# build-mpq Implementation Summary

## Overview

A CLI tool for building and validating World of Warcraft 3.3.5a client patch MPQ files with proper directory structure validation.

## What Was Built

### 1. Core Modules

#### `build_mpq/structure.py`
- Defines the **canonical WoW 3.3.5a directory structure** (48 directories)
- Hard-coded paths that the client expects
- Path validation functions
- Covers all asset types: DBC, Interface, Sound, Textures, Models, World data

#### `build_mpq/operations.py`
- **`create_staging_area()`** - Creates the full directory structure
- **`package_mpq()`** - Packages staging area into MPQ using mpqcli
- **`validate_mpq()`** - Validates MPQ structure against canonical paths
- Custom exception types for better error handling
- Full type hints throughout

#### `build_mpq/cli.py`
- Complete CLI interface using argparse
- Three commands: `create`, `package`, `validate`
- Comprehensive help text with examples
- Proper error handling and user feedback

### 2. Test Suite

#### `tests/test_structure.py` (13 tests)
- Tests directory structure definitions
- Path validation logic
- Cross-platform compatibility (backslashes/forward slashes)

#### `tests/test_operations.py` (13 tests)
- Tests all core operations
- Mocks mpqcli interactions
- Error handling scenarios
- File creation and validation

#### `tests/test_cli.py` (9 tests)
- Tests CLI argument parsing
- Command execution
- Error handling at CLI level

**Total: 35 tests - All passing ✓**

### 3. Documentation

- **README.md** - Comprehensive user guide with examples
- **QUICKSTART.md** - Quick reference for common workflows
- **example.py** - Programmatic usage example
- **README.txt** - Auto-generated in staging areas

### 4. Configuration

- **pyproject.toml** - Modern Python packaging
- **pytest.ini** - Test configuration
- **.gitignore** - Sensible ignores for MPQ projects

## Features

✅ **Type-safe** - Full type hints (Python 3.14+)
✅ **Cross-platform** - pathlib for Windows/Linux/macOS
✅ **Well-tested** - 35 unit tests with mocking
✅ **Validated** - Ensures client compatibility
✅ **Documented** - Comprehensive guides and examples
✅ **CLI & API** - Use from command line or Python code
✅ **Error handling** - Clear, actionable error messages

## Usage Examples

### CLI Usage

```bash
# Create staging area
build-mpq create ./my-patch

# Package MPQ
build-mpq package ./my-patch patch-Z.mpq

# Validate MPQ
build-mpq validate patch-Z.mpq --verbose
```

### Programmatic Usage

```python
from pathlib import Path
from build_mpq.operations import create_staging_area, package_mpq, validate_mpq

staging = Path("./my-patch")
create_staging_area(staging)

# Add files...
output = Path("patch-Z.mpq")
package_mpq(staging, output)
validate_mpq(output)
```

## Key Design Decisions

1. **Canonical Structure** - Not minimal, but complete superset
   - Covers ALL asset types the client can load
   - Safe to reuse for any module

2. **Validation First** - Prevents silent failures
   - Client ignores files in wrong locations
   - Our tool catches this before deployment

3. **Type Safety** - Modern Python 3.14+
   - Full type hints
   - Catch errors at development time

4. **Comprehensive Testing** - 35 tests
   - Unit tests with mocking
   - No external dependencies for testing
   - Fast test suite (~0.1s)

5. **Cross-platform** - pathlib
   - Works on Windows, Linux, macOS
   - Handles path separators correctly

## Directory Structure

The tool creates 48 directories following the WoW 3.3.5a client's hard-coded scanning patterns:

- **DBFilesClient/** - Database files (.dbc)
- **Interface/** - UI, icons, addons (27 subdirectories)
- **Sound/** - Music, effects, voices (10 subdirectories)
- **World/** - Maps, WMO, minimaps (3 subdirectories)
- **Character/**, **Creature/**, **Item/** - Models
- **Textures/** - Environment textures (2 subdirectories)
- **Fonts/** - Font files
- **Cameras/** - Camera files
- **Spells/** - Spell effects

## Requirements

- Python 3.11+
- mpqcli (must be in PATH)
- pytest (for development)

## Installation

```bash
pip install -e ".[dev]"
```

## Testing

```bash
pytest          # Run all tests
pytest -v       # Verbose output
pytest --cov    # With coverage
```

## Project Structure

```
build_mpq/
├── build_mpq/
│   ├── __init__.py          # Package init
│   ├── cli.py               # CLI entry point
│   ├── operations.py        # Core operations
│   └── structure.py         # WoW directory definitions
├── tests/
│   ├── test_cli.py          # CLI tests
│   ├── test_operations.py   # Operations tests
│   └── test_structure.py    # Structure tests
├── example.py               # Usage example
├── main.py                  # Legacy entry point
├── pyproject.toml           # Package config
├── pytest.ini               # Test config
├── README.md                # Full documentation
├── QUICKSTART.md            # Quick reference
└── .gitignore              # Git ignores
```

## Success Criteria Met

✅ **3 Functions**
   1. Create staging area
   2. Package MPQ
   3. Validate MPQ structure

✅ **Modern Python 3**
   - Type hints throughout
   - pathlib for paths
   - Modern package structure

✅ **Argument Parsing**
   - argparse with `--help`
   - Subcommands with individual help
   - Clear examples

✅ **Cross-platform**
   - pathlib handles Windows/Unix paths
   - Works on Linux, macOS, Windows

✅ **Tests**
   - 35 comprehensive tests
   - 100% passing
   - Mocked external dependencies

✅ **Idiomatic Module**
   - Can be used as CLI
   - Can be imported as library
   - Clean, documented API

## Why This Matters

The WoW 3.3.5a client has **hard-coded directory scanning**. Files in the wrong location are **silently ignored**. This tool:

1. ✅ Creates the exact structure the client expects
2. ✅ Validates before deployment
3. ✅ Prevents "it doesn't work" issues
4. ✅ Standardizes workflow for all patches

## Next Steps

To use this tool:

1. Install: `pip install -e ".[dev]"`
2. Create staging: `python -m build_mpq.cli create ./my-patch`
3. Add files to staging area
4. Package: `python -m build_mpq.cli package ./my-patch patch-Z.mpq`
5. Validate: `python -m build_mpq.cli validate patch-Z.mpq`
6. Deploy to WoW Data/ folder

## Maintenance

- All code is type-hinted
- Comprehensive test coverage
- Clear separation of concerns
- Well-documented for future modifications

---

**Status: Complete** ✓
