanced(name, T, funcName);
 }
 
-pub fn fs() *PackerFS {
-    return gPackerFS;
-}
-
 pub const Module = ModuleDescription{
     .name = "core",
     .enabledByDefault = true,
@@ -280,8 +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");
@@ -294,15 +286,9 @@ pub fn start_module_(map: *SpecVariantMap, args: anytype, allocator: std.mem.All
         fatDump = true;
     }
 
-    script.lua.setupMiniDump(fatDump);
     _ = try algorithm.createNameRegistry(allocator);
-    // LUA BEGIN -- what if i want to make the scripting integration optional?
-    // try script.start_lua(allocator);
-    // LUA END
     try maybeInitPackerFs(allocator);
 
-    // load configs.
-    //const name = if (@hasField(@TypeOf(programSpec), "configName")) programSpec.configName else programSpec.name;
     var name = map.get("name").?.string;
 
     if (map.get("configName")) |x| {
@@ -311,8 +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, .{});
+    staticsInitialized = true;
-    try console.start();
 
     const engineName = try std.fmt.allocPrint(allocator, "{s}Engine.ini", .{name});
     defer allocator.free(engineName);
@@ -323,16 +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 gEngine.createObject(script_bindings.ScriptTicks, .{ .can_tick = true });
+    _ = 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);
@@ -343,8 +327,8 @@ pub fn start_module_(map: *SpecVariantMap, args: anytype, allocator: std.mem.All
 pub fn setupFromModule(__args: ModuleLoaderArgs) !void {
     gEngine = __args.engine;
     gPackerFS = __args.packerFS;
-    // script.setupLuaFromModule(__args.luaState, __args.luaAllocator);
     algorithm.names.gRegistry = __args.nameRegistry;
+    algorithm.string_pool.gStringContext = gEngine.stringContext;
     logging.setupLoggingFromModule();
     staticsInitialized = true;
 
@@ -366,18 +350,36 @@ pub fn shutdown_module(_: std.mem.Allocator) void {
 
     ecs.shutdown();
     algorithm.destroyNameRegistry();
-    gEngine.deinit();
     gPackerFS.destroy();
-    // LUA BEGIN
-    // script.shutdown_lua();
-    // LUA END
     console.shutdown();
     algorithm.string_pool.shutdown();
+
+    gEngine.deinit();
     return;
 }
 
+pub fn parallelJob(capture: anytype, async: bool, maxWorkerCount: ?u32) !void {
+    const z = tracy.ZoneNC(@src(), "parallel Job", 0xCF8774);
+    defer z.End();
+
+    const jobManager = getEngine().jobManager;
+    const requestedWorkers = if (maxWorkerCount) |m| m else jobManager.numWorkers;
+    const baseWorkerCount = @min(requestedWorkers, @max(getEngine().jobManager.numWorkers - 2, 1));
+
+    const workerStart: u32 = if (async) 0 else 1;
+
+    for (workerStart..baseWorkerCount) |workerId| {
+        try jobManager.newJob(capture, .{ .threadId = @intCast(workerId), .threadCount = baseWorkerCount });
+    }
+
+    // start working on the job locally
+    if (!async) {
+        try jobManager.runLocally(capture, .{ .threadId = 0, .threadCount = baseWorkerCount });
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn dispatchJob(capture: anytype) !void {
-    try gEngine.jobManager.newJob(capture);
+    try gEngine.jobManager.newJob(capture, .{ .threadId = 0, .threadCount = 1 }); //0, 1, null);
 }
 
 pub fn createObject(comptime T: type, params: engine.NeonObjectParams) !*T {
@@ -524,7 +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;
 }
 
@@ -608,3 +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

@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
 
 pub fn createEntity() !Entity {
     const rv = Entity{ .handle = try getRegistry().baseSet.createObject(.{}) };
-    core.engine_log("entity created: {d}", .{rv.handle.index});
+    // core.engine_log("entity created: {d}", .{rv.handle.index});
     return rv;
 }
 
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ pub fn destroyAllEntities() void {
 }
 
 pub fn destroyEntity(e: Entity) void {
-    core.engine_log("entity destroyed: {d}", .{e.handle.index});
+    // core.engine_log("entity destroyed: {d}", .{e.handle.index});
     const registry = getRegistry();
     if (registry.baseSet.get(e.handle)) |entityEntry| {
         for (entityEntry.containers.items) |ref| {
@@ -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() {
+    pub fn init(self: *@This(), allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) !void {
-        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
+        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);
     }
 };
 
