Crafting Systems Overview

Build Information

Current documentation based on build version: 676042 Last updated: 2025-06-21

System Purpose

The Crafting Systems category implements the complete item creation and recipe management infrastructure in Don't Starve Together. These systems transform raw materials into useful items through structured recipes, technology requirements, and user interface interactions that define the core survival gameplay loop.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and manage all crafting recipes and their requirements
• Control technology tree progression and prototyper unlocks
• Provide filtering and organization for crafting menu interface
• Handle user preferences and recipe customization
• Support character-specific and station-based crafting restrictions
• Manage item trading and upgrade systems

System Scope

This category includes all crafting-related mechanics but excludes raw material gathering (handled by World Systems) and tool usage mechanics (handled by Fundamentals).

Architecture Overview

System Components

Crafting systems are implemented as interconnected modules that handle recipe definitions, user interface organization, technology progression, and player preferences through a layered architecture.

Data Flow

Recipe Definition → Tech Validation → UI Organization → User Interaction
       ↓                ↓               ↓                ↓
   Ingredient Check → Station Check → Filter Display → Craft Action
       ↓                ↓               ↓                ↓
   Resource Cost → Builder Ability → Menu Profile → Item Creation

Integration Points

• Character Systems: Builder capabilities and character-specific recipes
• Fundamentals: Action system and entity creation framework
• Data Management: Recipe data persistence and user preferences
• User Interface: Crafting menu displays and interaction handling
• World Systems: Resource availability and crafting station placement

Recent Changes

Build	Date	Component	Change Type	Description
676042	2025-06-21	Recipe System Core	stable	Current recipe and ingredient framework
676042	2025-06-21	Crafting Sorting	stable	Recipe organization and prioritization
676042	2025-06-21	Crafting Menu Profile	stable	User preferences and customization
675312	2023-11-15	Tech Tree	enhanced	Extended technology categories
675312	2023-11-15	Recipe Filters	enhanced	Improved categorization system

Core Crafting Modules

Recipe System Core

Foundation classes for defining crafting recipes and ingredients.

Module	Status	Description	Key Features
Recipe Classes	stable	Core recipe and ingredient definitions	Recipe2 constructor, ingredient validation
Helper Functions	stable	Recipe validation and utility functions	Character/tech ingredient detection
Global Functions	stable	Recipe retrieval and management	GetValidRecipe, validation checks

Recipes System

Complete recipe definitions and implementation framework.

Module	Status	Description	Key Features
Recipe Definitions	stable	All base game crafting recipes	Comprehensive recipe database
Tech Integration	stable	Technology requirement system	Prototyper integration, tech levels
Character Recipes	stable	Character-exclusive crafting	Builder tags, skill tree integration

Technology Tree

Technology progression and research level management.

Module	Status	Description	Key Features
Tech Types	stable	Available technology categories	Science, magic, ancient, celestial
Bonus System	stable	Technology bonus mechanics	Temporary research bonuses
Tech Tree Creation	stable	Technology tree initialization	Default value setup

Recipe Filters

Crafting menu categorization and organization system.

Module	Status	Description	Key Features
Filter Definitions	stable	Recipe category definitions	Tools, weapons, armor, magic
Character Filters	stable	Character-specific recipe organization	Character avatars, builder tags
Special Event Filters	stable	Seasonal and event recipe categories	Winter's Feast, Halloween, yearly events

Crafting Sorting

Recipe organization and prioritization system for the crafting menu.

Module	Status	Description	Key Features
Default Sort	stable	Filter-based recipe organization	Category-based sorting
Craftable Sort	stable	Craftability prioritization	Buffered, craftable, uncraftable categories
Favorite Sort	stable	User preference ordering	Favorite recipe prioritization
Alpha Sort	stable	Alphabetical organization	Consistent alphabetical listing

Crafting Menu Profile

User preferences and customization management.

