Devlog - 4

Right now it is being a bit too much of a trial and error debugging for me. I did manage to get all the satellites being added on the earth textured globe. There are around 16,000 satellites. I have separate code which asks the API for the data and then that data gets parsed and then it converts it to TLE and which is then used in the main code to make those markers. Then I added search feature and while making that search feature I noticed that still the syncing of the latitude & longitude of the textured earth and the satellites is still a big problem. I can’t get it too sync with each other. I will be continuing to debug and lets see what happens. Thank you & stay tuned!

Devlog - 4

Right now it is being a bit too much of a trial and error debugging for me. I did manage to get all the satellites being added on the earth textured globe. There are around 16,000 satellites. I have separate code which asks the API for the data and then that data gets parsed and then it converts it to TLE and which is then used in the main code to make those markers. Then I added search feature and while making that search feature I noticed that still the syncing of the latitude & longitude of the textured earth and the satellites is still a big problem. I can’t get it too sync with each other. I will be continuing to debug and lets see what happens. Thank you & stay tuned!

Devlog - 3

In 2 hours I have worked on quite a few different things. Starting it off with a problem mentioned in the last devlog which was having the latitude and longitude of satellites matching that with the earth’s lat and lon. I have fixed that problem and it was quite a silly one because It the API which had me blocked for a temporary basis because I have requested a lot in a few amount of time. So, it was just no responding to the request and that is why the satellites where not appearing and stayed in the middle. Second I added a sliding panel for the satellite information in which I encountered a problem where I was using Raycaster and it detected every click rather than a specific satellite click so then I again did like trial and error process and got it to work at the end. Also created a new data folder so that the data for satellites stays separated from the main code. Next up I will be loading more of the satellites into the project. Thank you and stay tuned.

Devlog - 3

In 2 hours I have worked on quite a few different things. Starting it off with a problem mentioned in the last devlog which was having the latitude and longitude of satellites matching that with the earth’s lat and lon. I have fixed that problem and it was quite a silly one because It the API which had me blocked for a temporary basis because I have requested a lot in a few amount of time. So, it was just no responding to the request and that is why the satellites where not appearing and stayed in the middle. Second I added a sliding panel for the satellite information in which I encountered a problem where I was using Raycaster and it detected every click rather than a specific satellite click so then I again did like trial and error process and got it to work at the end. Also created a new data folder so that the data for satellites stays separated from the main code. Next up I will be loading more of the satellites into the project. Thank you and stay tuned.

Devlog - 2

Ok guys I have spent the time mostly getting the API working and gathering the TLE data which just means two line element data. I am currently getting data from CelesTrak and it is going quite good. I have also gotten the marker for the ISS on the globe. The part I am struggling with currently is the fact to sync the coordinates of the satellite with the earth and with the mouse movement. Currently I am trying many different things out like stopping the earth rotation and changing the camera location rather than the actual earth, just like trial and error. I have still not found a way to get this thing to work but I am continuing the trial and error process and will update about it in the next devlog. Thank you and stay tuned!

Plus sorry for late devlog as I can’t really focus on coding much as the school has started and all.

Devlog - 2

Ok guys I have spent the time mostly getting the API working and gathering the TLE data which just means two line element data. I am currently getting data from CelesTrak and it is going quite good. I have also gotten the marker for the ISS on the globe. The part I am struggling with currently is the fact to sync the coordinates of the satellite with the earth and with the mouse movement. Currently I am trying many different things out like stopping the earth rotation and changing the camera location rather than the actual earth, just like trial and error. I have still not found a way to get this thing to work but I am continuing the trial and error process and will update about it in the next devlog. Thank you and stay tuned!

Plus sorry for late devlog as I can’t really focus on coding much as the school has started and all.

Devlog - 1

Thank you so for the support for SkyTrace. That project got great votes and helped me get closer to my goal for an A1 Mini 3D Printer. After seeing the success of SkyTrace, I have decided to make OrbitTrace. SkyTrace = Aviation enthusiast whereas OrbitTrace = Space enthusiast.

Progress

For the progress I worked on making a globe, make it rotate, follow the direction of the and I have added stars. This process for me was fairly quick because I have previously made a globe for 3d flight tracking but let just say it didn’t go well. But I am back to making globes. Currently, I have planned to make it a satellite tracker but as usual it is not going to be that simple. I am going to add more unique features to as I did to SkyTrace. It might take me longer to post devlogs because now I have to manage studies and coding which is getting a bit harder, but I will ship this project. Thank you & stay tuned!

Devlog - 1

Thank you so for the support for SkyTrace. That project got great votes and helped me get closer to my goal for an A1 Mini 3D Printer. After seeing the success of SkyTrace, I have decided to make OrbitTrace. SkyTrace = Aviation enthusiast whereas OrbitTrace = Space enthusiast.

Progress

For the progress I worked on making a globe, make it rotate, follow the direction of the and I have added stars. This process for me was fairly quick because I have previously made a globe for 3d flight tracking but let just say it didn’t go well. But I am back to making globes. Currently, I have planned to make it a satellite tracker but as usual it is not going to be that simple. I am going to add more unique features to as I did to SkyTrace. It might take me longer to post devlogs because now I have to manage studies and coding which is getting a bit harder, but I will ship this project. Thank you & stay tuned!

Devlog - 9

This is my last devlog before the shipment of this project. In this last hour I have added a curved path as seen in the picture which makes it look better than a straightline. Then I encountered an API issue which was that mu current route API was giving me an 502 error which was because it was down so instead of being too dependent on it, I modified the code to have two API links which the code tries the first and If it doesn’t work then it tries the second one and it works now. Thank you for being a part of this project!

