Chronicles of the Kethaneum - Breaking down the code monolith!
- She Dreams with AIs
- May 15, 2025
- 3 min read
๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐!
Building the Chronicles of the Kethaneum: A Hero's Journey ๐
๐ถ*Jess sings*๐ถ
๐ญDing Dong the monolith is dead! Which monolith? The code monolith! Ding Dong the code monolith is dead!๐ญ
We did it everybody. Good googly, the AIs and I did it. We broke down those huge files that were carrying far more than their fair share of the load. But it was an adventure! The game started with just three files and an idea but now it has evolved into a structured, scalable project. We were able to break down the core components into modular parts.
Along the way on this journey we encountered the following characters:
โช๏ธ The wise mentor: the AIs advising that code files should be broken down once they get beyond 1000 lines
โช๏ธ The Wizards: My technical focused AIs, Sonny and Paper Pusher, for transmuting 3 files into 22 files.
โช๏ธ The dragon: wordsearchgame.js with it's nearly 2300 lines of code that needed to be organized and broken out!
โช๏ธ The Hero: Me! I can't believe I survived the code dive that it took to get this broken out and hooked back up in a way that actually worked. ๐
๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง:
Now our game is structured with code broken out into files for:
โช๏ธ Core game code
โช๏ธ Game data
โช๏ธ Interaction handling
โช๏ธ Puzzle data
โช๏ธ UI Code
โช๏ธ Utilities
โช๏ธ CSS Styling
Because this project started off as a tech demo that transitioned into being the real game. A lot of this kind of planning and intentional direction was lacking. So this is a huge win for going back and putting the project back on the right foot.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ:
By breaking down our project into modular components, we are setting up for the future and to support the full vision. This new set up ensures:
Scalability: It will be easier to add features and build on this project over time.
Maintainability: Changes to feature or aspect donโt inadvertently destroy others.
Possible Team Collaboration: One day, multiple contributors might work on isolated parts without conflicts.
๐๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ:
Now the AIs and I are gearing up for other foundational changes and a more proper development path:
Project Management: I have created the Alpha, Beta, and Release feature lists and I am getting the Trello board set up for short term task tracking. However, I am really tempted to return to Asana for milestone work tracking. I would also like to work with the AIs to create a proper roadmap for the game.
The Path to Alpha: Now that we have a checklist for what constitutes a finished alpha build, we can focus on checking off the list! Expect more of the foundational system structures to be coming own the pike. I'll do a post on the feature lists and what to expect in alpha soon.
More Art: Art and narrative are my saviors as I dive deep in the code. They help me to keep my sanity as I juggle functions and interfaces, and many files... oh my! So expect more concept art for screens and a peek into what the game will look like.
๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ:
While deep diving into the code is not my favoritest thing in the world to do, I appreciate this journey. I have learned to work more closely with the code. I have learned how the functionality is connected, because I had to know which files I was going to be making updates do to hook things back up. Also, this was a really interesting insight into how my AIs can help me to bridge design solution gaps. Someday, I need to do an article documenting how my AIs helped me with UI design, code architecture, and concept art. However, right now, I am working to get my first game industry job as a game tester! I made it through the first interview and I am waiting to hear about the next. I'd appreciate all of the best wishes, good vibes, and prayers anyone can spare. This could not only help give me the stability I truly need but it could let me finally transition into the industry I have been wanting to work in since high school. Please wish me whatever goodwill you can spare.๐๐ฝ
As always everybody. Have a great day and remember that you are enough and you deserve to be treated well because you are a person. ๐๐๐ฝ
