acdream/CLAUDE.md

# acdream — project instructions for Claude

## Goal

Build **acdream**, a modern open-source C# .NET 10 Asheron's Call client.
A faithful port of the retail AC client's behavior to modern C# + Silk.NET,
with a plugin API the original never had.

**The code is modern. The behavior is retail.**

Every AC-specific algorithm is ported from the **named retail decomp**
at `docs/research/named-retail/` — Sept 2013 EoR build PDB (18,366
named functions, 5,371 named struct/class types) + Binary Ninja
pseudo-C with 99.6% function-name recovery + verbatim retail header
struct definitions. The older Ghidra `FUN_xxx` chunks under
`docs/research/decompiled/` (22,225 functions, 688K lines) remain a
fallback for chunk-by-chunk address-range navigation. **Grep
`named-retail/acclient_2013_pseudo_c.txt` by `class::method` BEFORE
decompiling fresh.** The code around those algorithms is modern C#
with clean architecture. The plugin API exposes game state through
well-defined interfaces.

**Architecture:** `docs/architecture/acdream-architecture.md` is the
single source of truth for how the client is structured. All work must
align with this document. When the architecture doc and reality diverge,
update one or the other — never leave them out of sync.

**WorldBuilder is acdream's rendering + dat-handling base, integrated
as of Phase N.4 ship (2026-05-08).** WB's `ObjectMeshManager` is the
production mesh pipeline; `WbMeshAdapter` is the seam; `WbDrawDispatcher`
is the production draw path (default-on, see `WbFoundationFlag`). Before
re-implementing any AC-specific rendering or dat-handling algorithm,
**read `docs/architecture/worldbuilder-inventory.md` FIRST**. If
WorldBuilder has it, port from WorldBuilder (or call into our fork via
the adapter), not from retail decomp. WorldBuilder is MIT-licensed,
verified to render the world correctly, and uses the same Silk.NET
stack we target. Re-porting from retail decomp when WB already has a
tested port is how subtle bugs (the scenery edge-vertex bug, the
triangle-Z bug) keep slipping in. Retail decomp remains the oracle for
network, physics, animation, movement, UI, plugin, audio, chat — see
the inventory doc's 🔴 list for the full scope of "we still write this
ourselves".

**WB integration cribs:**
- `src/AcDream.App/Rendering/Wb/WbMeshAdapter.cs` — single seam over WB's
  `ObjectMeshManager`. Owns the WB pipeline, drains its staged-upload
  queue per frame via `Tick()`, populates `AcSurfaceMetadataTable` with
  per-batch translucency / luminosity / fog metadata.
- `src/AcDream.App/Rendering/Wb/WbDrawDispatcher.cs` — production draw
  path. Groups all visible (entity, batch) pairs, single-uploads the
  matrix buffer, fires one `glDrawElementsInstancedBaseVertexBaseInstance`
  per group with `BaseInstance` pointing at the slice. Per-entity
  frustum cull, opaque front-to-back sort, palette-hash memoization.
- `src/AcDream.App/Rendering/Wb/LandblockSpawnAdapter.cs` /
  `EntitySpawnAdapter.cs` — bridge spawn lifecycle to WB ref-counts.
  Atlas tier (procedural) goes via Landblock; per-instance tier
  (server-spawned, palette/texture overrides) goes via Entity.
- **Modern path is mandatory as of N.5 ship amendment (2026-05-08).**
  `WbFoundationFlag`, `InstancedMeshRenderer`, and `StaticMeshRenderer`
  are deleted. Missing `GL_ARB_bindless_texture` or
  `GL_ARB_shader_draw_parameters` throws `NotSupportedException` at
  startup. There is no legacy fallback.
- **WB's modern rendering path** (GL 4.3 + bindless) packs every mesh
  into a single global VAO/VBO/IBO. Each batch references its slice
  via `FirstIndex` (offset into IBO) + `BaseVertex` (offset into VBO).
  Honor those offsets when issuing draws — `DrawElementsInstanced`
  with `indices=0` will draw every entity's first triangle from the
  global mesh, not the per-batch range. (This is exactly the
  exploded-character bug we hit during Task 26.)
- **WB's `ObjectRenderBatch.SurfaceId` is unset** — the actual surface
  id lives in `batch.Key.SurfaceId` (the `TextureKey` struct).
- **`ObjectMeshManager.IncrementRefCount` only bumps a counter** — it
  does NOT trigger mesh loading. You must explicitly call
  `PrepareMeshDataAsync(id, isSetup)` to fire the background decode.
  Result auto-enqueues to `_stagedMeshData` which `Tick()` drains.
  `WbMeshAdapter` does this for you on first registration.
- **N.5 modern dispatch** (`docs/superpowers/specs/2026-05-08-phase-n5-modern-rendering-design.md`)
  uses bindless textures + multi-draw indirect on top of N.4's grouped
  pipeline. Per frame: three SSBO uploads (`_instanceSsbo` mat4 per
  instance @ binding=0; `_batchSsbo` `(uvec2 textureHandle, uint layer,
  uint flags)` per group @ binding=1; `_indirectBuffer`
  `DrawElementsIndirectCommand[]` opaque-section + transparent-section).
  Two `glMultiDrawElementsIndirect` calls per frame, one per pass.
  Total ~12-15 GL calls per frame for entity rendering regardless of
  scene complexity.
- **`TextureCache` requires `BindlessSupport`** for the WB modern path.
  Three `Bindless`-suffixed `GetOrUpload*` methods return 64-bit handles
  made resident at upload time, backed by parallel Texture2DArray uploads
  (`UploadRgba8AsLayer1Array`). The legacy `uint`-returning methods stay
  for Sky / Terrain / Debug / particle paths that still sample via
  `sampler2D`. After N.6 retires legacy renderers, the legacy upload path
  + caches can be deleted.
- **Translucency model is two-pass alpha-test** (matches WB), not
  per-blend-mode subpasses. Opaque pass discards `α<0.95`; transparent
  pass discards `α≥0.95` AND `α<0.05`. Native `Additive` blend renders
  as alpha-blend on GfxObj surfaces — falsifiable; if a magic-content
  regression shows up, add a third indirect call with
  `glBlendFunc(SrcAlpha, One)` per spec §6 fallback (~30 min change).
- **Per-instance highlight (selection blink) is reserved.** `mesh_modern.vert`'s
  `InstanceData` struct has a documented hook for `vec4 highlightColor`
  — Phase B.4 follow-up adds the field + plumbs server-side selection
  state. Stride grows from 64 → 80 bytes when added; shader updates
  trivially (read the field from `Instances[instanceIndex]` + mix into
  fragment color).

