CLAUDE.md

This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.

Project Overview

HexageonUnity is a sophisticated Unity-based geological simulation that models tectonic plate movement, climate systems, and environmental processes on a hexagonal grid. The project simulates complex interactions between geology, weather, water systems, and biomes to create realistic world generation.

Core Architecture

Central Controller System

HexGrid.cs: Main simulation orchestrator managing grid, user input, controls, and phase execution
Hexagon.cs: Individual cell containing 30+ properties (altitude, temperature, wind, rainfall, magma, biomes, etc.)
GeoPhase.cs: Simulation phase sequencer ensuring correct execution order and data dependencies
ViewManager.cs: Modern view system handling display modes and rendering coordination

Geological Simulation Pipeline

MagmaImpact → Slump → SeaLevel → ClimateTemperature → WindEffect → RiverFlow → SetBiomes → Display Refresh

Key Subsystems

Environmental Systems:

WindEffect.cs: Complex wind pattern calculations with eastern ocean boost, altitude effects, and temperature-based moisture gradients
RiverFlow.cs: Dynamic river formation and water routing across terrain
ClimateTemperature.cs: Randomized Arctic/Desert placement with latitude-based temperature modeling
SeaLevel.cs: Dynamic sea level management affecting biomes and land visibility

Visualization Systems:

ViewManager.cs: Central view controller with plugin architecture for different display modes
BiomeView.cs, MagmaView.cs, AltitudeView.cs, WeatherView.cs, TemperatureView.cs: Specialized rendering for each overlay
BiomeLoader.cs: JSON-driven biome system with environmental constraints
HexGridColours.cs: Advanced color mapping for multiple data visualization modes

Rendering Infrastructure:

HexagonRenderer.cs: Core hexagon display logic with sprite and color support
OverlayRenderer.cs: Arrow and overlay rendering for wind, altitude, and magma visualization
River Rendering: LineRenderer-based river network visualization with proper sorting layers

Unity Project Structure

Unity Version: 6000.1.12f1 (Unity 6)
Main Scene: Assets/Scenes/SampleScene.unity
Core Data: Assets/Data/biomes.json (40+ biome definitions with environmental parameters)
Visual Assets: Assets/Resources/Tiles/ (200+ biome sprites)

Development Workflow

Building & Running

Open project in Unity Editor 6000.1.12f1
Use Unity's standard build process (File → Build Settings)
Test in Play Mode within Unity Editor for simulation development

Simulation Controls

Space Key: Execute 5 geological simulation cycles
R Key: Regenerate entire map (resets Era to 0, new climate assignment)
Number Keys 1-5: Toggle visualization overlays:
- 1: Biome, 2: Magma, 3: Altitude, 4: Weather, 5: Temperature
Mouse Interaction: Hexagon tooltips and inspection

Performance Monitoring

Built-in stopwatch timing for geological phase execution
Performance data logged to Unity Console
InfoPanel displays Era count, average height, rainfall, and temperature (land-only metrics)

Critical Implementation Details

Hexagonal Grid System

Grid Wrapping: Horizontal wrapping with modulo arithmetic for world-like topology
Neighbor Calculation: Sophisticated 6-neighbor system with offset coordinate conversion
Coordinate System: X-axis runs West (0) to East (max), Y-axis runs North (0) to South (max)

Advanced Geological Processes

MagmaImpact: Directional tectonic movement affecting neighbors based on plate intensity/direction
Slump: Height redistribution processed from highest to lowest altitude
WindEffect: Multi-factor wind calculations with special eastern ocean moisture system
RiverFlow: Water routing creating realistic river networks with LineRenderer visualization

Climate & Weather Systems

Arctic/Desert Assignment: Randomized once at map generation, fixed throughout geological cycles
Eastern Ocean Boost: 3 easternmost columns have enhanced evaporation (60f) and wind intensity (100f)
Temperature-Based Moisture: WaterVapour varies by climate zone (Arctic: 20-50, Temperate: 80-100, Desert: 0-20)
Wind Propagation: WindChange values propagate westward from eastern ocean through WindSources system

Modern View Architecture

Plugin System: IHexagonView interface allows easy addition of new visualization modes
Rendering Separation: HexagonRenderer handles base display, OverlayRenderer handles arrows/overlays
River Integration: Rivers render in Biome, Weather, and Temperature views using LineRenderer components
Display Refresh: Automatic cleanup and redraw on view changes or simulation updates

Data-Driven Configuration

Biomes: JSON configuration with environmental constraints and sprite references
Tectonic Plates: Dynamic generation with random size, direction, and intensity
Climate Parameters: Configurable sea level (default 10000), arctic placement, wind systems

Key Dependencies

Unity Packages: 2D features, TextMeshPro (UI display)
Required Components: TextMeshPro for InfoPanel display system

Important Coordinate Conventions

X-axis: West (0) to East (Width-1)
Y-axis: North (0) to South (Height-1)
Eastern Ocean: PositionX >= Width-3 (3 easternmost columns)
Land Filter: AltitudeVsSeaLevel > 0 for land-only calculations

Known Implementation Notes

Era Counter: Tracks total geological cycles including initial 25 generation cycles
Arctic Consistency: Climate assignment (IsNorthArctic) set once in HexGrid.Start(), used throughout
River Cleanup: ViewManager destroys all "RiverLine" GameObjects before each refresh
Performance: Display only refreshes on final cycle of each Space press (cycle 4 of 5)

CLAUDE.md

This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.