@@ -377,7 +374,7 @@ pub const Entity = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn addComponent(self: @This(), comptime Component: type) ?*Component {
-        core.engine_log("adding component: {d} {s}", .{ self.handle.index, @typeName(Component) });
+        // core.engine_log("adding component: {d} {s}", .{ self.handle.index, @typeName(Component) });
         const rv = Component.BaseContainer.createWithHandleECS(self.handle);
 
         const list = &getRegistry().baseSet.get(self.handle).?.containers;

engine/core/src/engine.zig

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ 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;
 const p2 = @import("p2");
@@ -84,8 +86,15 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
 
     delegates: EngineDelegates,
 
+    rootTimer: std.time.Timer,
+    scopesContext: *pscopes.ScopesContext,
+    timeTilCalibration: f64 = 1.0, // in seconds
+    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,
@@ -96,8 +105,10 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
             .lastEngineTime = 0.0,
             .jobManager = try JobManager.create(allocator),
             .eventors = .{},
+            .rootTimer = try std.time.Timer.start(),
             .frameNumber = 1,
             .exitListeners = .{},
+            .scopesContext = try pscopes.ScopesContext.create(allocator),
             // .nfdRuntime = try nfd.NFDRuntime.create(allocator, .{}),
             .delegates = EngineDelegates.init(allocator),
         };
@@ -113,14 +124,13 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
         self.jobManager.destroy();
 
         self.engineObjectsByName.deinit(self.allocator);
+        self.scopesContext.destroy();
 
         if (self.destroyListCore.items.len > 0) {
             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| {
+                self.destroyObject(item);
-                    deinitFn(item.ptr);
-                }
             }
         }
         self.destroyListCore.deinit(self.allocator);
@@ -151,6 +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) {
@@ -162,7 +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)),
@@ -230,6 +254,7 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
     }
 
     pub fn tick(self: *@This()) !void {
+        // ------------ frame updates ---------
         tracy.FrameMark();
         tracy.FrameMarkStart("frame");
         defer tracy.FrameMarkEnd("frame");
@@ -238,14 +263,18 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
 
         var z1 = tracy.ZoneN(@src(), "time updates");
 
+        var shouldCalibrate: bool = false;
+
         if (self.first) {
             self.first = false;
             self.engineStartTime = newTime;
             self.lastEngineTime = newTime;
             self.sessionStamp = std.time.microTimestamp();
+            shouldCalibrate = true;
         }
 
         if (newTime < self.lastEngineTime) {
+            try core.assertf(false, "negative deltaTime this should not be possible", .{});
             std.debug.print("Warning! negative deltaTime? clamping to 0.0 newTime: {d} lastEngineTime:{d}", .{
                 newTime,
                 self.lastEngineTime,
@@ -253,6 +282,16 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
         }
 
         self.deltaTime = @max(newTime - self.lastEngineTime, 0.0);
+
+        self.timeTilCalibration -= self.deltaTime;
+
+        if (self.timeTilCalibration < 0 or shouldCalibrate) {
+            const zcalibrate = core.tracy.ZoneN(@src(), "calibrate timing scopeContext");
+            self.scopesContext.calibrate();
+            zcalibrate.End();
+            self.timeTilCalibration = self.calibrationPeriod;
+        }
+
         math.rollingAverage(&self.averageFrameTime, self.deltaTime, @floatFromInt(self.averageFrameSampleWindow));
         z1.End();
 
@@ -263,7 +302,9 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
         z2.End();
 
         self.frameNumber += 1;
+        // -------------------------------------------
 
+        // sync
         var z3 = tracy.ZoneN(@src(), "platform event updates");
         if (self.platformProcEventsFunc) |procEventsFn| {
             try procEventsFn(self.platformCtx, self.frameNumber);
@@ -274,12 +315,14 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
             objectRef.vtable.processEvents.?(objectRef.ptr, self.frameNumber) catch @panic("process event error");
         }
 
+        // pretick
         var z4 = tracy.ZoneN(@src(), "pretick event updates");
         for (self.preTickables.items) |*objectRef| {
             objectRef.vtable.preTick_func.?(objectRef.ptr, self.deltaTime) catch @panic("pretick event error");
         }
         z4.End();
 
+        // tick
         var z5 = tracy.ZoneN(@src(), "system object ticks");
         var index: isize = @as(isize, @intCast(self.tickables.items.len)) - 1;
         while (index >= 0) : (index -= 1) {
@@ -293,6 +336,7 @@ pub const Engine = struct {
 
         const systemsThreadTime: f64 = time.getEngineTime() - newTime;
 
+        // renderer
         for (self.renderers.items) |*renderer| {
             var z = tracy.Zone(@src());
             z.Name(renderer.vtable.typeName);
@@ -328,14 +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| {
+                self.destroyObject(item);
-                    deinitFn(item.ptr);
-                }
             }
         }
         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(p: *anyopaque, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) EngineDataEventError!void {
-
+                    const newObject: *TargetType = @ptrCast(@alignCast(p)); // funcFind(allocator) catch return error.BadInit;
-                pub fn func(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) EngineDataEventError!*anyopaque {
+                    newObject.init(allocator, first) catch return error.BadInit;
-                    const newObject = funcFind(allocator) catch return error.BadInit;
+                    // return @as(*anyopaque, @ptrCast(newObject));
-                    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(p: *anyopaque, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, first: bool) EngineDataEventError!void {
-
+                    const newObject: *TargetType = @ptrCast(@alignCast(p)); // funcFind(allocator) catch return error.BadInit;
-                pub fn func(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) EngineDataEventError!*anyopaque {
+                    newObject.create(allocator, first) catch return error.BadInit;
-                    const newObject = funcFind(allocator) catch return error.BadInit;
+                    // return @as(*anyopaque, @ptrCast(newObject));
-                    return @as(*anyopaque, @ptrCast(newObject));
                 }
             };