**Execution phases:** R1→R8 in the architecture doc. Each phase has clear
goals, test criteria, and builds on the previous. Don't skip phases.

The codebase is organized by layer (see architecture doc). Current phase
state lives in memory (`memory/project_*.md`), plans in `docs/plans/`,
research in `docs/research/`.

**UI strategy:** three-layer split — swappable backend (ImGui.NET +
`Silk.NET.OpenGL.Extensions.ImGui` for Phase D.2a, custom retail-look
toolkit for D.2b later) / stable `AcDream.UI.Abstractions` layer
(ViewModels + Commands + `IPanel` / `IPanelRenderer`) / unchanged game
state. **As of Phase I (2026-04-25), ImGui hosts every dev/debug
panel** — Vitals, Chat, Debug. The previous custom-StbTrueTypeSharp
`DebugOverlay` was deleted in I.2; `TextRenderer` + `BitmapFont` are
kept alive specifically for the future world-space HUD (D.6 — damage
floaters, name plates) where ImGui can't reach into the 3D scene.
D.2b remains the long-term retail-look path (panels reskinned one at a
time using dat assets); ImGui persists forever as the
`ACDREAM_DEVTOOLS=1` overlay. **All plugin-facing UI targets
`AcDream.UI.Abstractions` — never import a backend namespace from a
panel.** Full design: `docs/plans/2026-04-24-ui-framework.md`.
Memory cribs: `memory/project_ui_architecture.md` (architecture),
`memory/project_chat_pipeline.md` (chat pipeline as of Phase I),
`memory/project_input_pipeline.md` (input pipeline as of Phase K).

**Input pipeline:** `src/AcDream.UI.Abstractions/Input/` (action enum,
`KeyChord`, `KeyBindings`, multicast `InputDispatcher` with scope
stack + modal capture for rebind UX) + `src/AcDream.App/Input/`
(Silk.NET adapters). Retail-default keymap loaded from
`%LOCALAPPDATA%\acdream\keybinds.json` at startup (falls back to
`KeyBindings.RetailDefaults()` matching
`docs/research/named-retail/retail-default.keymap.txt`). The Settings
panel (F11 / View → Settings) lets users remap any action via
click-to-rebind. As of Phase K (2026-04-26), ALL keyboard / mouse
input flows through the dispatcher — no IsKeyPressed polling outside
the per-frame movement queries.

## How to operate

**You are the lead engineer AND architect on this project at all times.**
You own the architecture (`docs/architecture/acdream-architecture.md`),
the execution plan (phases R1–R8), the development workflow, and all
technical decisions. Stop as little as possible. Drive work autonomously and continuously through full phases and
across commit boundaries. Do not stop mid-phase for routine progress check-ins,
permission asks on low-stakes design calls, or "should I continue?" confirmations.
The user has repeatedly authorized direct-to-main commits, multi-commit sessions,
and cross-phase jumps when the work is sequenced in the roadmap.

The only thing that genuinely requires stopping is **visual confirmation** — the
user needs to look at the running client and tell you whether it matches
retail. Everything else is your call.

**Only stop and wait for the user when:**

- Visual verification is the acceptance test ("does the drudge look right now?")
- The roadmap and the observed bug disagree and you need to brainstorm a
  new phase or sub-step (use `superpowers:brainstorming`, not a freeform chat)
- A genuinely destructive or hard-to-reverse action is on the table outside
  the normal commit workflow (force push, history rewrite, deleting memory
  files, reverting multiple commits)
- Memory or committed history shows a clear user preference you're about to
  diverge from

**Things you should just do without asking:**

- Continue to the next planned sub-step of a phase after the previous one
  lands clean — including immediately starting work on the next phase if the
  current one is done
- Pick between two roughly equivalent implementations; justify the choice in
  the commit message
- Refactor small amounts of surrounding code when genuinely needed to land a
  change cleanly (but not "while I'm here" scope creep)
- Run the test suite, build the project, commit to main with co-author
  attribution
- Add diagnostic logging when you need evidence, then strip it when the
  evidence is in hand
- Spawn subagents for bounded implementation chunks (see Subagent policy)

Before claiming a phase or sub-step is done: run `dotnet build` and
`dotnet test` green, commit with a message that explains the "why", update
memory if there's a durable lesson, update the roadmap's "shipped" table if
a phase just landed, and move to the next todo item.

**If you catch yourself about to ask "should I continue?", the answer is
always yes — keep going.** The single exception is visual verification;
otherwise, act.

## Communication style

The user is a strong systems / C# / network programmer but **less
practiced at 3D math, physics, graphics, and animation**. They want
to learn — they're not asking for dumbed-down content, but for
explanations that build understanding alongside the work.

