Crazy idea regarding on-the-go Defold editor

Questions
1

I just had a crazy idea that I want to run passed you and see if it’s even possible to do.

So, my idea was to have some version of the Defold editor on a tablet. Let’s start with editing Lua code only.

Step 1 would be to download the project to the device. That should be pretty simple, generate an access token from the dashboard and enter it in the app (how come you don’t have to do that in the Defold editors?).

Step 2, edit code and build a new version of the app. Here’s where things get tricky. It could either be solved by opening a socket to a version of the game and do the hot reload thing the editor is doing. Could be tricky, since I probably run the tablet editor and the game on the same device.

Option 2: Build a live update bundle and upload it to AWS and then run the game which downloads it and runs the new code.

So question is, am I crazy? Can it even be done? :smiley:

2

What is absolutely possible right now for sure is making something like PICO-8 with Defold.

3

So you’d want to edit, build and run from a tablet? I guess you could have the whole build pipeline on a server and send your content there to be built and then get an IPA/APK back to be installed. Not sure about the hot reload. Do you mean hot reloading to a dmengine running on the same tablet or on another device? The idea is pretty cool but also far off considering where we’re at right now.

4

That would be cool but the fantasy console market is getting crowded. I applaud any such initiative though!

5

I guess you could have the whole build pipeline on a server and send your content there to be built and then get an IPA/APK back to be installed.

Ah, I didn’t even think of that! That would probably work :slight_smile:

Do you mean hot reloading to a dmengine running on the same tablet or on another device?

I was referring to the same device. Two devices are probably easier :slight_smile:

Anyway, I was just venting a crazy idea, pay no attention to me :blush:

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6

You would have to want to do it for the fun of it! Just having one made with Defold would be really cool…

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