Yeah, I know, we all need another one of
these, right?
Smash Hack Assistant is a GUI-based application that's meant to function as "workflow grease" for the process of texture hacking. When completed, it will replace the functions of of ASH, STASH, etc. with simple point-and-click procedures, and will manage all your hacking projects from a single interface.
I'm starting SHA because other similar projects rely heavily on external utilities and/or single-platform software. As a Linux user, I'm forced to jump through hoops to make many of these tools work, and some of them aren't very artist-friendly to begin with.
The goal workflow of SHA is as follows:
- When SHA is started up for the first time, you select several things: a source for unedited textures (as an ISO, pf/-style directory, or ZIP archive), a preferred image editor, a preferred export mode (ISO or pf/), and an export path.
- A simple treeview is shown, containing a list of fighters. You expand one of them, pick a .pac file, then select a texture.
- A thumbnail preview of the original texture is shown, as well as your edited version if the current project contains one. When you have verified that this is the texture you want, you click "Edit".
- The texture is opened using your preferred editor. You make your edits, then save the file normally.
- Repeat this process for each texture you want to edit.
- When you are finished, click "Export", and all your edited files are automatically packed, then either inserted into a new ISO or copied to the desired pf/ directory, as per your preference.
- Play the game with your new textures.
Ideally, SHA should be quicker and easier to use than your editor's default file open dialog. Since it's written using libqt4-ruby, it's also completely cross-platform, so texture hacking will finally be as easy for many people as it should be.
Now, I've just started on this today. Don't expect anything usable any time soon. I've still got a lot of research and nitty-gritty to take care of before even extracting is feasible. If you're interested in seeing the layout I'm working with, here's a mockup:
Please note that the above is
not in a functional state.
Again, I've just started this, but I'm open to hearing suggestions if you're open to giving them. I'm also not opposed to help, especially from people familiar with Ruby, Qt, or advanced hacking.
Well, that's all I've got for now. Back to work!