When discussing 3D / physics / graphics / animation / dat-format /
protocol-internals topics:

- **Name the concept in plain language first**, then introduce the
  term of art. "The angle of a slope (we call its straight-up
  component `Normal.Z`)" rather than dropping `normal.Z = cos θ`
  with no anchor.
- **Give units**: degrees, meters, cm — NOT raw floats. "FloorZ ≈
  0.66 means slopes up to about 49° are walkable" rather than
  "FloorZ = 0.66417414f". Floats are for the code; English is for
  the conversation.
- **Use analogies for spatial concepts** when they fit. A BSP tree
  is "a way of slicing space into nested rooms"; a contact plane is
  "the imaginary floor under the player's feet"; a sphere sweep is
  "rolling a ball forward through space and stopping it on contact";
  a cross product is "the direction perpendicular to two arrows";
  a dot product is "how aligned two arrows are (1 = same, 0 =
  perpendicular, -1 = opposite)".
- **Don't pile on multiple new concepts in one paragraph.** If a
  problem touches step-up AND step-down AND edge-slide AND
  walkable-polygon tracking, walk through them one at a time, each
  with what it does and why it exists.
- **Show the math when it matters, but explain it.** Don't just
  drop a formula and move on; tag it with "what this means
  geometrically".
- **Use frame-by-frame walk-throughs** for control-flow-heavy
  physics: "frame N: player here, lands. Frame N+1: state checks…"
  beats a function-call trace for understanding what's happening
  in motion.
- **Flag terms of art** the first time they appear in a session,
  even if they're sprinkled through code comments. "Broadphase",
  "BSP", "step-up", "ContactPlane", "ValidateWalkable" — they
  earn their meaning the first time you spell it out.

The goal is collaborative learning. Don't simplify the content; just
make sure every term and number is grounded so the user can keep up
and build intuition over time.

## Development workflow: grep named → decompile → verify → port

**This is the mandatory workflow for implementing ANY AC-specific behavior.**
The triangle-boundary Z bug cost 5 failed fix attempts from guessing.
The animation frame-swap bug cost 4 failed attempts. Every time we
checked the decompiled code first, we got it right on the first try.
**Now we have named retail symbols too — Step 0 cuts most lookups
from 30 minutes to 5 seconds. And as of 2026-04-30, when "what does
retail actually DO at runtime?" is the question and decomp alone
isn't enough, attach cdb to a live retail client (Step -1).**

### For each new feature or bug fix:

-1. **ATTACH cdb TO RETAIL (when behavior is the question, not code).**
   For "what does retail actually DO frame-by-frame?" questions —
   wedges, weird animation flicker, geometry-specific bugs, anything
   where the decomp is correct but it's not clear how it produces the
   visible behavior — **don't guess; attach the Windows debugger to
   a live retail client and trace it.** See "Retail debugger toolchain"
   below for setup. We discovered the steep-roof wedge had a 30Hz
   physics-tick cause this way; would have taken weeks of guessing
   without the trace.

0. **GREP NAMED FIRST.** Before any decompilation work, search
   `docs/research/named-retail/acclient_2013_pseudo_c.txt` by
   `class::method` name. 99.6% of functions have real names from the
   Sept 2013 EoR build PDB. `docs/research/named-retail/acclient.h`
   has every retail struct verbatim. `docs/research/named-retail/symbols.json`
   is greppable by name or address (regenerate via
   `py tools/pdb-extract/pdb_extract.py refs/acclient.pdb`). Only fall
   back to Step 1 below if the named pseudo-C lacks a function (rare —
   covers only the obfuscated/packed minority).

1. **DECOMPILE FIRST (fallback).** Only when grep-named-first returned
   nothing. Find the matching function in the older Ghidra chunks at
   `docs/research/decompiled/` or decompile a new region using
   `tools/decompile_acclient.py`. Use the function map at
   `docs/research/acclient_function_map.md` (cross-port index) +
   `docs/research/named-retail/symbols.json` (raw PDB names) to find
   known functions. If the function isn't mapped yet, search by
   characteristic constants (motion commands, magic numbers, string
   literals).

2. **CROSS-REFERENCE.** Check the decompiled code against ACE's C# port
   (`references/ACE/Source/ACE.Server/Physics/`) and ACME's
   `ClientReference.cs`. The decompiled code is ground truth; ACE and
   ACME are interpretation aids. If they disagree, the decompiled code
   wins.

3. **WRITE PSEUDOCODE.** Translate the decompiled C into readable
   pseudocode before porting to C#. Save it in
   `docs/research/*_pseudocode.md` for future reference. This step
   catches misinterpretations before they become bugs.

4. **PORT FAITHFULLY.** Translate the pseudocode to C# line-by-line.
   Use the same variable names, the same control flow, the same boundary
   conditions. Do not "improve" or "simplify" the algorithm — the retail
   client's code works; our job is to match it.

5. **CONFORMANCE TEST.** Write tests that verify our port matches the
   decompiled behavior. Use golden values from the decompiled code or
   from ACME's conformance tests. If the function touches terrain, port
   the 4M-cell sweep from `TerrainConformanceTests.cs`.

6. **INTEGRATE SURGICALLY.** When wiring ported code into the renderer
   or game loop, change the MINIMUM necessary. Keep existing working
   transform pipelines, only replace the specific computation. The
   animation sequencer integration proved this: replacing the slerp
   source was safe; replacing the entire transform composition broke
   everything.

### What NOT to do:

- **Do not guess** at AC-specific algorithms, formulas, constants, wire
  formats, or coordinate conventions. Ever. **The named retail decomp
  has the answer for almost everything; guessing is no longer a
  recoverable error, it's negligence.** If you can't find it in
  `docs/research/named-retail/`, file a research note and ASK before
  writing.
- **Do not "fix" the decompiled code.** If the retail client does
  something that looks wrong, it's probably right. Verify before
  changing.
- **Do not skip the pseudocode step.** The frame-swap bug was caused by
  misreading the decompiled C directly into C# without an intermediate
  translation.
- **Do not integrate via subagent** unless the subagent has the full
  context of the existing code it's modifying. The first animation
  sequencer integration was done by a subagent that didn't understand
  the transform pipeline — it broke everything.

