deepnight/ldtk
Ldtk
LDTK is a visual 2D level editor used for designing game worlds, layouts, and entities. It focuses on transforming visual map designs into structured JSON files for integration into game engines, while providing utilities to export level data into the Tiled TMX format for external compatibility.
The tool integrates directly with Aseprite, allowing source artwork to be linked to the editor so that visuals update in real time as external image files are saved. It also features automated tile rendering that applies visual skinning rules based on predefined configurations to manage map aesthetics.
The editor includes systems for defining customizable game entities with typed properties, managing world layouts and transitions, and maintaining automatic project state backups to recover unsaved work. It provides schema-driven code generation to create strongly typed data structures from JSON schemas, ensuring consistent data imports across different programming environments.
Features
- 2D Level Design - Provides a visual editor for constructing two-dimensional game environments using grids and tiles.
- Level Data Serialization - Transforms visual map designs into structured JSON files specifically designed for integration into game engines.
- JSON Exports - Generates JSON representations of level design and metadata for consumption by game engines.
- JSON Serializers - Transforms world layouts and entity data into structured JSON files for game engine consumption.
- Art Asset Integrations - Provides a real-time integration with Aseprite to ensure visual level data stays synchronized with source artwork files.
- Entity Definitions - Provides a system for defining customizable game objects with typed properties and specific behaviors.
- Coordinate-Based Entities - Tracks game objects as typed entities positioned within a global 2D coordinate system.
- Level Editors - Provides a visual tool for designing game worlds, layouts, and entities with automated tile rendering.
- World Layouts - Arranges levels in grid-based, linear, or free-form layouts and manages transitions between them.
- Automated Tile Transitions - Automates map aesthetics by applying visual skinning rules to tiles based on adjacency configurations.
- Hot Reloading - Updates visual level representations in real time by watching for changes in linked Aseprite image files.
- External Art Tool Sync - Links source artwork directly to the editor to update visuals in real time as image files are saved.
- Auto-Tiling Systems - Implements logic that automatically selects tile frames based on adjacent tiles for seamless terrain aesthetics.
- TMX Map Exports - Transforms custom level data into the Tiled TMX file format for compatibility with external map readers.
- External Art Integrations - Integrates directly with Aseprite to update level visuals in real time as source images are saved.
- Game Engine Development - Modern and efficient 2D level editor.
