# AeThex Engine Customization Plan

## 🎯 Mission: Transform Godot → AeThex

This document outlines all changes needed to rebrand and customize the engine.

---

## Phase 1: Basic Branding (Quick Wins - 1-2 hours)

### 1.1 Engine Identity (`engine/version.py`)
**Current:**
```python
short_name = "godot"
name = "Godot Engine"
website = "https://godotengine.org"
```

**Change to:**
```python
short_name = "aethex"
name = "AeThex Engine"
website = "https://aethex.io"  # or your domain
```

**Impact:** Changes all version strings, window titles, splash screens

---

### 1.2 Visual Branding (Logo & Icons)
**Files to replace:**
```
engine/icon.svg           → AeThex editor icon
engine/icon.png           → PNG version
engine/logo.svg           → Main logo
engine/logo.png           → PNG version
engine/icon_outlined.svg  → Outlined variant
engine/logo_outlined.svg  → Outlined logo variant
```

**Required:** Create AeThex logos in SVG format (scalable)
**Tool:** Use Inkscape, Figma, or AI generation

**Specs:**
- Icon: 256x256px, simple, recognizable
- Logo: Horizontal layout, clean typography
- Colors: Choose brand palette (2-3 colors)

---

### 1.3 About Dialog (`engine/editor/gui/editor_about.cpp`)

**Line 57-59, Change:**
```cpp
String(U"© 2014-present ") + TTR("Godot Engine contributors") + ".\n" +
String(U"© 2007-2014 Juan Linietsky, Ariel Manzur.\n")
```

**To:**
```cpp
String(U"© 2026-present AeThex Labs.\n") +
String(U"Powered by Godot Engine (MIT License)\n") +
String(U"© 2014-present Godot Engine contributors.\n")
```

**Why:** Legal requirement - acknowledge Godot's MIT license

---

### 1.4 Splash Screen (`engine/editor/splash.cpp` - if exists)
- Replace splash image with AeThex branding
- Update loading text
- Customize colors

---

## Phase 2: Deep Customization (Week 1-2)

### 2.1 User Interface Theme

**Files to modify:**
```
engine/editor/themes/editor_theme_manager.cpp
engine/editor/editor_themes.cpp
```

**Changes:**
- Custom color scheme (brand colors)
- Font changes (if desired)
- Icon theme (replace Godot icons with AeThex icons)
- Corner radius, borders, shadows

**Strategy:** Create "AeThex Theme" as default

---

### 2.2 Default Settings

**File:** `engine/editor/editor_settings.cpp`

**Custom defaults:**
```cpp
// Add AeThex default settings
EDITOR_SETTING(Variant::STRING, PROPERTY_HINT_NONE, "network/cloud_api_url", 
    "https://api.aethex.io", "")
EDITOR_SETTING(Variant::BOOL, PROPERTY_HINT_NONE, "aethex/enable_ai_assist", 
    true, "")
EDITOR_SETTING(Variant::STRING, PROPERTY_HINT_NONE, "aethex/theme", 
    "aethex_dark", "")
```

---

### 2.3 Welcome Screen

**File:** `engine/editor/project_manager.cpp`

**Add:**
- AeThex getting started content
- Links to AeThex docs/tutorials
- Featured templates
- "Create with AI" button (future)

---

### 2.4 Menu Items

**File:** `engine/editor/editor_node.cpp`

**Add custom menus:**
```
Menu Bar → "AeThex"
  ├─ Cloud Services
  ├─ AI Assistant
  ├─ Marketplace
  ├─ Documentation
  └─ Community
```

---

## Phase 3: Unique Features (Month 1-3)

### 3.1 AI Integration Module

**Create:** `engine/modules/aethex_ai/`

**Features:**
- Code completion via Claude API
- Asset generation
- Bug detection
- Documentation generation

**Files:**
```
modules/aethex_ai/
├─ SCsub
├─ config.py
├─ register_types.h/cpp
├─ ai_assistant.h/cpp
└─ ai_api_client.h/cpp
```

---

### 3.2 Cloud Services Module

**Create:** `engine/modules/aethex_cloud/`

**Features:**
- User authentication
- Cloud saves
- Multiplayer backend
- Analytics
- Asset delivery

**Backend:** Separate service (Rust/Go/Node.js)

---

### 3.3 Enhanced Asset Pipeline

**Modify:** `engine/editor/import/`

**Add:**
- AI-powered texture optimization
- Automatic LOD generation
- Smart compression
- Asset tagging and search

---

### 3.4 Collaborative Editing

**Create:** `engine/modules/aethex_collab/`

**Features:**
- Real-time scene editing (multiple users)
- Change tracking
- Conflict resolution
- Chat/voice integration

---

## Phase 4: Platform & Export (Month 3-6)

### 4.1 Custom Export Templates

**Modify:** `engine/platform/*/export/`

**Add:**
- AeThex branding in exported games
- Analytics SDK integration
- Crash reporting
- Auto-update system

---

### 4.2 Web Export Enhancements

**Target:** Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
- Service worker integration
- Offline support
- App manifest
- Install prompts

---

## Phase 5: Ecosystem (Month 6-12)

### 5.1 Asset Marketplace Integration
- Browse and download from editor
- One-click import
- License management
- Revenue sharing system

### 5.2 Template Library
- Game templates (RPG, Platformer, FPS)
- UI kits
- Shader packs
- Tool presets

### 5.3 Plugin System Extensions
- Enhanced plugin API
- Plugin marketplace
- Auto-updates for plugins
- Sandboxed execution

