PyCity

🛠️ Compiling PyCity Natively on Windows

PyCity is written in C/C++ using the ultra-lightweight Raylib graphics library. To keep things fast and transparent, the game features a native Windows Master Builder script (build.bat).

You can build modern 64-bit production builds or legacy 32-bit compatibility builds directly on your PC without installing massive IDEs, heavy development tools, or Linux emulation layers.

📋 1. Prerequisites (Get the Compilers)

The build script relies on a portable C/C++ toolchain called w64devkit. Because it cuts out unnecessary bloat, you must grab the individual architecture files for the builds you want to make:

Head to the official compiler archive: https://github.com/skeeto/w64devkit/releases
Download the 64-bit toolchain (w64devkit-x64-X.X.X.zip) for the main 64-bit executable.
Download the 32-bit toolchain (w64devkit-x86-X.X.X.zip) if you want to build the legacy 32-bit compatibility version.
Unzip them somewhere safe on your storage drive (e.g., C:\w64devkit and C:\w32devkit).

⚙️ 2. The First-Time Setup Wizard

When you double-click the build.bat script for the first time, it automatically detects that no settings exist and launches the Path Configuration Wizard:

Open your extracted PyCity folder and launch build.bat.
The terminal will ask you to enter the absolute path to your compiler bin directories.
Do not include quotation marks. Paste the direct paths to the folders containing gcc.exe and make.exe:
- 64-bit Prompt: e.g., C:\w64devkit\bin
- 32-bit Prompt: e.g., C:\w32devkit\bin
Press Enter. The batch script will clean any trailing whitespaces, format the options, and save them into a permanent local file named config.ini.

🔨 3. Operating the Master Builder Suite

Once your configuration paths are saved, the main builder menu will load. Choose your target compilation mode:

1 - x64 Production Build: Sets the path to your 64-bit compiler, hooks into the raylib64/src folder, and uses make to compile the standard 64-bit version (pycity-win64.exe).
2 - x86 Legacy Compatibility Build: Temporarily changes your active system execution path to your 32-bit compiler, maps out the raylib32/src folder, and outputs the 32-bit version (pycity-win32.exe).
3 - Build Both Architectures (Simultaneously): Spawns two independent, parallel background threads (start /b cmd /c). This fires off both the 64-bit and 32-bit compiler engines at the exact same moment to save time.

🔄 How to Reset Configuration Paths

If you ever move your compiler directories, move your project folders, or type a path incorrectly during the first setup:

Launch build.bat to pull up the menu interface.
Press r to choose “Reset Configuration Paths”.
The script will wipe out your local config.ini file and immediately loop you back into the step-by-step setup wizard to put in fresh paths.