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| 1 | +# **How to Contribute to the Code Repository as CPP Developer** |
| 2 | + |
| 3 | +Welcome to the **Generals Zero Hour** code repository! If you're interested in contributing to the development of the |
| 4 | +game engine, there are several areas where you can help improve the code, add new features, or fix bugs. Whether you |
| 5 | +specialize in game development, tools, or platform compatibility, your contributions are highly valued! |
| 6 | +<!-- markdownlint-disable --> |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +#### Contributing for Non-CPP Developers |
| 9 | +<!-- markdownlint-enable --> |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | +You don't need to be a C++ developer to contribute! Here are some ways you can help: |
| 12 | + |
| 13 | +- **Documentation** |
| 14 | + Improve or create documentation to make the project more accessible. Clear guides and explanations are always needed! |
| 15 | + |
| 16 | +- **Game Assets and Localization** |
| 17 | + If you're an artist or designer, you can contribute by creating or improving game assets such as textures, models, |
| 18 | + animations, and other visual elements. Additionally, you can help by translating the game into other languages or |
| 19 | + improve AI scripts to enhance gameplay. |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +Your contributions in these areas are just as valuable in improving the overall project! |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +### **1. Building and Compilation** |
| 24 | + |
| 25 | +At the moment, there isn't a stable and organized build system in TheSuperHackers repository. If you have experience |
| 26 | +with build systems, this is an area where your help is needed. Improving and stabilizing the build process will help |
| 27 | +future contributors get started more easily. Contributions may include setting up tools like CMake or enhancing |
| 28 | +integration with IDEs such as Visual Studio. |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +### **2. Bug Fixes in the Code** |
| 31 | + |
| 32 | +There are many bugs within the game’s core engine that need attention. Whether it's fixing crashes, resolving memory |
| 33 | +leaks, or improving game performance, your expertise can help make a significant difference. Bugs are tracked within the |
| 34 | +repository, and contributions to their resolution are highly appreciated. |
| 35 | + |
| 36 | +### **3. Adding New Features** |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | +The game engine is constantly evolving, and there are many opportunities to add new features to improve the player |
| 39 | +experience. This could include enhancing AI, introducing new game mechanics, or adding customizable modules to expand |
| 40 | +gameplay options. If you have ideas for new features, we encourage you to contribute your code and help bring them to |
| 41 | +life. |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | +### **4. Memory Management and Optimization** |
| 44 | + |
| 45 | +Memory management is crucial to the game’s performance. Many areas of the game’s codebase could be optimized to improve |
| 46 | +memory handling, reduce CPU and GPU load, and ensure smoother gameplay across different hardware. This includes: |
| 47 | + |
| 48 | +- Fixing memory leaks |
| 49 | +- Optimizing resource allocation |
| 50 | +- Improving performance for large-scale maps and complex game logic |
| 51 | + |
| 52 | +### **5. Tools Development and Enhancement** |
| 53 | + |
| 54 | +Several tools are available to help modders and developers work with the game, and there’s plenty of room for |
| 55 | +improvement. For example: |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +- **GUIEdit:** This tool allows editing of `wnd` files that define the user interface layout. It has a released version |
| 58 | + called **WNDEdit**, but there are still improvements and bug fixes that can be applied. |
| 59 | +- **WorldBuilder:** This tool is used by map creators and has a list of bugs and features that could be enhanced. |
| 60 | +- **FinalBIG:** A tool used for managing the game’s archive files (BIG files). Enhancing or fixing bugs in FinalBIG will |
| 61 | + help make modding easier for the community. |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +The open-source code for these tools is available in the repository, and contributions to these projects are welcome. |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | +### **6. Cross-Platform Compatibility** |
| 66 | + |
| 67 | +Many players use Linux and Mac systems to play **Generals Zero Hour**, and ensuring cross-platform compatibility is |
| 68 | +important. If you have experience with porting games to different operating systems, your help in making the game run |
| 69 | +smoothly on platforms such as Linux and MacOS would be extremely valuable. Contributions may include adapting code, |
| 70 | +ensuring compatibility with open-source libraries, or fixing platform-specific issues. |
| 71 | + |
| 72 | +### **7. Replacing Outdated or Closed-Source Dependencies** |
| 73 | + |
| 74 | +As **Generals Zero Hour** continues to evolve, there may be dependencies in the code that are either outdated or |
| 75 | +closed-source. Replacing these with open-source alternatives can improve the game’s maintainability and compatibility |
| 76 | +with modern systems. If you have experience with finding or implementing open-source replacements for deprecated |
| 77 | +libraries or closed-source tools, your contributions in this area would be highly valuable. |
| 78 | + |
| 79 | +--- |
| 80 | + |
| 81 | +There are many ways to contribute to the **Generals Zero Hour** project, whether it's through improving the game’s core |
| 82 | +engine, enhancing the tools used by the community, or ensuring cross-platform compatibility. Your contributions will |
| 83 | +help us improve the game and make it more accessible to players and developers alike. |
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