SFTtech / SFTtech/openage

Best practices for nyan API

Open
#1,150 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub

Nobody has claimed this yet.

area: nyan documentation to-discuss
Dominant language
Python
Stars
14.4k
Forks
1.3k
PR merge metrics
No merged PRs in 30d

Description

The API (and nyan itself) sometimes allows us to do the same thing in different ways. For common cases, we should figure out what the "best" approach is (i.e. the most resilient/readable/clean/understandable approach) and document them. We also need them for #970 when we write the converter. Best practices could be established for simple things such as object/member names or involve larger concepts.

Simple example

Removing 5 HP to a unit via a patch can be done in two ways:

  • Subtract 5 from HP value: hp -= 5
  • Add -5 to HP value: hp += -5

Here, the former version is probably more intuitive.

API example

Adding 20% HP to all units of a civilization can be done in multiple ways:

  • Patch all HP values and HP upgrades by multiplying with 1.2
  • Patch a Attribute(MultiplierModifier) with multiplier = 1.2 into every unit
  • Patch a Attribute(MultiplierModifier) with multiplier = 1.2 into the civilization

Solution 1 works, but is probably too complex and does not work well with other mods. Solution 2 works with other stat modifying mods. Solution 3 is the easiest as we only need to add a modifier to the civilization. However, in comparison to solution 2 the modifier will not carry over when the unit is converted and there is no control over it during state changes (construction, damage, etc.).

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

The issue names no files or tests. Start by reviewing the nyan API patterns and the examples described here, then identify the common cases that need documented guidance. Done means a decided set of readable, resilient best practices covering naming and larger API choices, with guidance relevant to converter work in #970.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
api, documentation
Issue type
Documentation
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.