# LDtk Rust Library
[](https://crates.io/crates/ldtk_rust)
[](https://docs.rs/ldtk_rust)
ldtk_rust enables access to [LDtk](https://ldtk.io) data for use in Rust.
LDtk is a 2D level editor for games that supports multiple tile layers, powerful
auto-tiling rules, entity placement and more.
## Status
This library works with LDtk version `0.8.1` and supports the optional external
level files. LDtk updates save files automatically, so there's no reason to be
on an older version, but if you are (or if you get a new version before this
crate is updated) you can follow the [process below](#using-other-versions-of-ldtk-older-or-newer) to
generate code against whatever LDtk version you want to use.
## Getting Started
Calling the new() method on the LdtkFile struct with the path to a LDtk file will
populate a struct that closely resembles the [LDtk JSON format](https://ldtk.io/json/).
```rust
use ldtk_rust::Project;
fn main() {
let file_path = "assets/test_game.ldtk".to_string();
let ldtk = Project::new(file_path);
println!("First level pixel height is {}!", ldtk.levels[0].px_hei);
}
```
Your editor's auto-complete should help you visualize your options, or you can generate
API docs with "cargo doc --open" or view them [here](https://docs.rs/ldtk_rust/).
## Run the Examples
You can run the programs in the example folder using cargo:
```bash
> cargo run --example basic
```
Example dependencies do not load when compiling the library for production.
## Using in a Real Game
An example running in [Bevy Engine](https://bevyengine.org/) is included in the
[examples](examples/) directory. There are lots of comments, and the focus of
the example is on the process, not the Bevy-specific code. If you
are using another game engine the example will hopefully still be understandable
and useful.
## Using Other Versions of LDtk (older or newer)
LDtk includes a [JSON schema](https://github.com/deepnight/ldtk/blob/master/docs/JSON_SCHEMA.json)
that can be used to auto-generate RUST code to unmarshal the JSON. Alls you do is:
1. Clone this project
2. Check the [/src](https://github.com/estivate/ldtk_rust/tree/master/src)
subdirectory to see if there is already auto-generated code for the version you
want to use. If so, skip to #7 below. If not, you're going to create a new file
for the version you want to use.
3. Copy the version of the Schema file from the [LDtk Github](https://github.com/deepnight/ldtk)
that corresponds to your version and paste it into the [quicktype web tool](https://quicktype.io/).
The Schema is in the `docs/` directory.
3. On the left, set the "name" to "Project" and the "Source type" to "JSON Schema"
4. On the right choose the Rust language and set field visibility to "Public".
5. Save the resulting file to the /src subdirectory of this project
6. Change the serde import line near the top of the file to "use serde::*". You
can view the other `.rs` version files to see this.
7. Change the `mod` and `pub use` lines at the top of `lib.rs` (in the same
directory you're working in already) to include your new file instead.
You'll need to adjust your Carto.toml file to use your project instead of this
one (or contribute your change back here).
At this point you can look at `lib.rs` and decide if you really even want this
project wrapping the autogenerated code, or if you want to just include it
in your own project. As LDtk nears 1.0 the JSON Schema is getting better and
using this process has become easier.
## Implementation Details
* Use `Project::new()` to load all data, including any external level data. Use
this if you want to load all your data at startup and you don't want to worry about
whether level data is in separate files.
* If you want to load one level at a time, see `examples/single_level.rs`. Essentially
you will call `Project::load_project()` followed by `Level::new()` as you load each
level.
* The JSON deserialization is handled by serde using Rust code that is auto-generated
from the LDtk JSON schema. In general this code matches the LDtk
[documentation](https://ldtk.io/json/) except CamelCase names preferred in JSON
are changed to snake_case names preferred in Rust. JSON types of String, Int and Float
become Rust types of String, i64 and f64.
* Fields that allow null values are wrapped in a Rust `Option<T>`
## Other Options
* [ldtk-rs](https://github.com/katharostech/LDtk-rs) auto generates the entire
crate from the JSON schema specified.
* The LDtk project publishes [QuickType loaders](https://ldtk.io/api/) for a
variety of languages. These are auto generated, so they might need adjusting a bit.
Last time I tested the Rust version, I needed to tweak the serde line at the top.