Ok. I''m starting to want to get into tackling some larger projects myself and I''ve been reading over the recent "GameDev Tools" thread. Definately good stuff.
I though, know absolutely nothing about creating these tools, as with the few simple projects I''ve taken on, I have never had to make any tools to help me along.
Now, Tools are obviously little mini-applications we write to make our job of finishing the large-scale app simpler. How exactly do these tools work? Is it that you basically make your "tool(s)" export files in a certain format that your large-scale app will understand?
I''m using examples here from the GameDev Tools thread
1) Ones own custom Level Editor will obviously export levels
that your program will understand.
2) a complete exporter for Max, Maya, Lightwave, etc
what kind of tool is this? not quite clear on this. I''ve written code myself to take a 3ds file and load it. is that what a exporter basically is?
or is an exporter a tool which takes a Max / Maya / Lightwave file and exports models once again into a standard format that your large-scale app will understand?
3) Particle editor that allows control over paths, tracks, etc
of individual particles.
a tool such as this is basically a simple program that will load particles, whereby you can edit the paths these particles etc take? The "tool" will then export a simple text-file or some sort of script that your program can read to obtain the path information of the given particles? am I on the right track here? someone throw me a bone
Basically, do most tools all simply export some type of
file-format (text, scripts, whatever..) that your large-scale project will be built around to understand? is that the point of mini-tools?
if anyone cares to further explain tools please feel free..just would like a clear idea in my head as to
What I might consider writing a tool for when I start taking on some bigger projects myself.
pardon my ignorance folks, im new
cheers,
Idleweiss
