CODE CHRONICLES: The Syntax Wars

Code Chronicles is a fully fledged programming RPG that lives inside VS Code. Your day-to-day coding activity is transformed into quests, battles, loot, and lore. Every file you edit, commit you push, or bug you squash echoes through the realm of Syntaxis and literally powers your hero.

🎬 Overview

• Genre: Single-player narrative RPG layered onto real coding work
• Platform: Visual Studio Code extension (TypeScript)
• Loop: Write code ➜ analyzer interprets activity ➜ gain XP/gold ➜ unlock quests, realms, and battles
• Goal: Cleanse the realms of the Legendary Bug while becoming a Legendary Creator (level 100)

🗺️ Feature Map

⚔️ Character Progression

• Five playable origins (Frontend Bard, Backend Paladin, Data Druid, DevOps Shaman, Gamesmith)
• D&D-inspired stats, level tiers, traits, equipment, inventory, and unlockable skills
• Realm affinity bonuses (language-specific perks) and realm switching for different challenge pools

🌌 Living Programming Realms

• JavaScript Kingdom, Python Empire, Java Dominion, C# Federation, Rust Collective, Go Republic
• Realm-specific monsters, loot tables, quests, and visual palettes inside the webview UI

👾 Battles & Challenges

• Turn-based combat engine (src/game-engine/combat.ts) with abilities, focus costs, status effects, and monster AI
• On-demand minigames: coding challenges, typing trials, bug-hunt puzzles, lore quizzes
• Adaptive difficulty scaling with your character tier

📜 Narrative & Questing

• Main story arc against THE GLITCH plus side quests, bounties, and daily tasks (see src/game-engine/quests.ts)
• Quest rewards hook into the character builder for XP, gold, rare items, and realm unlocks

🪄 Real-World Coding Integration

• code-analyzer.ts inspects open files, lint results, and coding streaks to generate buffs and events
• git-tracker.ts watches commits; conventional commit prefixes grant bonus XP and loot
• Status-bar widgets reflect HP/focus, quick actions, and analyzer highlights in real time

🖥️ Immersive UI

• Custom webview dashboard (src/ui/game-panel.ts) with battle view, quest log, inventory, stats, and training challenges
• In-game notifications use the VS Code API to surface loot drops, level-ups, and errors with flavor text

🔁 Gameplay Loop

1. Create Character – Choose origin, roll stats, pick starter gear.
2. Code Normally – Keep working in VS Code. Analyzer hooks map editing activity to XP, buffs, or random encounters.
3. Respond to Events – Fight surprise bug monsters, accept quests, or run challenges from the Game Panel.
4. Invest Rewards – Spend gold on gear, unlock realms, and master new skills.
5. Progress the Story – Advance through quests across realms until you face the Legendary Bug.

🧱 System Architecture

Layer	Description
Extension Entry	src/extension.ts boots the game, registers commands, status bars, analyzers, and webview panel.
Game Engine	src/game-engine/ houses character builds, combat math, monsters, quests, challenges, world data, and shared types.
Analyzers	src/analyzers/ reacts to editor + Git telemetry, emitting events that the gameManager consumes.
UI Layer	src/ui/game-panel.ts renders the SPA-like HUD/battle view and acts as the primary player surface.

🚀 Getting Started (Players)

1. Install the extension (VSIX or marketplace build).
2. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P).
3. Run Code Chronicles: Open Game.
4. Create your hero and start writing code to trigger encounters.

🛠️ Building From Source

git clone https://github.com/ilikeapplesandbananas/code-chronicles.git
cd code-chronicles
npm install
npm run compile   # or `npm run watch` during development

Then press F5 (Run Extension) in VS Code to launch the Extension Development Host with Code Chronicles active.

📋 Commands

Command	Description
Code Chronicles: Open Game	Launch the main dashboard webview
Code Chronicles: View Quests	Show active quests and claim rewards
Code Chronicles: Start Battle	Initiate a battle encounter
Code Chronicles: Travel to Realm	Switch programming realm
Code Chronicles: View Stats	Display character sheet
Code Chronicles: Rest	Recover health/focus between battles

⚙️ Extension Settings

• codeChronicles.enableNotifications
• codeChronicles.enableMonsterSpawns
• codeChronicles.codeAnalysis
• codeChronicles.gitIntegration
• codeChronicles.difficulty

Each toggle immediately affects in-game systems (for example, disabling monster spawns pauses surprise encounters while retaining quests).

🎯 Gameplay Tips

1. Write Code With Purpose – Analyzer rewards lint fixes, refactors, and passing tests.
2. Commit Often – Prefix commits with feat, fix, etc. for extra XP.
3. Mix Realms – Realm swapping resurfaces unique enemies and tutors different skills.
4. Stack Buffs – Use inventory consumables before boss fights and watch focus/health management.
5. Binge Quests – Story quests often unlock new mechanics (realm travel, companions, etc.).

🎨 Aesthetic & Lore

In the neon kingdoms of Logithia, code is both scripture and weapon. THE GLITCH, a cosmic amalgamation of unhandled exceptions, corrodes reality byte by byte. You are a Code Sensitive, able to read the Source Stream directly. Your VS Code window is now a war table.

Expect glowing gradients, terminal-inspired nephrite blacks, floating glyphs, and UI motion keyed to your realm colors.

Release Notes

0.0.1

Initial alpha release of CODE CHRONICLES: The Syntax Wars

• Character creation system
• Turn-based combat
• Quest system
• Six programming realms
• Code analysis integration
• Git commit rewards

---

Happy Coding, Adventurer! ⚔️🖥️

---

Following extension guidelines

Ensure that you've read through the extensions guidelines and follow the best practices for creating your extension.

• Extension Guidelines

Working with Markdown

You can author your README using Visual Studio Code. Here are some useful editor keyboard shortcuts:

• Split the editor (Cmd+\ on macOS or Ctrl+\ on Windows and Linux).
• Toggle preview (Shift+Cmd+V on macOS or Shift+Ctrl+V on Windows and Linux).
• Press Ctrl+Space (Windows, Linux, macOS) to see a list of Markdown snippets.

For more information

• Visual Studio Code's Markdown Support
• Markdown Syntax Reference

Enjoy!