MapGenerator

MapGenerator is a JavaScript class designed for generating and managing game maps using various pathfinding and maze generation algorithms. It provides a flexible and efficient way to create and manipulate multidimensional arrays for game development and other applications.

Features

• Map Generation: Create and manage 2D maps with customizable dimensions and base values.
• Pathfinding Algorithms: Generate paths using algorithms like Prim's, Wilson's, Recursive, and Crawling.
• Randomization: Randomly place values on the map with specified probabilities.
• Index Management: Set and get values at specific indexes with ease.
• Procedural Generation: Supports procedural content generation for dynamic map creation.
• Map Generation: Create and manage 2D maps with customizable dimensions and base values.
• Pathfinding: Implement algorithms to find paths through a grid, useful for navigation and route optimization.
• Maze Generation: Generate mazes using different algorithms, providing structured paths and challenges.
• Algorithmic Generation: Use algorithms to procedurally generate content, ensuring efficient and scalable creation.
• Grid Management: Manage a grid or multidimensional array structure, providing methods to access and modify elements.
• Procedural Generation: Dynamically generate content based on algorithms, allowing for unique map layouts.
• Recursive: Utilize recursive algorithms for path and maze generation, efficiently exploring paths.
• Randomization: Introduce randomness in map and path generation, creating varied layouts for replayability.
• Crawling: Implement crawling algorithms to explore and generate paths, simulating natural exploration.
• Index Management: Handle operations based on grid indexes, ensuring efficient access and modification of elements.
• Value Assignment: Allow setting and updating values at specific grid locations, supporting batch operations.
• Game Development: Provide tools and methods for creating game maps and levels, supporting common development needs.
• Multidimensional Array: Operate on 2D arrays to represent maps and grids, supporting complex data structures.
• Path Algorithms: Implement various algorithms for path creation and optimization, including well-known methods.
• Grid Navigation: Facilitate movement and exploration within a grid, providing methods to traverse elements.

Instalation

To use mapGenerator in your project, install it via npm:

npm install @nichathan-gaming/map-generator

Usage

Here’s a basic example of how to use the MapGenerator class:

//define base values
const equalityFunction: equalityFunctionType<number> = (a:number, b:number):boolean=>a===b
const startingIndex: index = [0, 0]

//randomly places unwalkable paths around the map
new mapGenerator<number>(10, 10, 0, 1, equalityFunction).generateRandomly(0.75).logMap()
new mapGenerator<number>(10, 10, 0, 1, equalityFunction).generateRandomly(0.5).logMap()
new mapGenerator<number>(10, 10, 0, 1, equalityFunction).generateRandomly(0.25).logMap()

//randomly crawls across the map horizontally and vertically
new mapGenerator<number>(10, 10, 0, 1, equalityFunction).generateCrawler(5, 3).logMap()

//recursively traverses the map creating a path
new mapGenerator<number>(10, 10, 0, 1, equalityFunction).generateRecursively(startingIndex, 1, true).logMap()

//traverses the map by creating new paths until they connect to the main path or are impossible to connect following Wilson's algorithm
new mapGenerator<number>(10, 10, 0, 1, equalityFunction).generateWilsons(startingIndex, 1, 2, true).logMap()

//traverses the map by creating a minimum spanning tree following Prim's algorithm
const map = new mapGenerator<number>(10, 10, 0, 1, equalityFunction).generatePrims(startingIndex, 1, true).logMap()

//get and shuffle the walkable indexes
const walkablePath = mapGenerator.shuffleArray(map.getWalkableIndexes())

//test the pathfinding
console.log(`starting index for path: [${walkablePath[0]}], ending index for path: [${walkablePath[1]}]`)
const foundPath = map.getPath(walkablePath[0], walkablePath[1])
console.log(foundPath)

API

Constructor

• MapGenerator(width: number, height: number, baseElement: T): Initializes a new map with the given dimensions and base value.

Methods

Getters

• getNeighborsForPath(index: index, pathingValue: T, isOffMapPathed: boolean): [number[], number[]]: Searches the 8 cells around an index to create an array of the neighbors that do and don't match the pathingValue
• areValuesAtIndexesEqual(indexA: index, indexB: index): boolean: Determines if the values at two given indexes are equal using the provided equality function.
• isValueAtIndexEqualToValue(index: index, value: T): boolean: Checks if the value at a given index is equal to a specified value.
• areValuesEqual(valueA: T, valueB: T): boolean: Determines if two values are equal using the provided equality function.
• isIndexUnwalkable(index: index): boolean: Checks if the value at a given index is equal to the unwalkable value.
• isValueUnwalkable(value: T): boolean: Determines if a given value is equal to the unwalkable value.
• isIndexWalkable(index: index): boolean: Checks if the value at a given index is equal to the walkable value.
• isValueWalkable(value: T): boolean: Determines if a given value is equal to the walkable value.
• getMultArray(): T[][]: Returns the current multidimensional array.
• getWidth(): number: Returns the width of the map.
• getHeight(): number: Returns the height of the map.
• getWalkableValue(): T: Returns the walkable value used in the map.
• getUnwalkableValue(): T: Returns the unwalkable value used in the map.
• isValidIndex(index: index): boolean: Checks if a given index is within the bounds of the map.
• getValueAtIndex(index: index): T: Retrieves the value at a specified index.
• getAllIndexesForValue(value: T): index[]: Returns an array of indexes where the specified value is found.
• getWalkableIndexes(): index[]: Returns an array of indexes with the walkable value.
• getUnwalkableIndexes(): index[]: Returns an array of indexes with the unwalkable value.
• getPath(startingIndex: index, endingIndex: index): index[] | null: Finds a path between two indexes or returns null if no path is available.