Devlog - 9

This is my last devlog before the shipment of this project. In this last hour I have added a curved path as seen in the picture which makes it look better than a straightline. Then I encountered an API issue which was that mu current route API was giving me an 502 error which was because it was down so instead of being too dependent on it, I modified the code to have two API links which the code tries the first and If it doesn’t work then it tries the second one and it works now. Thank you for being a part of this project!

Devlog - 8

Okay so I wanted to make it apart from a regular flight tracker and I was brainstorming ideas and thought of an idea of making a flight replay. So what I did is now the app stores the latitude and longitude of flights on a temporary basis and then when the user clicks on the replay button the code goes to the starting point and will show you the whole flight journey. I have also made a smaller window seen in the picture which is on the bottom right which shows you the replay details like how the altitude changed or like how speed changed and all things like that. The user can also select at what speed they want to watch the replay and all. Thank you and stay tuned!

Devlog - 8

Okay so I wanted to make it apart from a regular flight tracker and I was brainstorming ideas and thought of an idea of making a flight replay. So what I did is now the app stores the latitude and longitude of flights on a temporary basis and then when the user clicks on the replay button the code goes to the starting point and will show you the whole flight journey. I have also made a smaller window seen in the picture which is on the bottom right which shows you the replay details like how the altitude changed or like how speed changed and all things like that. The user can also select at what speed they want to watch the replay and all. Thank you and stay tuned!

Devlog 19: Busy

School has started again and I have been geting busy and my motivation is also not that high right now because things take alot longer and dont work like i want to. I think I will delay release to septembere 12th.

Devlog - 7

A longer coding session spanning two days. I have added a couple of things which have made the tracker better and gives it a more professional look than it was before. Firstly I changed the info panel for the aircraft. Before it was a small pop up which came at the top left of the screen but it wasn’t the best so I made it a sliding panel where it slides out from the left side of the screen. Then what I added is adding the airline name inside the panel when an aircraft is selected before using just the flight tracking API I had to hardcode like the callsign to the actual airline name but now it works using an another API which is used for routes as well. Then I added route information inside the panel and for that I used another API (same as the airline name one) which gives information about from where it departed and where is it going. Then I added a route dashed path which gives the user an idea of the aircraft’s intended path and lastly I added so that the panel refreshes every 5 seconds updating the information inside it. I had the most time struggling with API keys and all but at the end I got it working. You can see the changes in the pictures below. Thank and stay tuned!

Devlog - 7

A longer coding session spanning two days. I have added a couple of things which have made the tracker better and gives it a more professional look than it was before. Firstly I changed the info panel for the aircraft. Before it was a small pop up which came at the top left of the screen but it wasn’t the best so I made it a sliding panel where it slides out from the left side of the screen. Then what I added is adding the airline name inside the panel when an aircraft is selected before using just the flight tracking API I had to hardcode like the callsign to the actual airline name but now it works using an another API which is used for routes as well. Then I added route information inside the panel and for that I used another API (same as the airline name one) which gives information about from where it departed and where is it going. Then I added a route dashed path which gives the user an idea of the aircraft’s intended path and lastly I added so that the panel refreshes every 5 seconds updating the information inside it. I had the most time struggling with API keys and all but at the end I got it working. You can see the changes in the pictures below. Thank and stay tuned!

Devlog - 6

Finally finally I have gotten the API for the flight tracking to work. I had to use Vercel functions to actually get it to work but here it is. You can see it in the video attached below. I also made it like an animation so I have an interval of 5 seconds but before reaching to its updated location between those 5 seconds it looks like it is covering distance which makes it look so realistic. I have made it so if you zoom out then you see more aircrafts rather than being zoomed in. I will be changing the UI and will be adding live statistics so that the data in the panel updates while you are looking at the aircraft moving. Thank you and stay tuned!

Devlog - 6

Finally finally I have gotten the API for the flight tracking to work. I had to use Vercel functions to actually get it to work but here it is. You can see it in the video attached below. I also made it like an animation so I have an interval of 5 seconds but before reaching to its updated location between those 5 seconds it looks like it is covering distance which makes it look so realistic. I have made it so if you zoom out then you see more aircrafts rather than being zoomed in. I will be changing the UI and will be adding live statistics so that the data in the panel updates while you are looking at the aircraft moving. Thank you and stay tuned!

Devlog 18: Pre-baked docking paths

I’ve implemented pre-baked docking paths for factory entrances to solve some pathfinding issues with vehicle physics.

Pre-baked paths

The A* pathfinding system was struggling to navigate the sharp corners around factory entrances. When the trailer tried to find its own path through these tight spaces, it would instantly jackknife, not ideal. Rather than spend 50+ hours refining the vehicle physics, I decided to pre-bake specific docking paths to each factory.
It’s not a perfect solution visually, but it’s functional and gets the job done. I can always refine this for a post-launch update if needed.
I’m still wrapping up the final details of the docking path system before moving on.

Mines

My next major task is implementing mine logic, which includes the excavator logic and ore detection and depletion.

Aircraft

After the mining logic I will add the last vital gameplay system the aircraft system which will be responsible trade and contracts with other villages.

Release

I’m currently deciding whether to push construction vehicle implementation to a post-beta update or delay the release by a week to include them. Construction vehicles aren’t vital to core gameplay, but they would add a lot of polish. I’m still on the fence about this one, it depends on how the mine logic implementation goes.

Devlog - 5

Kind of a slow day today and wasn’t able to do much for today. I only added airport markers and created a panel for it. I have currently hardcoded two airport details and made it around that but I have already found an API for many airport data and it was way easier than finding the API for flight tracking. The key will be implemented in the next devlog and if you guys have any suggestions about flight tracking API then please let me know as it will help me a lot. Thank you and stay tuned!