Module	Status	Description	Key Features
Profile Management	stable	User preference persistence	Save/load functionality
Favorites System	stable	Recipe favorite management	Add, remove, check favorites
Pinned Recipes	stable	Quick access recipe pinning	Multiple pages, navigation
Sort Preferences	stable	Sorting mode customization	User-defined sort order

Trade Recipes

Item trading and upgrade recipe configuration.

Module	Status	Description	Key Features
Trade Definitions	stable	Item upgrade configurations	Rarity-based trading system
Upgrade Recipes	stable	Specific upgrade requirements	Common, Classy, Spiffy upgrades

Common Crafting Patterns

Basic Recipe Creation

-- Standard crafting recipe pattern
Recipe2("spear",
    {
        Ingredient("twigs", 2),
        Ingredient("flint", 1),
        Ingredient("rope", 1)
    },
    TECH.NONE,
    {
        atlas = "images/inventoryimages.xml",
        image = "spear.tex"
    }
)

Character-Specific Crafting

-- Character-restricted recipe
Recipe2("lighter",
    {
        Ingredient("twigs", 2),
        Ingredient("flint", 1)
    },
    TECH.NONE,
    {
        builder_tag = "pyromaniac", -- Willow only
        atlas = "images/inventoryimages.xml",
        image = "lighter.tex"
    }
)

Technology-Gated Crafting

-- Science station requirement
Recipe2("alchemy_engine",
    {
        Ingredient("boards", 4),
        Ingredient("cutstone", 2),
        Ingredient("goldnugget", 6)
    },
    TECH.SCIENCE_ONE,
    {
        placer = "alchemy_engine_placer",
        min_spacing = 3.2
    }
)

User Preference Management

-- Crafting menu profile usage
local profile = CraftingMenuProfile()
profile:Load()

-- Manage favorites
profile:AddFavorite("torch")
profile:SetPinnedRecipe(1, "spear", "spear_wathgrithr")
profile:SetSortMode(CRAFTING_SORT_MODE.CRAFTABLE)

-- Save changes
profile:Save()

Crafting System Dependencies

Required Systems

• Fundamentals: Action system and entity framework for item creation
• Character Systems: Builder capabilities and character restrictions
• Data Management: Recipe data persistence and user preferences

Optional Systems

• World Systems: Resource availability and crafting station placement
• User Interface: Crafting menu displays and interaction handling
• Networking: Multiplayer recipe synchronization

Performance Considerations

Memory Usage

• Recipe definitions are cached for fast lookup during crafting validation
• Sorting systems use lazy evaluation to minimize unnecessary calculations
• User preferences are persisted efficiently with delta compression
• Filter systems optimize recipe categorization through indexed lookups

Performance Optimizations

• Recipe validation uses fast hash table lookups for ingredient checking
• Crafting menu updates batch UI operations to reduce frame drops
• Sort systems cache intermediate results to avoid repeated calculations
• Technology tree lookups are optimized through pre-computed bonus tables

Scaling Considerations

• Recipe system supports unlimited custom recipes through mod integration
• Sorting algorithms handle large recipe databases efficiently
• User preference system scales to accommodate extensive customization
• Filter system maintains performance with growing recipe counts

Development Guidelines

Best Practices

• Always validate recipe ingredients and technology requirements before crafting
• Use Recipe2 constructor for new recipes to ensure proper initialization
• Implement character restrictions through builder tags rather than custom logic
• Cache frequently accessed recipe data to improve crafting menu performance
• Test recipe sorting and filtering with large datasets to ensure scalability

Common Pitfalls

• Bypassing recipe validation can lead to invalid item creation
• Direct Recipe class usage is deprecated; use AddRecipe2 for mod compatibility
• Forgetting to update recipe filters when adding new recipes
• Not considering multiplayer synchronization for user preference changes
• Implementing custom sorting logic without leveraging existing framework

Testing Strategies

• Test all recipe combinations with proper ingredient availability
• Verify technology requirements work correctly with all prototyper types
• Test character-specific recipes with appropriate and inappropriate characters
• Validate crafting menu performance with maximum recipe database size
• Test user preference persistence across save/load cycles