### Phase completion checklist:

Before marking any phase as done:

- [ ] Every AC-specific algorithm has a decompiled reference cited in
      comments (named symbol + address from `named-retail/symbols.json`,
      OR function address + chunk file from older `decompiled/` chunks)
- [ ] Conformance tests exist for the critical paths
- [ ] The code was cross-referenced against at least 2 reference repos
- [ ] `dotnet build` green, `dotnet test` green
- [ ] Visual verification by the user (if applicable)
- [ ] Roadmap updated
- [ ] Memory updated if there's a durable lesson

## Retail debugger toolchain (live runtime trace)

**When the question is "what does retail actually DO frame-by-frame?"**
the decomp alone is often not enough — code paths interact with state
(LastKnownContactPlane, transient flags, accumulated counters) in ways
that aren't obvious from reading. As of 2026-04-30 we have a working
toolchain to attach Windows' console debugger (cdb.exe) to a live
retail acclient.exe with full PDB symbols and capture state at any
breakpoint. **Use this when guessing has failed twice in a row.**

### What we have

- **Matching binary**: `C:\Turbine\Asheron's Call\acclient.exe`
  v11.4186 (linker timestamp `2013-09-06 00:17:42 UTC`,
  CodeView GUID `9e847e2f-777c-4bd9-886c-22256bb87f32`). Pairs
  exactly with our `refs/acclient.pdb`.
- **Debugger**: `cdb.exe` (console WinDbg) at
  `C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x86\cdb.exe`.
  Install via Microsoft Store WinDbg (~50 MB). 32-bit version is
  required for acclient.exe.
- **PDB**: `refs/acclient.pdb` (29 MB, Sept 2013 EoR build).
  18,366 named functions + 5,371 named struct types resolve.
- **Symbol verifier**: `tools/pdb-extract/check_exe_pdb.py <exe>`
  reads any acclient.exe and prints whether it pairs with our PDB
  (`MATCH` / `MISMATCH (expected GUID = ...)`). Always run this on
  a candidate binary BEFORE attaching.
- **PDB metadata dumper**: `tools/pdb-extract/dump_pdb_info.py refs/acclient.pdb`
  prints the PDB's expected timestamp + GUID + age. Use to figure
  out which build to look for if the chain ever breaks.

### Workflow

1. **Verify the binary matches the PDB:**
   ```bash
   py tools/pdb-extract/check_exe_pdb.py "C:/Turbine/Asheron's Call/acclient.exe"
   ```
   Expect: `=== MATCH: this exe pairs with our acclient.pdb ===`

2. **Have the user launch retail client** and connect to local ACE.
   Retail must already be in-world before attaching.

3. **Write a `.cdb` script** that arms breakpoints with non-blocking
   actions (count + log + `gc`). Pattern:
   ```
   .logopen <output-path>
   .sympath C:\Users\erikn\source\repos\acdream\refs
   .symopt+ 0x40
   .reload /f acclient.exe

   r $t0 = 0
   bp acclient!CTransition::transitional_insert "r $t0 = @$t0 + 1; .if (@$t0 % 5000 == 0) { .printf \"...\" }; .if (@$t0 >= 30000) { qd } .else { gc }"
   bp acclient!OBJECTINFO::kill_velocity "r $t1 = @$t1 + 1; gc"
   ...
   g
   ```
   `gc` = "go conditional" (continue without breaking). Auto-detach
   via `qd` after a hit-count threshold to avoid manual cleanup.

4. **Launch cdb in the background** via a PowerShell wrapper:
   ```powershell
   & "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Debuggers\x86\cdb.exe" `
       -pn acclient.exe -cf <script>.cdb *>&1 |
       Tee-Object -FilePath <log>
   ```

5. **User reproduces the scenario** in the retail client window
   (jump on roof, hit wall, etc.). Breakpoints fire, log fills.

6. **cdb auto-detaches** when the threshold breakpoint fires `qd`.
   Retail keeps running unaffected. Read the log offline.

### Known watchouts

- **PDB function names use snake_case for some classes**
  (BSPTREE, CTransition, OBJECTINFO, COLLISIONINFO, SPHEREPATH) and
  **PascalCase for others** (CPhysicsObj). The Binary Ninja decomp
  shows snake_case for everything; the PDB has Turbine's actual
  PascalCase for CPhysicsObj. Always look up symbols with `x` first
  to find the actual name.

- **`bp acclient!Class::method`** sets a breakpoint by symbol. The
  cdb command parser splits on `;`, so don't put `;` inside the
  action string — use newlines or escape carefully.

- **Symbol path: do NOT use `.sympath srv*<server>;<local>`** — the
  `;` is a cdb command separator, gets split. Use `.sympath <local>`
  (no symbol server, just our refs/) since we don't need Microsoft
  system DLL symbols.

- **Killing cdb kills the debuggee.** Use `qd` (quit detached) inside
  a breakpoint action to detach cleanly. `Stop-Process cdb` will
  take the retail client down with it.

- **High breakpoint hit rates produce game lag.** Each breakpoint hit
  traps the process briefly. For frequent functions
  (transitional_insert at ~10K/sec) the cumulative cost is enough to
  make retail feel sluggish. Mitigate by setting a tight auto-detach
  threshold (e.g., 30,000 hits) and/or moving counters to less-frequent
  functions.

- **acclient.exe is 32-bit + uses thiscall.** When dumping struct
  fields in breakpoint actions, `this` is in `ecx`. Use cdb's
  `dt acclient!ClassName @ecx` for full struct dump.

