DDNet Map Loader (v2)

Source code for a helper tool that hot-reloads a DDNet server map and manages backups.

• Language: C++ (single binary)
• Main: ddnet_control.cpp
• Icon/Resources: ddnet_control.rc (uses Image/ddnet_loader.ico)
• Registry scripts (user-scope): registry/
• Tools: tools/ (e.g., convert_ico.py for multi-size ICO generation)
• Web UI assets (optional): web/

Build

Windows with MSVC (VS 2022 Build Tools):

compile.bat

On success: ddnet_control.exe is produced; see build.log.

Usage

Double-click a .map file (after association), or run from CLI to load a map and hot-reload:

ddnet_control.exe "C:\\Users\\<you>\\AppData\\Roaming\\DDNet\\maps\\mapsfortest\\Tutorial.map"

Behavior (high level):

• Detect current server map via sv_map.
• Ensure %APPDATA%/DDNet/maps structure (and backups/).
• Copy new map into DDNet maps (LINEAR2) if needed.
• Manage lastmapname.txt to decide backup/restore behavior.
• Replace working current_map.map (LINEAR3) and send hot_reload.

File association (Current User)

Scripts are user-scope only, safe to run without admin:

• Remove .map association and residues:

  registry\remove_map_association_current_user.bat

• Associate .map to this build:

  registry\setup_map_association_current_user.bat

If Explorer icons look stale, restart Windows Explorer or clear the icon cache:

ie4uinit.exe -ClearIconCache

Icons

• EXE embeds Image/ddnet_loader.ico via ddnet_control.rc.
• If needed, generate a multi-size ICO:

  venv\Scripts\python.exe tools\convert_ico.py Image\ddnet_loader.ico Image\ddnet_loader_fixed.ico

  Then update ddnet_control.rc to use the fixed icon and rebuild.

Server connection (econ)

ddnet_control.exe talks to the local DDNet server over the external console (econ) TCP socket on 127.0.0.1:8303. It does not use the in-game RCON channel — sv_rcon_password is irrelevant here. The password it sends is ec_password.

The password is resolved at runtime, in this order (first non-empty wins):

1. DDNETCONTROL_ECON_PASSWORD environment variable.
2. econ_password=<value> in a ddnet_control.cfg file placed next to ddnet_control.exe.
3. ec_password "<value>" from %APPDATA%\DDNet\autoexec_server.cfg (DDNet's USERDIR autoexec — overrides anything exec'd from it).
4. ec_password "<value>" from the running DDNet-Server.exe's data/myServerConfig.cfg.
5. ec_password "<value>" from the running DDNet-Server.exe's data/autoexec_server.cfg.
6. Hardcoded fallback test123 (a WARNING is logged so you notice).

Within a single cfg file, the last ec_password line wins, matching DDNet's "later command overrides" semantics. The chosen source is logged to ddnet_control.log (the password value itself is never logged).

If your server uses a non-default ec_password, you don't need to recompile — set DDNETCONTROL_ECON_PASSWORD or drop a ddnet_control.cfg next to the EXE:

# ddnet_control.cfg (next to ddnet_control.exe)
econ_password=your-password-here

Host/port are still 127.0.0.1:8303 in the binary (matches DDNet's default ec_port/ec_bindaddr).

Development notes

• Logs: ddnet_control.log (and build.log for builds). Default location is %APPDATA%\DDNet\maps\ddnet_control.log (the EXE's working directory when launched via .map double-click).
• See scratchpad.md for current test plan and status.

License

MIT (or your preferred license).