ScrapComputers: Pre-V3 Update
We're back! After a bit of a break, we’re dropping a Pre-V3 update for ScrapComputers. It’s been a while since our last release, so we wanted to roll out some completed features and improvements ahead of the full V3 update.
Why a Pre-V3 Update?
It’s been quiet on the update front, infact too quiet. While we’ve been working on other projects, we've also accumulated some solid improvements and new features in the ScrapComputers repo. Rather than let them gather dust, we decided to ship pre-update. We’re not one of those dev teams that disappears after one good release.
We’re still here, and we’re still building.
What’s Been Going On?
Not a ton, if we’re being honest. Most of the real development happened in March and July, with a bit of downtime in between.
The good news? We’ve re-focused on ScrapComputers again, and the full V3 update is expected in the next 1–2 months but no promises though!
What’s Included in This Update?
Ban System Removed
The old ban system didn’t serve much purpose anymore, so we scrapped it.
Computer Optimizations & Bug Fixes
Various under-the-hood improvements and bug fixes should make the computer experience smoother and more stable.
Config System Upgrades
The configuration system is now more compatible with older world saves meaning that your worlds with ScrapComputers 1.0 should be still playable without error!
More HDD Storage
We’ve optimized the HDD which should let you store data in it, even though we don't expect you to have a HDD with 1 megabyte of data in it.
New: KWC Compression Library
Introducing KWC (Keyword Compression)
It's a custom string compression system that splits strings into two arrays: one for keywords and one for indexes. It’s lightweight and efficient.
Camera Color Cache Fix
Ben Bingo has fixed an issue with how the camera handles color caching. Say goodbye to weird visual bugs!
Display Optimizations & New Function
Touchscreen displays now run faster and smoother. We’ve also added a new drawWithPoints() function, which lets you draw filled
polygons using just points, powered by an earcut algorithm.
The points must be in either clockwise or counter-clockwise order. Hole support isn't included but maybe in the future!
ASCFManager Fixes
Fixed a few bugs with ASCFManager. While we considered a V2, the truth is it's already fast enough, turns out drawFilledTriangle
was the real slowdown.
We also attempted proper font rendering, and while it technically worked, it looked bad and performed worse. That idea’s shelved... for now. (Maybe when we have a hole system for drawWithPoints and drawFilledTriangle was faster)
About ScGui
So... about ScGui. I (VeraDev) may have over-promised here. Building a full GUI library is way harder than expected. While I don’t want to scrap the project, it might get shelved if progress stalls too much.
The Future of ScrapComputers
There’s still tons of untapped potential in ScrapComputers. We’re committed to keeping the mod alive and improving it, even if our release schedule has been a bit slow and communication sparse.
As long as motivation and discipline stay strong, ScrapComputers will keep evolving.
Website & Mod Translations
On translations for the website and mod... yeah. Not much has happened despite recruiting:
- 3 Russian translators
- 1 Romanian/Norwegian translator
At this point, we’re considering removing translation support entirely and making ScrapComputers English-only.
Even if progress has been slow, please do not harass translators. It’s never okay, and people volunteer their time.
Thanks for sticking with us. Big things are coming. Stay tuned for the full V3 update!