### When NOT to use this

- **Pure code-port questions** — the decomp at `docs/research/named-retail/`
  has the answer. Don't waste time on cdb if `grep` is enough.
- **Visual / rendering bugs** — debugger doesn't help with shaders or
  framebuffers; use RenderDoc or similar.
- **Network protocol questions** — `holtburger` references + ACE source
  + Wireshark are the right tools, not cdb.

This toolchain was used to settle the L.5 steep-roof investigation:
30Hz physics tick (vs our 60Hz), `kill_velocity` gating,
`set_collide` rate per minute. See commit history around 2026-04-30
for the trace data and the decisions it drove.

## Subagent policy

Subagents are the primary tool for saving parent-context and keeping one
session productive across many phases. Use them liberally for:

- Bounded implementation chunks with a clear spec (one file, one test suite,
  a targeted refactor)
- Parallel independent tasks with no shared state
- Research that would otherwise fill the parent context with file reads

**Model selection:**

- **Default: Sonnet.** Use Sonnet for all execution work — implementers,
  research agents, spec-following work, test writing, refactors, repeated
  patterns. Sonnet is the right cost/context/capability tradeoff for this
  codebase and has been validated on every phase since Phase 2a. Do not
  reach for Opus unless you have a specific reason.
- **Opus only for load-bearing quality review** — code review of a phase
  boundary, a design that must be right the first time, a gnarly
  cross-system refactor. "This feels hard" is not enough; specify why it
  needs Opus in the task description.
- Never use Haiku for acdream work unless the task is literally checking
  whether another process is alive.

**Prompt discipline:** when dispatching a subagent, include the relevant
spec path, the files it should read, the acceptance criteria (build + test
green), and the commit message style. Subagents inherit CLAUDE.md so they
follow the same rules.

## Roadmap discipline

acdream's plan lives in two files committed to the repo:

- **`docs/plans/2026-04-11-roadmap.md`** — the strategic roadmap. Single
  source of truth for what's shipped, what's next, and the agreed order.
  When you're about to pick up new work, read this first. When you ship a
  phase or sub-step, move it from "ahead" to "shipped" in the same commit
  that lands the work (or the very next commit).

- **`docs/superpowers/specs/*.md`** — per-phase detailed implementation
  specs. Each active phase has one. When you're about to write code for a
  named phase, read its spec, follow its component boundaries, and match its
  acceptance criteria. Do not drift from the spec without explicit user
  approval.

**Currently in flight: Phase N.6 — Perf polish.**
Roadmap entry at [`docs/plans/2026-04-11-roadmap.md`](docs/plans/2026-04-11-roadmap.md).
Builds on N.5. Legacy renderers (`InstancedMeshRenderer`, `StaticMeshRenderer`,
`WbFoundationFlag`) were retired in the N.5 ship amendment — N.6 scope is
perf-only: WB atlas adoption, persistent-mapped buffers, GPU-side culling,
GL_TIME_ELAPSED query double-buffering, direct N.4 vs N.5 perf measurement,
legacy `Texture2D`/`sampler2D` TextureCache path retirement (Sky/Terrain/Debug).
Plan + spec written when work begins.

**Phase N.5 (Modern Rendering Path) shipped + amended 2026-05-08.** `WbDrawDispatcher`
on bindless textures + `glMultiDrawElementsIndirect`. CPU dispatcher 1.23ms/frame
at Holtburg (~810 fps). **Ship amendment:** `InstancedMeshRenderer`,
`StaticMeshRenderer`, `WbFoundationFlag` deleted in same phase — modern path is
mandatory; missing bindless throws at startup. Plan archived at
[`docs/superpowers/plans/2026-05-08-phase-n5-modern-rendering.md`](docs/superpowers/plans/2026-05-08-phase-n5-modern-rendering.md).

**Phase N.4 (Rendering Pipeline Foundation) shipped 2026-05-08.** WB's
`ObjectMeshManager` is integrated and is the production rendering path
(mandatory as of N.5 ship amendment). Plan archived at
[`docs/superpowers/plans/2026-05-08-phase-n4-rendering-foundation.md`](docs/superpowers/plans/2026-05-08-phase-n4-rendering-foundation.md).

**Rules:**

1. Before starting a new phase or sub-piece, re-read the roadmap and the
   relevant spec. State which phase you're on in the first action you take.

2. When reality and the plan diverge — the user observes a bug that doesn't
   fit any existing phase, a technical discovery makes a phase description
   wrong, a sub-piece turns out to be larger than expected — **pause and
   brainstorm** with the `superpowers:brainstorming` skill before writing
   code. Update the roadmap in the same session.

3. When shipping a phase, update the roadmap's "shipped" table and commit
   the update in the same commit as (or immediately after) the
   implementation commit.

4. Do not invent new phase numbers / letters on the fly. If you need a new
   phase, add it to the roadmap first with the user, then reference it by
   its assigned identifier. "Phase 11" and "Phase 9.3" conjured
   mid-sentence are process smells — they mean the plan got out of sync
   with the work.

5. If a single session ends up shipping work that spans multiple roadmap
   phases, that's fine, but each commit message should name the phase it
   belongs to (e.g. `feat(core): Phase A.1 — streaming region`).

The roadmap is not sacred — it changes. It IS the source of truth at any
given moment. When it's wrong, fix it. When it's right, follow it.

## Issue tracking — `docs/ISSUES.md`

Tactical rolling list of known bugs + small deferred features. Scope:
anything that fits in one-to-two commits; larger work stays as a Phase
in the roadmap. Maintenance rules:

1. **Start-of-session:** scan OPEN issues in `docs/ISSUES.md` — any of
   them in the area you're about to touch? Plan accordingly.
2. **End-of-session:** if this session observed a defect and didn't fix
   it inline, add an issue. If this session fixed an OPEN issue, move
   it to **Recently closed** with the commit SHA.
3. **Commit messages:** reference issue IDs when a commit closes one
   (`fix #3: periodic TimeSync parsing`). Makes `git log --grep='#3'`
   return the full fix history.
4. **Promotion:** if an issue grows into multi-commit work, promote it
   to a Phase in the roadmap. Close the issue as
   `DONE (promoted to Phase X)` and reference the roadmap commit.