HexGrid.cs: Main simulation orchestrator managing grid, user input, controls, and phase execution
Hexagon.cs: Individual cell containing 30+ properties (altitude, temperature, wind, rainfall, magma, biomes, etc.)
GeoPhase.cs: Simulation phase sequencer ensuring correct execution order and data dependencies
ViewManager.cs: Modern view system handling display modes and rendering coordination

Geological Simulation Pipeline

MagmaImpact → Slump → SeaLevel → ClimateTemperature → WindEffect → RiverFlow → SetBiomes → Display Refresh

Key Subsystems

Environmental Systems:

WindEffect.cs: Complex wind pattern calculations with eastern ocean boost, altitude effects, and temperature-based moisture gradients
RiverFlow.cs: Dynamic river formation and water routing across terrain
ClimateTemperature.cs: Randomized Arctic/Desert placement with latitude-based temperature modeling
SeaLevel.cs: Dynamic sea level management affecting biomes and land visibility

Visualization Systems:

ViewManager.cs: Central view controller with plugin architecture for different display modes
BiomeView.cs, MagmaView.cs, AltitudeView.cs, WeatherView.cs, TemperatureView.cs: Specialized rendering for each overlay
BiomeLoader.cs: JSON-driven biome system with environmental constraints
HexGridColours.cs: Advanced color mapping for multiple data visualization modes

Rendering Infrastructure:

HexagonRenderer.cs: Core hexagon display logic with sprite and color support
OverlayRenderer.cs: Arrow and overlay rendering for wind, altitude, and magma visualization
River Rendering: LineRenderer-based river network visualization with proper sorting layers

Unity Project Structure

Unity Version: 6000.1.12f1 (Unity 6)
Main Scene: Assets/Scenes/SampleScene.unity
Core Data: Assets/Data/biomes.json (40+ biome definitions with environmental parameters)
Visual Assets: Assets/Resources/Tiles/ (200+ biome sprites)

Development Workflow

Building & Running

Open project in Unity Editor 6000.1.12f1
Use Unity's standard build process (File → Build Settings)
Test in Play Mode within Unity Editor for simulation development

Simulation Controls

Space Key: Execute 5 geological simulation cycles
R Key: Regenerate entire map (resets Era to 0, new climate assignment)
Number Keys 1-5: Toggle visualization overlays:
- 1: Biome, 2: Magma, 3: Altitude, 4: Weather, 5: Temperature
Mouse Interaction: Hexagon tooltips and inspection

Performance Monitoring

Built-in stopwatch timing for geological phase execution
Performance data logged to Unity Console
InfoPanel displays Era count, average height, rainfall, and temperature (land-only metrics)

Critical Implementation Details

Hexagonal Grid System

Grid Wrapping: Horizontal wrapping with modulo arithmetic for world-like topology
Neighbor Calculation: Sophisticated 6-neighbor system with offset coordinate conversion
Coordinate System: X-axis runs West (0) to East (max), Y-axis runs North (0) to South (max)

Advanced Geological Processes

MagmaImpact: Directional tectonic movement affecting neighbors based on plate intensity/direction
Slump: Height redistribution processed from highest to lowest altitude
WindEffect: Multi-factor wind calculations with special eastern ocean moisture system
RiverFlow: Water routing creating realistic river networks with LineRenderer visualization

Climate & Weather Systems

Arctic/Desert Assignment: Randomized once at map generation, fixed throughout geological cycles
Eastern Ocean Boost: 3 easternmost columns have enhanced evaporation (60f) and wind intensity (100f)
Temperature-Based Moisture: WaterVapour varies by climate zone (Arctic: 20-50, Temperate: 80-100, Desert: 0-20)
Wind Propagation: WindChange values propagate westward from eastern ocean through WindSources system

Modern View Architecture

Plugin System: IHexagonView interface allows easy addition of new visualization modes
Rendering Separation: HexagonRenderer handles base display, OverlayRenderer handles arrows/overlays
River Integration: Rivers render in Biome, Weather, and Temperature views using LineRenderer components
Display Refresh: Automatic cleanup and redraw on view changes or simulation updates

Data-Driven Configuration

Biomes: JSON configuration with environmental constraints and sprite references
Tectonic Plates: Dynamic generation with random size, direction, and intensity
Climate Parameters: Configurable sea level (default 10000), arctic placement, wind systems

Key Dependencies

Unity Packages: 2D features, TextMeshPro (UI display)
Required Components: TextMeshPro for InfoPanel display system

Important Coordinate Conventions

X-axis: West (0) to East (Width-1)
Y-axis: North (0) to South (Height-1)
Eastern Ocean: PositionX >= Width-3 (3 easternmost columns)
Land Filter: AltitudeVsSeaLevel > 0 for land-only calculations

Known Implementation Notes

Era Counter: Tracks total geological cycles including initial 25 generation cycles
Arctic Consistency: Climate assignment (IsNorthArctic) set once in HexGrid.Start(), used throughout
River Cleanup: ViewManager destroys all "RiverLine" GameObjects before each refresh
Performance: Display only refreshes on final cycle of each Space press (cycle 4 of 5)

CLAUDE.md

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