System Architecture

Core Principle

Studcraft is a Subpart-Voxel System. The world is a grid where bricks are placed. The 'automatic binding' happens when the bricks are placed next to each other to form larger models.

Key Ideas:

• Tactile Response: The snap and click of brick placement is designed to feel like a physical building toy.
• Systematic Measurement: 1 Stud = 8.0 units. A simple, reliable standard for all construction.
• Efficient by Design: Optimized to display a vast number of bricks with simple, fast rendering.

Technical Breakdown

1. Global Architecture (EngineContext)

Studcraft eliminates global variables using the EngineContext Pattern. The application logic is partitioned into discrete, focused states:

• SplashState: Handles asset pre-loading and authorization.
• MenuState: Manages world selection, settings, and IP connections.
• PlayingState: The core simulation loop handling physics and rendering.

2. Rendering Engine

To support massive draw distances, the 3K engine utilizes an advanced ChunkRenderManager:

• Uber-VBO System: To solve draw-call overhead, individual chunks do not own their own VBOs. Instead, they allocate a slice of a massive 256MB GPU buffer (offset and count).
• Greedy Meshing: Adjacent faces of identical bricks are merged into single polygons during mesh generation, significantly reducing the triangle count.
• Plastic Shaders: Custom barycentric shaders draw "crevices" and "wear & tear" noise, simulating the look of molded ABS plastic.

3. World Generation & LXFML Import

The terrain system powers infinite, procedural worlds with distinct biomes (Hills, Plains):

• LXFML Pipeline: The engine features a native importer for .lxfml (LEGO Digital Designer) files. This allows complex structures like Trees, Rocks, and Ruins to be designed in external CAD tools and spawned naturally into the procedural generation.
• Dynamic Palette: The generator pulls from a dynamic palette of bricks, including the new slope pieces (IDs 3039, 3040) for smoother terrain transitions.

4. Networking Stack

Built on the industry-standard RakNet library, the multiplayer architecture mimics professional FPS standards:

• Client-Side Prediction: Local actions (moving, placing bricks) happen instantly on the client for a "zero-latency" feel.
• Server Reconciliation: The server validates these actions and sends authoritative corrections (Brick Deltas) if a conflict occurs.
• Snapshot Interpolation: Remote players are visually smoothed between network updates to prevent jittering.