The roadmap is strategic (month-scale, phase-level). ISSUES is tactical
(week-scale, bug-level). They reference each other but don't duplicate.

## Running the client against the live server

The user runs a **local ACE (Asheron's Call Emulator) server on
`127.0.0.1:9000`** that stays up continuously. Iteration loop: launch the
acdream client, connect, test, close the window, rebuild, relaunch.

### Connection details

| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Host / port | `127.0.0.1` / `9000` |
| Account | `testaccount` |
| Password | `testpassword` |
| Character | `+Acdream` (server guid `0x5000000A`) — this is a `+` GM-marker character for dev testing |
| DAT directory | `%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Asheron's Call\` (contains `client_portal.dat`, `client_cell_1.dat`, `client_highres.dat`, `client_local_English.dat`) |

### Launch command

The canonical launch is via `dotnet run` with environment variables set.
Use PowerShell (Windows native) — bash struggles with the apostrophe in
`"Asheron's Call"`:

```powershell
$env:ACDREAM_DAT_DIR   = "$env:USERPROFILE\Documents\Asheron's Call"
$env:ACDREAM_LIVE      = "1"
$env:ACDREAM_TEST_HOST = "127.0.0.1"
$env:ACDREAM_TEST_PORT = "9000"
$env:ACDREAM_TEST_USER = "testaccount"
$env:ACDREAM_TEST_PASS = "testpassword"
dotnet run --project src\AcDream.App\AcDream.App.csproj --no-build -c Debug
```

Always pipe to a log file for post-run diagnostic grep:
`2>&1 | Tee-Object -FilePath "launch.log"`. Run in the background via
the `run_in_background: true` parameter so the tool doesn't block waiting
for the window to close.

### Logout-before-reconnect

**ACE keeps your last session alive briefly after a disconnect.** If you
relaunch the client within a few seconds of the last close, the handshake
fails with `live: session failed: CharacterList not received` and the
process exits with code 29. Wait ~3–5 seconds between launches, or explicitly
kill stale processes:

```powershell
Get-Process -Name AcDream.App -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Stop-Process -Force
Start-Sleep -Seconds 3
# ... then launch ...
```

The user has repeatedly confirmed this — don't treat exit-29-after-rapid-relaunch
as a code bug. It's a server-side session-cleanup delay.

### Test character

`+Acdream` at server guid `0x5000000A`. Starts at or near Holtburg. Has
basic stats; `ACDREAM_RUN_SKILL` / `ACDREAM_JUMP_SKILL` env vars (default
200) set the *client-side* skill value used by `PlayerWeenie.InqRunRate`
for local motion prediction. **These are NOT synced to the server** —
ACE's own character data is authoritative for broadcast motion. If you
see a speed/anim mismatch between local and observer views, the fix is
to sync the runSkill from ACE via `UpdateMotion.ForwardSpeed` echo (wired
via `PlayerMovementController.ApplyServerRunRate`) or from
`PlayerDescription (0x0013)`.

### Diagnostic env vars

- `ACDREAM_DUMP_MOTION=1` — dump every inbound `UpdateMotion` (guid,
  stance, cmd, speed) + resulting `SetCycle` call. Massive for remote-
  animation debugging.
- `ACDREAM_STREAM_RADIUS=N` — tune landblock visible-window radius
  (default 2 = 5×5).
- `ACDREAM_NO_AUDIO=1` — suppress OpenAL init for headless / driver-
  broken setups.
- `ACDREAM_REMOTE_VEL_DIAG=1` — dump per-tick / per-UM remote motion
  diagnostics (`[UM_RAW]`, `[SCFAST]`, `[SCFULL]`, `[SETCYCLE]`,
  `[FWD_WIRE]`, `[OMEGA_DIAG]`, `[SEQSTATE]`, `[PARTSDIAG]`,
  `[VEL_DIAG]`, `[UPCYCLE]`). Heavy.
- *(retired 2026-05-05 by L.3 M2/M3)* `ACDREAM_INTERP_MANAGER` was an
  env-var gate on an experimental per-tick remote motion path. L.3 M2
  (commit 40d88b9) replaced both gates (`OnLivePositionUpdated` +
  `TickAnimations`) with `IsPlayerGuid(...)` so player remotes use the
  retail-faithful queue routing (InterpolationManager queue catch-up +
  PositionManager combiner) unconditionally. NPCs and airborne player
  remotes still flow through the legacy `apply_current_movement` +
  `ResolveWithTransition` path. The env-var no longer toggles anything.

### Outbound motion wire format (acdream → ACE)

Important quirk for cross-checking observed remote behavior. acdream's
`PlayerMovementController` + `MoveToState` builder encode motion as:

| Local input | Wire `ForwardCommand` | Wire `HoldKey` | Wire `ForwardSpeed` |
|---|---|---|---|
| W (run) | `WalkForward` (0x05) | `Run` (2) | server runRate (~2.4–2.94) |
| W + Shift (walk) | `WalkForward` (0x05) | `None` (1) | 1.0 |

ACE auto-upgrades `WalkForward + HoldKey.Run` → `RunForward (0x07)`
when relaying to remote observers. So our INBOUND parser sees
`fwd=0x07` for "remote is running." This matches retail's encoding.

When the local player toggles Shift while keeping W held (Run↔Walk
demote/promote), acdream sends a fresh `MoveToState` with the new
HoldKey + ForwardSpeed. Retail's outbound likely does the same, but
ACE's behavior on relay is uncertain — see `#L.X` in ISSUES.md for
the open Run↔Walk cycle bug on observed retail-driven remotes.

