From 34849dac41799e5b5022b3c5e55c00e6f59b875c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Wuzzy Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2022 01:42:22 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Proof-read and fix README --- README.md | 88 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------------------------- 1 file changed, 46 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 23eff3b..8cbefd1 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ mapgen feature! Don’t use it in worlds with buildings you care about. **NEVER** use this mod on a public server, it has not been -security-tested yet. +security-tested. ## Features @@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ security-tested yet. * Color denotes value, cutoff points can be customized * Choose between solid nodes, transparent grid nodes, and tiny climbable cube nodes * Generate a small portion of the noise as map at a given area -* Enable “mapgen mode” to automatically generate a map as you move around +* Enable “mapgen mode” to automatically generate nodes as you move around * Load predefined Perlin noises from the Minetest configuration * Save noise parameters into profiles for later use * Mathematical and statistical analysis of noises @@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ analysis. ### What are noise parameters? These are used by Minetest for the Perlin noises. -Perlin noises are used various things such as generating the map, +Perlin noises are used for various things such as generating the world, decorations (trees, plants, etc.), ores, biomes and much more. And noise parameters are, well, the parameters that are used to tweak the Perlin noises. They change the output numbers, -they stretch or squeeze the noise, they might it make more +they stretch or squeeze the noise, they make more or less detailed, and more. The Perlin Explorer mod’s main use case is to allow you to @@ -64,11 +64,11 @@ efficient than tweaking the noise in the Minetest settings or Lua code. This document is *not* an introduction to Perlin noises -and noise parameters. Please refer to the Minetest Lua API -documentation to learn more. +and noise parameters themselves! Please refer to the Minetest +Lua API documentation to learn more. ### Active noise -This tool heavily relies on something called the “active noise” +This mod heavily relies on something called the “active noise” (or “active noise parameters”). These are the noise parameters and options that the mod will use for various operations, like getting values, generating nodes, using mapgen mode, etc. The “Apply” button @@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ There can only be one active noise parameters. Also, the active noise is always valid; if you enter invalid noise parameters, the mod refuses them for the active noise. -Initially, there are no active noise parameters, you you have +Initially, there are no active noise parameters, so you have to push the “Apply” button mentioned before first. ### The tools @@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ These tools are items, so check out your Creative Inventory (or something similar) to get them. #### Perlin Noise Creator -This is the heart of this mod. Hold this item in hand and punch +This is the main tool of this mod. Hold this item in hand and punch to open a window. The window has multiple sections: @@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ The window has multiple sections: This section has 2 parts: The top part is a list of profiles. An explanation for that is below. -The bottom part contains the actual noise parameters. +The bottom part contains the actual noise parameters: * Offset * Scale @@ -110,14 +110,13 @@ The bottom part contains the actual noise parameters. * Octaves * Persistence * Lacunarity -* eased -* absvalue +* Flags (defaults, eased, absvalue) Please refer to Minetest Lua API documentation for a definition. -Node this mod will enforce sanity check on some for the values, +This mod enforces a few sanity checks on some for the values, i.e. octaves can’t be lower than 1. -HINT: If you hit “Enter” while the focus is on any of the noise +**Hint**: If you hit “Enter” while the focus is on any of the noise parameters, this is the same as if you clicked “Accept” or “Accept and create” (see below). Use this to your advantage to quickly tweak a particular value. @@ -127,17 +126,19 @@ convenience. The “Analyze” button shows you some basic info about the noise parameters as displayed in the form. First, the -minimum and maximum possible value -throughout the entire noise. Then, the “wavelengths” for each -axis. This means across how many nodes (roughly) the noise is -stretched out, specified for each octave, beginning with the first. +theoretical minimum and maximum possible value +of the entire noise. +Then, the “wavelengths” for each axis. This means across +how many nodes (roughly) the noise is stretched out, specified +for each octave, beginning with the first. If any wavelength reaches a number lower than 1, it will be -shown in red because the official Lua documentation discourages -this. If this happens, either increase the spread, the