Setters

• changeGeneratedType(generatedType: generatedType): mapGenerator<T>: Changes the current generated type.
• changeEqualityFunction(equalityFunction: equalityFunctionType<T>): mapGenerator<T>: Changes the current equality function.
• setWalkableValue(newWalkableValue: T): mapGenerator<T>: Sets a new walkable value for the map.
• setUnwalkableValue(newUnwalkableValue: T): mapGenerator<T>: Sets a new unwalkable value for the map.
• setValueAtIndex(index: index, value: T): mapGenerator<T>: Sets a value at a specified index. Throws an error if the index is not valid.
• setValueAtIndexes(value: T, ...indexes: index[]): mapGenerator<T>: Sets a value at multiple specified indexes.
• setValuesAtIndexes(...indexValues: indexValue<T>[]): mapGenerator<T>: Sets values at specified indexes using an array of index-value pairs.
• setWalkableValueAtIndex(index: index): mapGenerator<T>: Sets the walkable value at a specified index if it is valid.
• setWalkableValueAtIndexes(...indexes: index[]): mapGenerator<T>: Sets the walkable value at multiple specified indexes.
• setUnwalkableValueAtIndex(index: index): mapGenerator<T>: Sets the unwalkable value at a specified index if it is valid.
• setUnwalkableValueAtIndexes(...indexes: index[]): mapGenerator<T>: Sets the unwalkable value at multiple specified indexes.
• fillWithValue(value: T): mapGenerator<T>: Fills the entire multidimensional array with a specified value.

Helpers

• findDisplayIndex(index: index, pathingValue: T, isOffMapPathed: boolean): index: Finds the display index for Nichathan Gaming's mapRenderer
• addBorder(size: number, value: T): mapGenerator<T>: Adds a border to this mapGenerator.
• addWalkableBorder(size: number): mapGenerator<T>: Adds a border to this mapGenerator. With the walkableValue for the border.
• addUnwalkableBorder(size: number): mapGenerator<T>: Adds a border to this mapGenerator. With the unwalkableValue for the border.
• multiplyMap(amount: number): mapGenerator<T>: Increases the map by the given amount.
• logMap(): mapGenerator<T>: Logs the current state of the multidimensional array to the console.
• static shuffleArray<U>(array: U[]): U[]: Shuffles the elements of an array and returns the shuffled array.

Generators

• generateRandomly(randomChance: number): mapGenerator<T>: Randomly places the unwalkable value across the map with a specified probability.
• generateCrawler(verticalCrawlCount: number, horizontalCrawlCount: number): mapGenerator<T>: Generates a path using a crawling algorithm.
• generateRecursively(startIndex: index, maxPathSize: number, shouldFillHoles: boolean): mapGenerator<T>: Recursively generates a path starting from a specified index.
• generateWilsons(startIndex: index, maxPathSize: number, possiblePathValue: T, shouldFillHoles: boolean): mapGenerator<T>: Generates a path using Wilson's algorithm.
• generatePrims(startIndex: index, maxPathSize: number, shouldFillHoles: boolean): mapGenerator<T>: Generates a path using Prim's algorithm.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! If you have ideas for improvements or new features, feel free to open an issue or submit a pull request. Please ensure that your contributions align with the project's goals and coding standards.

Steps to Contribute

1. Fork the Repository:

   • Click the "Fork" button at the top right of the repository page to create a copy of the repository under your GitHub account.

2. Clone Your Fork:

   • Clone your forked repository to your local machine using the following command:

     git clone https://github.com/J-M-Nichols/MapGenerator.git

3. Create a Branch:

   • Create a new branch for your feature or bug fix:

     git checkout -b feature-or-bugfix-name

4. Make Your Changes:

   • Implement your changes or new features in your local repository.

5. Test Your Changes:

   • Ensure that your changes are thoroughly tested and do not break existing functionality.

6. Commit Your Changes:

   • Commit your changes with a descriptive commit message:

     git commit -m "Description of changes"

7. Push to Your Fork:

   • Push your changes to your forked repository:

     git push origin feature-or-bugfix-name

8. Open a Pull Request:

   • Navigate to the original repository and click the "New Pull Request" button.
   • Select your branch and submit the pull request for review.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to all contributors and users who have helped improve this project.
• Special thanks to the developers of the algorithms and techniques used in this project.