Can anyone recommend an ascii engine?

TJS · September 17, 2014, 19:33

Sorry probably the wrong place to ask, but I was wondering if there's an ascii library or engine that someone could recommend for my upcoming project.

Main things that I'm looking for in order:

Ease of use
A scripting language (too lazy for C++)
Works nicely on windows
Portability
Speed
Fancy effects/colours etc.

Any help would be great!

debo · September 17, 2014, 19:56

If you're doing roguelike things, I've had luck with libcotd and its various ports (e.g. rot.js) in C++, Python, and JavaScript. It has a bunch of extra stuff you won't need if you're just blitting random glyphs to a canvas, but it should still do that admirably well.

e.g. see http://www.roguebasin.com/index.php?...thon%2Blibtcod

Or you can just use raw curses, which is not great but also not that bad.

konijn_ · September 17, 2014, 21:47

ROT.js indeed!

Raajaton · September 19, 2014, 23:57

There's also T-Engine4. I've seen some pretty cool projects that came from that.

http://te4.org/te4

Zireael · October 2, 2014, 09:08

Seconding the T-Engine mention.

fph · October 2, 2014, 10:36

Does T-Engine 4 do ASCII art as well? All the screenshots I can find are with tiles.

Raajaton · October 2, 2014, 13:00

Yes it does - tiles are optional.

TJS · October 14, 2014, 19:43

Whoops completely forgot that I asked this question, thanks for the replies.

Anyone know whether libcotd or rot.js allow anims and tiles to be added later on?

The game is going to not be a traditional roguelike and more of a strategy so perhaps T-Engine 4 might be a bit too specialised.

debo · October 14, 2014, 20:00

rot.js just got tile support a little while ago, based on the PRs I've seen merged lately. Animations -- I'm not sure, I'm guessing that's something you'd have to homebake.

TJS · October 15, 2014, 08:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by debo

rot.js just got tile support a little while ago, based on the PRs I've seen merged lately. Animations -- I'm not sure, I'm guessing that's something you'd have to homebake.

Thanks for the information.

Another silly question, can you compile javascript to run an optimised exe or does it have to run through a browser?

September 17, 2014, 19:33	#1
TJS Swordsman Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 473	Can anyone recommend an ascii engine? Sorry probably the wrong place to ask, but I was wondering if there's an ascii library or engine that someone could recommend for my upcoming project. Main things that I'm looking for in order: Ease of use A scripting language (too lazy for C++) Works nicely on windows Portability Speed Fancy effects/colours etc. Any help would be great!

September 17, 2014, 19:56	#2
debo Veteran Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,344	If you're doing roguelike things, I've had luck with libcotd and its various ports (e.g. rot.js) in C++, Python, and JavaScript. It has a bunch of extra stuff you won't need if you're just blitting random glyphs to a canvas, but it should still do that admirably well. e.g. see http://www.roguebasin.com/index.php?...thon%2Blibtcod Or you can just use raw curses, which is not great but also not that bad. __________________ Glaurung, Father of the Dragons says, 'You cannot avoid the ballyhack.'

September 17, 2014, 21:47	#3
konijn_ Hellband maintainer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York, the Big Apple Age: 41 Posts: 367 Donated: $120	ROT.js indeed! __________________ * Are you ready for something else ? Hellband 0.8.8 is out! *

October 2, 2014, 10:36	#6
fph Knight Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Berlin / Italy Posts: 618	Does T-Engine 4 do ASCII art as well? All the screenshots I can find are with tiles. __________________ Dive fast, die young, leave a high-CHA corpse. -- You read a scroll labeled 'lol gtfo' of Teleport Level.

October 14, 2014, 20:00	#9
debo Veteran Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,344	rot.js just got tile support a little while ago, based on the PRs I've seen merged lately. Animations -- I'm not sure, I'm guessing that's something you'd have to homebake. __________________ Glaurung, Father of the Dragons says, 'You cannot avoid the ballyhack.'

September 19, 2014, 23:57	#4
Raajaton Swordsman Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 289	There's also T-Engine4. I've seen some pretty cool projects that came from that. http://te4.org/te4

October 2, 2014, 09:08	#5
Zireael Adept Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 204	Seconding the T-Engine mention.

October 2, 2014, 13:00	#7
Raajaton Swordsman Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 289	Yes it does - tiles are optional.

October 14, 2014, 19:43	#8
TJS Swordsman Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 473	Whoops completely forgot that I asked this question, thanks for the replies. Anyone know whether libcotd or rot.js allow anims and tiles to be added later on? The game is going to not be a traditional roguelike and more of a strategy so perhaps T-Engine 4 might be a bit too specialised.

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