Devlog 11

Updates

Custom VAB Grid Assembler

I have started the groundwork for the modular custom rocket builder. Sizing parameters are fully driven by scaling variables (currently 5 columns by 8 rows), allowing me to easily increase the size for multi-stage rockets when I add decouplers later on.

I set up a parts catalog database storing costs, masses, fuel levels, and thrust configurations for three main blocks: Command Pods, Fuel Tanks, and Liquid Engines. Each has a specific cost per unit (500 credits for a pod, 200 for a tank, and 350 for an engine).

Mouse Grid Snapping

The VAB hangar is now interactive using the mouse instead of the keyboard. Left-clicking sidebar catalog cards swaps your active part tool with a clean highlight frame. Left-clicking inside the grid snaps and stamps components directly into place with 1:1 pixel accuracy, and right-clicking an item instantly erases it.

Flood-Fill Rocket Compiler

I engineered a backend validation method (compile_custom_grid_rocket) triggered by clicking the Launch button. It runs a Breadth-First Search (BFS) flood-fill check starting from the Command Pod. It traces orthogonal adjacent connections to make sure parts are actually linked together via adjacent cells, filters out floating disconnected parts, checks your wallet balance, and dynamically compiles your specs before letting you reach the pad.

Lunar Line-of-Sight Occlusion

I fixed a glitch where network signals could pass straight through the middle of the moon. Ground downlinks and inter-satellite cross-links now run a closest-approach vector calculation. The exact millisecond a laser path grazes or drops below the physical moon radius, the lunar crust blocks the ray and drops the link instantly.

UI Bugfixes

The text formatting glitch where lines were cutting off the right edge of the screen has been resolved. I wrapped the sidebar text block inside a tight bounding box by enabling multiline wrapping and setting a fixed width.

I also fixed a crash where the drawing engine would break looking for the parts catalog dictionary, and fixed a typo where the dictionary items loop was missing its plural formatting.

New Bugs

Launchpad Rendering

While the rocket compiler successfully updates the rocket’s mass and thrust variables, it doesn’t render the player’s custom grid construction on the launchpad yet. It still loads the default rocket shape instead of the player’s custom design. I will fix this when I build the custom part sprites.

Clickbox Alignment

The sidebar tool selection clickboxes are still slightly misaligned with the visual bounding cards drawn on screen. I need to calibrate the exact mouse Y-coordinate gates to line up perfectly with the graphics.

Version 1.0 Release

By version 1.0 (which will be the next devlog or two), the only big feature left is completing these custom rockets with graphic sprites. After shipping version 1.0, I will do continuous point-release updates (v1.1-1.9) and then move on to version 2.0.

See you in the next devlog!