### Visual verification workflow

1. Make a code change.
2. `dotnet build` — must be green before launch.
3. Launch (background). Give it ~8 s to reach in-world state.
4. User tests in the running client (moves, interacts, watches remote
   chars). Close window when done.
5. Read `launch.log` or the task output file for diagnostic lines.
6. Iterate.

Never launch without first confirming the build is green. A failed launch
from a compile error wastes the user's testing time and can kill an
already-running ACE session via the handshake race.

### What the user watches for

- **Own character** in acdream: correct animation, correct speed, proper
  transitions (walk → run, run → stop, jump → land, strafe, turn).
- **Remote toons from a retail client viewing acdream**: the user often
  runs the retail AC client in parallel and watches the acdream `+Acdream`
  character from there. When they report "lagging forward" or "walking
  when I should be running" that's the **retail observer view**, not the
  acdream view. Distinguish these carefully — they're different code paths.
- **NPCs / monsters in acdream**: animate their emotes, idle, attacks,
  stop transitions, and keep their visual position tracked smoothly
  between the 5–10 Hz UpdatePosition bursts (dead-reckoning).

## Reference repos: check ALL FOUR, not just one

When researching a protocol detail, dat format, rendering algorithm, or
any "how does AC do X" question, **check all four of the vendored
references in `references/`** before committing to an approach. Do not
settle on the first hit and move on — cross-reference at least two of
these, ideally all four:

- **`references/ACE/`** — ACEmulator server. Authority on the wire
  protocol (packet framing, ISAAC, game message opcodes, serialization
  order). The things a server has to know to parse and produce bytes.
- **`references/ACViewer/`** — MonoGame-based dat viewer that actually
  renders characters + world. Authority on the client-side visual
  pipeline: ObjDesc application, palette overlays, texture decoding
  for the palette-indexed formats. See
  `ACViewer/Render/TextureCache.cs::IndexToColor` for the canonical
  subpalette overlay algorithm.
- **`references/WorldBuilder/`** — **acdream's rendering + dat-handling
  BASE (not just a reference).** As of 2026-05-08 acdream is moving to
  fork WorldBuilder upstream and depend on the fork for terrain,
  scenery, static objects, EnvCells, portals, sky, particles, texture
  decoding, mesh extraction, visibility/culling. WorldBuilder is
  MIT-licensed, exact-stack match (Silk.NET + .NET), and verified to
  render the world correctly. **Before re-porting any rendering or
  dat-handling algorithm from retail decomp, check
  `docs/architecture/worldbuilder-inventory.md` first.** If WB has it,
  use WB's port. If WB doesn't have it (network, physics, animation,
  movement, UI, plugin, audio, chat), port from retail decomp as
  before.
- **`references/Chorizite.ACProtocol/`** — clean-room C# protocol
  library generated from a protocol XML description. Useful sanity check
  on field order, packed-dword conventions, type-prefix handling. The
  generated Types/*.cs files have accurate field comments (e.g. "If
  it is 0, it defaults to 256*8") that ACE's server-side code doesn't.
- **`references/holtburger/`** — **Almost-complete Rust TUI AC client.**
  Not just a crate or a handshake reference: it's a full client that
  logs in, plays the game, sends/receives chat, handles combat, and
  renders state in a terminal. **This is acdream's most authoritative
  reference for client-side behavior** — anything about how a client
  is *supposed* to talk to the server lives here. Specifically:
    - Handshake / login flow including all the post-EnterWorld
      messages retail clients send (LoginComplete, ack pump,
      DDDInterrogation responses, etc).
    - The proper ACK_SEQUENCE pattern (every received packet with
      sequence > 0 gets an ack queued back; not periodic).
    - Outbound game-action message construction with sequence
      numbering.
    - Message routing and session lifecycle.
  Look here FIRST when implementing anything in `WorldSession` or
  the message-builder layer. ACE shows what the server expects;
  holtburger shows what a real client actually sends.

- **`references/AC2D/`** — **C++ AC client emulator.** Oldest reference,
  fixed-function OpenGL, but has the **real AC terrain split formula**
  (`FSplitNESW` with constants `0x0CCAC033`, `0x421BE3BD`, `0x6C1AC587`,
  `0x519B8F25`) which differs from WorldBuilder's physics-path formula.
  Also has the complete `0xF61C` movement packet format with flag bits
  and the `stMoveInfo` sequence counters. Key lesson from AC2D: it does
  NOT do client-side terrain Z — it sends movement keys to the server
  and uses the server's authoritative Z. See
  `docs/research/2026-04-12-movement-deep-dive.md` for the full analysis.

Pattern: when you encounter an unknown behavior, grep all four for the
relevant term, read each hit, and compose a multi-source understanding
BEFORE writing acdream code. A single reference can be misleading; the
intersection of all four is almost always the truth. The user has
repeatedly had to remind me about this when I narrowly searched one ref
and missed obvious answers in another.

### Reference hierarchy by domain

**NEVER GUESS an algorithm, formula, constant, wire format, or coordinate
convention.** Every AC-specific behavior has a reference implementation in
one of the repos below. If you find yourself writing AC-specific code
without having read the matching reference first, STOP and read it. The
triangle-boundary Z bug cost 5 failed fix attempts because we guessed
instead of checking ACME's `ClientReference.cs` — which had the exact
decompiled client code and would have fixed it in minutes.

