Interface Overview

Gamecraft is built on the proven foundation of Visual Studio Code, which means you'll find a familiar and powerful development environment.

If you've used VS Code before, you'll feel right at home. If you're new to VS Code, this guide will help you navigate the interface and discover the AI-powered enhancements that make Gamecraft special.

Main Interface Layout

The Gamecraft interface follows the classic VS Code layout with key AI enhancements:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Menu Bar (File, Edit, View, etc.)                               │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ┌─────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │
│ │         │ │                             │ │                 │ │
│ │ Primary │ │                             │ │   Gamecraft     │ │
│ │ Sidebar │ │      Editor Groups          │ │   AI Agent      │ │
│ │         │ │                             │ │   Sidebar       │ │
│ │         │ │                             │ │                 │ │
│ └─────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Status Bar                                                      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Core Interface Components

Menu Bar

Located at the top of the window, the menu bar provides access to:

  • File: Project management, opening files, and preferences

  • Edit: Text editing commands and find/replace

  • Selection: Add to or modify the currently selected text

  • View: Interface layout options and panel toggles

  • Go: Navigation commands and symbol jumping

  • Run: Debugging and testing commands

  • Terminal: Built-in terminal access

  • Window: Minimize, zoom, or otherwise modify the IDE window

  • Help: Documentation and support resources

Primary Sidebar (Left)

The left sidebar contains the standard VS Code panels:

Explorer Panel 📁

  • File tree of your Unity project

  • Open editors list showing currently opened files

  • Outline view displaying code structure

  • Timeline for file history and version control

Search Panel 🔍

  • Global search across your entire project

  • Find and replace with regex support

  • Search results with context and navigation

Source Control Panel 🌲

  • Git integration for version control

  • Changes overview showing modified files

  • Commit history and branch management

  • Merge conflict resolution

Run and Debug Panel ▶️

  • Debug configurations for Unity projects

  • Breakpoint management

  • Variable inspection during debugging

  • Call stack and debug console

Extensions Panel 🧩

  • Installed extensions management

  • Extension marketplace access

  • Extension settings and configuration

Testing Panel 🧪

  • Run tests within your repo

  • View test results for past test runs

  • Jump to specific tests in the repo

Editor Groups (Center)

The main workspace where you write and edit code:

Tabbed Interface

  • Multiple files can be open simultaneously

  • Split editors for side-by-side editing

  • Tab groups for organizing related files

  • Preview mode for quick file browsing

Code Editor Features

  • IntelliSense with autocomplete and error detection

  • Code folding to collapse sections

  • Minimap for quick navigation

Unity-Specific Features

  • Custom Unity format for optimized Unity scene and prefab editing

  • Syntax highlighting for C#, Unity scripts, scenes, and prefabs

  • Unity file types (.cs, .shader, .compute) are fully supported

  • Unity API IntelliSense with documentation

  • Asset references are highlighted and navigable

Gamecraft AI Agent Sidebar (Right) 🤖

The standout feature of Gamecraft is the AI Agent Sidebar located on the right side of the interface. This is where the magic happens!

AI Chat Interface

  • Conversational AI that understands Unity development

  • Context-aware responses based on your current project and files

  • Natural language queries - ask questions or suggest improvements in plain English

  • Code generation directly from written descriptions

  • Real-time assistance as you develop

Key AI Features

Code Generation

Ask the AI to create code for you:

  • "Create a player controller for a 2D platformer"

  • "Generate a simple inventory system"

  • "Write a script to rotate this object smoothly"

Code Explanation

Get help understanding existing code:

  • "What does this script do?"

  • "Explain this function to me"

  • "How does this coroutine work?"

Problem Solving

Get assistance with development challenges:

  • "Why isn't my player jumping correctly?"

  • "How can I optimize this script's performance?"

  • "What's the best way to handle player input?"

Unity-Specific Help

Leverage AI knowledge of Unity best practices:

  • "Tell me how to use Unity's new Input System"

  • "What's the difference between Update and FixedUpdate in Unity?"

  • "How do I create a custom editor script?"

AI Panel Controls

  • Tasks - View past tasks or create a new task for the AI agent to complete

  • Chat history - Scroll through previous tasks and conversations

  • Settings gear - Configure AI behavior and preferences

Panel Management

Resizing Panels

  • Drag panel borders to resize any section

  • Double-click borders to auto-size panels

  • Collapse panels by clicking their headers

  • Full-screen editor with F11 or View menu

Customizing Layout

  • View menu provides toggle options for all panels

  • Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) for quick access

  • Keyboard shortcuts for common panel operations

  • Zen Mode (Ctrl+K Z / Cmd+K Z) for distraction-free coding

Workspace Preferences

Access through File > Preferences > Settings (Windows) or Code > Preferences > Settings (Mac):

  • Editor settings (font size, theme, etc.)

  • Keyboard shortcuts customization

Status Bar

Located at the bottom, the status bar shows:

  • Current file encoding and line endings

  • Git branch and repository status

  • Language mode (C#, JSON, etc.)

  • Line and column position in current file

  • Selection information and character count

  • Background tasks and progress indicators

Command Palette

The Command Palette is your gateway to all IDE functionality:

  • Access: Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac)

  • Quick actions: Type to find any command

  • Gamecraft commands: All AI features are accessible here

  • File navigation: Quickly open any file with Ctrl+P / Cmd+P

Navigation Tips

Quick File Access

  • Go to File: Ctrl+P / Cmd+P - Type filename to open

  • Go to Symbol: Ctrl+Shift+O / Cmd+Shift+O - Jump to functions/classes

  • Go to Line: Ctrl+G / Cmd+G - Jump to specific line number

  • Recent files: Ctrl+R / Cmd+R - Access recently opened files

Code Navigation

  • Go to Definition: F12 - Jump to where a symbol is defined

  • Peek Definition: Alt+F12 - Preview definition without leaving current file

  • Find References: Shift+F12 - See all usages of a symbol

  • Back/Forward: Alt+Left/Right - Navigate through code history

Multi-cursor Editing

  • Add cursor: Alt+Click - Add additional cursors

  • Select next occurrence: Ctrl+D / Cmd+D - Select next instance of current word

  • Select all occurrences: Ctrl+Shift+L / Cmd+Shift+L - Select all instances

Themes and Customization

Gamecraft inherits VS Code's extensive customization options:

Color Themes

  • Access: File > Preferences > Color Theme

  • Popular options: Dark+, Light+, Monokai, Solarized

Icon Themes

  • File icons for better visual organization

  • Folder icons to distinguish project areas

Getting Started Tips

  1. Explore the AI Agent - Start with simple questions to get comfortable

  2. Use the Command Palette - It's the fastest way to access any feature

  3. Customize your layout - Arrange panels to match your workflow

  4. Learn keyboard shortcuts - They'll significantly speed up your development

  5. Try split editors - Work on multiple files simultaneously

Next Steps

Now that you understand the interface, dive deeper into Gamecraft's capabilities:

  1. Gamecraft Agent Overview - Master your AI development assistant

  2. Unity Tilde Files - Learn about Gamecraft's custom Unity format for improved AI integration

  3. Your First Task - Start your first AI-assisted coding session

Ready to code with AI assistance? Your powerful development environment awaits! 🚀

PreviousProject Setup GuideNextGamecraft Agent Overview

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