octaves -or the lacunarity. +shown in red because this means your noise parameters are invalid. +If this happens, either increase the spread or decrease the octaves +or lacunarity. -**Note**: The Analyze feature uses the noise parameters currently -in the form, *not* the *active* noise parameters. +**Note**: The Analyze feature uses the noise parameters as they +are displayed in the form, *not* the *active* noise parameters. +This is because the active noise must always be valid. ###### Profiles A profile is just noise parameters that you can load for later use. @@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ This list contains three types of profiles: “Profile 1” User profiles will also automatically saved on disk so they -get restored when restarting. +get restored when restarting the world. The buttons do the following: @@ -167,8 +168,8 @@ The buttons do the following: for non-user profiles) ##### Noise options -This section roughly says how the noise parameters are “interpreted”. You -can do 3 things here: +This section roughly says how the noise parameters are “interpreted”. +These fields are available: * Number of dimensions (2D or 3D) * 2D: Noise is 2-dimensional. In the world, only the X and Z @@ -180,8 +181,8 @@ can do 3 things here: This gives a “pixelized”/“voxelized” look. You normally don’t need this but it’s useful to emulate the `sidelen` parameter of mapgen decorations (relevant for game development) -* Statistics: Will calculate millions of values (without generating a - map in a predefined area/volume to make some statistics. This +* Statistics: Will calculate tons of values (without generating + nodes) in a predefined area/volume to make some statistics. This will take a while to do so. The main feature is a histogram which shows which values were the most common. The first row shows the percentage, the 2nd and 3rd row show @@ -192,10 +193,10 @@ can do 3 things here: The statistics always distributes the values into “buckets” of equal sizes, beginning with the lowest theoretical value and ending with the highest one. - The statistics are useful if you want to make sure certain values - occur with a certain probability. + The histogram is useful if you want to see how common or rare + each value is. **Note**: This button will calculate statistics of the noise settings - as displayed in the form, it does *not* use the active noise. + as they were displayed in the form. It does *not* use the active noise. ##### Node generation @@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ Playing around with parameters isn’t very useful if you don’t get a visual result. That’s where the node generation comes into play. Here you specify parameters for generating nodes from the noise. -All noise values are either high or low and are divided +All noise values are either high or low; they are divided by the **midpoint**: Values equal to or higher than the midpoint are high, otherwise low. @@ -292,12 +293,13 @@ to place nodes in a certain area: #### Footer (Apply / Apply and close / Enable mapgen / Disable mapgen) -The footer is the final part of the formspec. He +The footer is the final part of the form. It has these buttons: * Apply: Set the current noise params as the “active noise”. If the - mapgen is active, it will automatically update + mapgen is active, it will automatically update the world around + players * Apply and create: Generate some nodes at the specified XYZ coordinates - with the specified size (see above) + with the specified size (see Position settings above) * Enable mapgen: Enable the mapgen mode. In mapgen mode, nodes will automatically be generated according to the settings around players. This allows you to actually *explore* a world. @@ -320,10 +322,10 @@ Use the “Punch” key anywhere to get the value of *your* position (rounded). If you hold down “Sneak” while punching, your *exact* position (not rounded) will be used instead. -**Note**: This tool always calculates the values of the *currently active noise -params* (by triggering the “Accept” or “Accept and create” button in the Perlin Noise -Creator). It completely ignores what kind of terrain you touch, so this -tool also works if you haven’t generated any nodes. +**Note**: This tool always calculates the values of the *active noise* +It completely ignores whatever nodes were generated and what those nodes +represents, so tool also works if you haven’t generated any nodes. +It actually only looks at the coordinates of the node or yourself. If you’re unsure about what the current active noise is, just hit “Accept” again in the Perlin Noise Creator. @@ -337,9 +339,11 @@ will then instantly update the map. If mapgen mode is disabled, the meaning of this tool is this: -* Punch: Set a new seed, but do not regenerate map -* Place: Set a new seed and regenerate nodes (using the XYZ and Size parameters - in the Perlin Noise Creator) +* Punch: Set a new seed of the active noise, but do not regenerate map +* Place: Set a new seed of the active noise, then regenerate nodes + (using the XYZ and Size parameters in the Perlin Noise Creator) + +This can be useful to look at many different variations of the noise. ### Troubleshooting