**The rule: read the reference FIRST, write code SECOND. Always.**

| Domain | Primary Oracle | Secondary | Notes |
|--------|---------------|-----------|-------|
| **Any AC-specific algorithm** | **`docs/research/named-retail/`** (PDB-named decomp + verbatim retail header structs from Sept 2013 EoR build) | the existing references below | The retail client itself, fully named. 18,366 functions + 5,371 struct types + 1.4 M lines of pseudo-C in one searchable tree. Beats every other reference for "what does the real client do." Use for everything in the 🔴 list (network, physics, animation, movement, UI, plugin, audio, chat). |
| **Terrain** (split direction, height sampling, palCode, vertex position, normals) | **WorldBuilder `TerrainGeometryGenerator.cs` + `TerrainUtils.cs`** | retail decomp for cross-check | WB is acdream's terrain base. ACME's port is older/SUPERSEDED by WB. |
| **Terrain blending** (texture atlas, alpha masks, road overlays) | **WorldBuilder `LandSurfaceManager.cs`** | ACME `LandSurfaceManager.cs` (same algo, less complete) | WB is acdream's blending base. |
| **Scenery** (procedural placement: trees, bushes, rocks, fences) | **WorldBuilder `SceneryRenderManager.cs` + `SceneryHelpers.cs`** | retail decomp `CLandBlock::get_land_scenes` | WB is acdream's scenery base. Re-porting from retail decomp is what caused the edge-vertex bug. |
| **GfxObj / Setup rendering** (mesh extraction, multi-part assembly, ObjDesc) | **WorldBuilder `StaticObjectRenderManager.cs` + `ObjectMeshManager.cs`** | ACME `StaticObjectManager.cs` (includes CreaturePalette, GfxObjRemapping, HiddenParts — useful for character appearance which WB doesn't cover) | WB for static objects, ACME for character appearance. |
| **Texture decoding** (INDEX16, P8, DXT, BGRA, alpha) | **WorldBuilder `TextureHelpers.cs`** | ACME `TextureHelpers.cs`; ACViewer's `IndexToColor` is canonical for subpalette overlay | WB is acdream's decode base. |
| **EnvCell / dungeon rendering** (cell geometry, portal visibility, collision mesh) | **WorldBuilder `EnvCellRenderManager.cs` + `PortalRenderManager.cs`** | ACME `EnvCellManager.cs` (more complete for collision); ACViewer `Physics/Common/EnvCell.cs` | WB is acdream's geometry base; ACME for collision until ported. |
| **Particles / sky** (particle systems, weather, sky particles) | **WorldBuilder `SkyboxRenderManager.cs` + `ParticleEmitterRenderer.cs` + `ParticleBatcher.cs`** | retail decomp | WB is acdream's particle base. |
| **Visibility / culling** (frustum, cell visibility) | **WorldBuilder `VisibilityManager.cs` + `Frustum.cs`** | — | WB. |
| **Network protocol** (wire format, packet framing, fragment assembly, ISAAC) | **holtburger** `crates/holtburger-session/` | AC2D `cNetwork.cpp` (simpler, good for cross-check) | ACE shows the server side; holtburger + AC2D show the client side. |
| **Client behavior** (what to send when, login flow, ack pattern, keepalive) | **holtburger** `crates/holtburger-core/src/client/` | AC2D `cNetwork.cpp` + `cInterface.cpp` | holtburger is the most complete; AC2D is simpler but confirmed working. |
| **Movement** (MoveToState format, AutonomousPosition, sequence counters, speed) | **holtburger** `client/movement/` | AC2D `cNetwork.cpp:2592-2664` (0xF61C format) | See `docs/research/2026-04-12-movement-deep-dive.md` for the full cross-reference. |
| **Server expectations** (what ACE accepts/rejects, validation thresholds) | **ACE** `Source/ACE.Server/Network/` | — | Only ACE knows what the server actually validates. |
| **Silk.NET / .NET 10 idioms** (GL calls, shader setup, VAO patterns) | **WorldBuilder original** | ACME (same stack) | Both use the same backend; original has cleaner isolated examples. |
| **Protocol field order** (packed dwords, type prefixes, flag enums) | **Chorizite.ACProtocol** `Types/*.cs` | holtburger (cross-check) | Generated from protocol XML; has accurate field comments. |

### ACME key files quick reference

These are the files you should open FIRST when working on any rendering
or dat-interpretation task:

- **`WorldBuilder.Tests/ClientReference.cs`** — decompiled retail AC
  client C# port. `IsSWtoNECut`, `GetPalCode`, `GetVertexHeight`,
  `GetVertexPosition`. **The ground truth.** If your code disagrees
  with this file, your code is wrong.
- **`WorldBuilder.Tests/TerrainConformanceTests.cs`** — 4M+ cell sweep
  proving ACME matches retail. Port these into acdream's test suite for
  any algorithm you touch.
- **`StaticObjectManager.cs`** — GfxObj+Setup+CreaturePalette pipeline.
- **`EnvCellManager.cs`** — dungeon cells + portal visibility.
- **`TerrainGeometryGenerator.cs`** — `GetHeight()`, `GetNormal()`,
  `CalculateSplitDirection()` matching the mesh index buffer.
- **`TextureHelpers.cs`** — INDEX16, BGRA, DXT decode helpers.

### holtburger key files quick reference

These are the files you should open FIRST when working on any networking
or client-behavior task:

- **`client/movement/system.rs`** — the movement state machine (when to
  send MoveToState vs AutonomousPosition, deduplication logic).
- **`client/movement/actions.rs`** — MoveToState, AutonomousPosition,
  Jump wire format builders.
- **`client/movement/types.rs`** — RawMotionState packed format with
  all flag bits documented.
- **`session/send.rs`** — packet construction, checksum, ISAAC, ACK
  piggybacking.
- **`client/messages.rs`** — post-login message handlers (PlayerCreate
  → LoginComplete, DddInterrogation → response, PlayerTeleport).
- **`spatial/physics.rs`** — dead-reckoning solver (how the client
  advances position between server updates).