---

## Phase 6: AeThex Lang Integration ✅ COMPLETED

### 6.1 Cross-Platform Scripting Language

**Created:** `engine/modules/aethex_lang/`

AeThex Lang is a unified scripting language that compiles to multiple game engines:
- **Roblox** (Luau)
- **UEFN/Fortnite** (Verse)
- **Unity** (C#)
- **Web** (JavaScript)
- **AeThex Engine** (Native VM)

**Module Structure:**
```
modules/aethex_lang/
├── config.py              # Module configuration
├── SCsub                  # Build script
├── register_types.h/cpp   # Module registration
├── aethex_script.h/cpp    # Script resource class
├── aethex_tokenizer.h/cpp # Lexer
├── aethex_parser.h/cpp    # AST parser
├── aethex_compiler.h/cpp  # Cross-platform compiler
├── aethex_vm.h/cpp        # Bytecode virtual machine
├── editor/
│   └── aethex_highlighter.h/cpp  # Syntax highlighting
├── export/
│   └── aethex_exporter.h/cpp     # Cross-platform export
└── examples/
    └── cross_platform_player.aethex
```

### 6.2 Language Features

**AeThex-specific keywords:**
- `reality` - Module definition (replaces "namespace")
- `journey` - Function that works across platforms
- `beacon` - Signal/event declaration
- `artifact` - Class definition
- `notify` - Console output
- `reveal` - Return statement
- `sync across` - Cross-platform data sync
- `when/otherwise` - Conditionals
- `traverse` - For-each loop

### 6.3 Export Targets (All Working!)

| Target | Output File | Description |
|--------|-------------|-------------|
| Roblox | `.lua` | Luau scripts + .rbxlx project |
| UEFN | `.verse` | Verse code for Fortnite Creative |
| Unity | `.cs` | C# MonoBehaviour scripts |
| Web | `.js` | JavaScript ES6 modules |

### 6.4 Integration Points

- **AeThex Studio**: Templates use AeThex Lang
- **AeThex Forge**: Marketplace assets include .aethex scripts
- **AeThex Launcher**: Build and deploy to all platforms

**See:** `docs/AETHEX_LANG_INTEGRATION.md` for full documentation.

---

## Code Search & Replace Guide

### Global Text Replacements (Be Careful!)

**After testing, use find/replace:**
```bash
# Find all "Godot" references (case sensitive)
grep -r "Godot" engine/ --include="*.cpp" --include="*.h" | wc -l

# Don't blindly replace - many are in licenses/comments!
```

**Safe to replace:**
- UI strings (after TTR() translation markers)
- Window titles
- Default project names
- Documentation links

**DON'T replace:**
- License text
- Third-party library references
- Code identifiers (class names, etc.)

---

## Testing Strategy

### After Each Phase:
1. **Compile test** - Does it build?
2. **Smoke test** - Does editor launch?
3. **Feature test** - Does functionality work?
4. **Visual test** - Does branding look right?
5. **Regression test** - Did we break anything?

### Test Projects:
- 2D platformer
- 3D first-person
- UI-heavy application
- Multiplayer game

---

## Rebranding Checklist

- [ ] `version.py` - Engine name and version
- [ ] Logo files (SVG + PNG)
- [ ] About dialog copyright
- [ ] Splash screen
- [ ] Editor theme colors
- [ ] Default project templates
- [ ] Documentation URLs
- [ ] Community links
- [ ] Export templates branding
- [ ] Installer/package names
- [ ] Binary names (godot → aethex)
- [ ] GitHub repo links
- [ ] Bug report URLs

---

## Legal Considerations

### Must Keep:
✅ Godot MIT license in source files
✅ Attribution to original authors
✅ Third-party library licenses
✅ "Powered by Godot Engine" mention

### You Can Add:
✅ Your own copyright for modifications
✅ Additional licenses for your code
✅ Trademark for "AeThex" name
✅ Proprietary extensions (closed-source)

---

## Build Configuration

### Custom Build Flags
**Add to:** `engine/SConstruct`

```python
# AeThex-specific build options
opts.Add(BoolVariable("aethex_cloud", "Enable AeThex Cloud features", True))
opts.Add(BoolVariable("aethex_ai", "Enable AI Assistant", True))
opts.Add(BoolVariable("aethex_telemetry", "Enable telemetry", False))
```

---

## Documentation to Update

1. **README.md** - Project description
2. **CONTRIBUTING.md** - Contribution guidelines
3. **Building docs** - Custom build instructions
4. **API docs** - AeThex-specific APIs
5. **Tutorials** - Getting started guides

---

## Priority Order (Solo Developer)

### Week 1: Foundation ⭐⭐⭐
- [ ] Change version.py
- [ ] Create basic logo (even temporary)
- [ ] Update about dialog
- [ ] Test build

### Week 2-3: Make it Yours ⭐⭐
- [ ] Custom theme/colors
- [ ] Update all branding text
- [ ] Polish UI
- [ ] First unique feature (pick easiest)

### Month 2-3: First Unique Value ⭐
- [ ] AI assistant OR cloud sync (pick one)
- [ ] Enhanced export
- [ ] Better onboarding

### Month 4-6: Ecosystem
- [ ] Plugin marketplace
- [ ] Templates
- [ ] Documentation site
- [ ] Community tools

---

## Next Steps

1. **Review this plan** - What excites you most?
2. **Choose Phase 1 task** - Start with version.py?
3. **Create AeThex logo** - Use AI to generate?
4. **Make first edit** - Change the engine name!

Ready to start making changes? Tell me which task to tackle first! 🚀