115 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
115 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
---
|
||
title: Folder Structure
|
||
layout: default
|
||
root: ../../
|
||
idx: 1.1
|
||
description: Learn how to make a mod folder, including init.lua, depends.txt and more.
|
||
redirect_from: /en/chapters/folders.html
|
||
---
|
||
|
||
## Introduction
|
||
|
||
Understanding the basic structure of a mod's folder
|
||
is an essential skill when creating mods.
|
||
|
||
* [Mod Folders](#mod-folders)
|
||
* [Dependencies](#dependencies)
|
||
* [Mod Packs](#mod-packs)
|
||
* [Example](#example)
|
||
|
||
## Mod Folders
|
||
|
||
Each mod has its own folder where all its Lua code, textures, models, and sounds
|
||
are placed. These folders need to be placed in a mod location such as
|
||
minetest/mods.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
A "mod name" is used to refer to a mod. Each mod should have a unique mod name.
|
||
Mod names can include letters, numbers, and underscores. A good mod name should
|
||
describe what the mod does, and the folder which contains the components of a mod
|
||
needs to be given the same name as the mod name.
|
||
|
||
### Mod Folder Structure
|
||
Mod name (eg: "mymod")
|
||
- init.lua - the main scripting code file, which runs when the game loads.
|
||
- (optional) depends.txt - a list of mods that need to be loaded before this mod.
|
||
- (optional) textures/ - images used by the mod, commonly in the format modname_itemname.png.
|
||
- (optional) sounds/ - sounds used by the mod.
|
||
- (optional) models/ - 3d models used by the mod.
|
||
...and any other Lua files to be included.
|
||
|
||
Only the init.lua file is required in a mod for it to run on game load; however,
|
||
the other items are needed by some mods to perform their functionality.
|
||
|
||
## Dependencies
|
||
|
||
The depends text file allows you to specify which mods this mod requires to run and what
|
||
needs to be loaded before this mod.
|
||
|
||
**depends.txt**
|
||
|
||
modone
|
||
modtwo
|
||
modthree?
|
||
|
||
As you can see, each modname is on its own line.
|
||
|
||
Mod names with a question mark following them are optional dependencies.
|
||
If an optional dependency is installed, it is loaded before the mod;
|
||
however, if the dependency is not installed, the mod still loads.
|
||
This is in contrast to normal dependencies which will cause the current
|
||
mod not to work if the dependency is not installed.
|
||
|
||
## Mod Packs
|
||
|
||
Mods can be grouped into mod packs which allow multiple mods to be packaged
|
||
and moved together. They are useful if you want to supply multiple mods to
|
||
a player but don't want to make them download each one individually.
|
||
|
||
### Mod Pack Folder Structure
|
||
modpackfolder/
|
||
- modone/
|
||
- modtwo/
|
||
- modthree/
|
||
- modfour/
|
||
- modpack.txt – signals that this is a mod pack, content does not matter
|
||
|
||
## Example
|
||
|
||
Are you confused? Don't worry, here is an example which puts all of this together:
|
||
|
||
### Mod Folder
|
||
mymod/
|
||
- textures/
|
||
- - mymod_node.png
|
||
- init.lua
|
||
- depends.txt
|
||
|
||
|
||
### depends.txt
|
||
default
|
||
|
||
### init.lua
|
||
{% highlight lua %}
|
||
print("This file will be run at load time!")
|
||
|
||
minetest.register_node("mymod:node", {
|
||
description = "This is a node",
|
||
tiles = {
|
||
"mymod_node.png",
|
||
"mymod_node.png",
|
||
"mymod_node.png",
|
||
"mymod_node.png",
|
||
"mymod_node.png",
|
||
"mymod_node.png"
|
||
},
|
||
groups = {cracky = 1}
|
||
})
|
||
{% endhighlight %}
|
||
|
||
This mod has the name "mymod". It has two text files: init.lua and depends.txt.\\
|
||
The script prints a message and then registers a node – which will be explained in the next chapter.\\
|
||
The depends text file adds a dependency on the default mod which is in minetest_game.\\
|
||
There is also a texture in textures/ for the node.
|