Crafting Integration Patterns

With Character Systems

Crafting integrates deeply with character capabilities:

• Builder component validates recipe requirements against character abilities
• Character tags restrict access to specialized recipes
• Skill tree progression unlocks advanced crafting options
• Character stats may be consumed as crafting ingredients

With World Systems

Crafting interacts with the game world through:

• Crafting stations provide technology level access
• Resource nodes supply raw materials for recipes
• Placement systems validate structure crafting locations
• Environmental conditions may affect crafting availability

With User Interface

Crafting drives user interface elements:

• Recipe browsers display available crafting options with proper filtering
• Sorting systems organize recipes based on user preferences
• Progress indicators show crafting completion status
• Error messages communicate crafting requirement failures

Balancing Considerations

Recipe Economy

• Ingredient costs balance resource scarcity with item utility
• Technology requirements create meaningful progression paths
• Character restrictions encourage diverse team composition
• Crafting station placement creates strategic world planning

Progression Pacing

• Recipe unlocks follow logical difficulty progression
• Technology tree advancement matches exploration milestones
• Character-specific recipes provide meaningful specialization
• Advanced recipes require investment in infrastructure

Troubleshooting Crafting Issues

Common Crafting Problems

Issue	Symptoms	Solution
Recipes not appearing	Missing from crafting menu	Check tech requirements and builder tags
Ingredients not recognized	Crafting fails with available items	Verify ingredient type and amount specification
Sorting not working	Recipes appear in wrong order	Check sorting system configuration and cache state
Preferences not saving	Settings reset on reload	Verify profile save/load functionality
Character restrictions failing	Wrong characters can craft	Check builder tag assignments and validation

Debugging Crafting Systems

• Use recipe debug commands to verify ingredient requirements
• Check technology tree state with debug overlays
• Inspect crafting menu profile data for corruption
• Review recipe filter assignments for proper categorization
• Test multiplayer synchronization for preference changes

Performance Monitoring

Key Metrics

• Recipe lookup time during crafting validation
• Crafting menu update frequency and duration
• Sorting system performance with large recipe sets
• User preference save/load operation timing
• Memory usage for recipe and filter data structures

Optimization Strategies

• Cache frequently accessed recipe data structures
• Batch crafting menu updates to reduce UI refresh overhead
• Optimize sorting algorithms for common usage patterns
• Minimize preference data serialization overhead
• Use lazy loading for recipe filter initialization

Future Development

Extensibility Design

• Recipe system supports unlimited mod-added recipes
• Filter framework accommodates new categorization schemes
• Sorting system allows custom prioritization algorithms
• User preference system extends to new customization options

Integration Planning

• New crafting mechanics should leverage existing recipe framework
• Consider multiplayer implications for all user preference features
• Plan for mod compatibility when extending core crafting systems
• Design for backward compatibility when modifying recipe structures

Related Systems

System	Relationship	Integration Points
Achievements	Crafting milestone tracking	Recipe craft counters, first-time crafting
Containers	Ingredient storage management	Inventory access, item retrieval
Cooking	Food preparation system	Shared ingredient types, cooking recipes
Special Events	Seasonal recipe availability	Event-gated recipes, temporary unlock

Contributing to Crafting Systems

Adding New Recipes

1. Define recipe using Recipe2 constructor with proper ingredients and tech requirements
2. Assign appropriate filter category for crafting menu organization
3. Test character restrictions and technology requirements thoroughly
4. Update related documentation and provide usage examples

Modifying Recipe Systems

1. Understand current recipe dependencies and integration points
2. Maintain backward compatibility with existing recipes
3. Update related sorting and filtering systems as needed
4. Test performance impact with large recipe databases

Documentation Standards

• Document all recipe parameters and their effects
• Provide clear examples for common crafting patterns
• Explain integration with character and technology systems
• Include troubleshooting guidance for common issues