Validate Blender Skill

Validates Blender AKM (Asciicker Mesh) export files for compatibility with the Asciicker engine.

Quick Start

Validate an AKM file:

Use the MCP server tool:

Validate the Blender export: meshes/player.akm

This calls the validate_blender_export tool from the asciicker-dev MCP server.

AKM File Format

AKM (Asciicker Mesh) files are custom binary mesh formats containing:

• •Vertex positions
• •Normals
• •UV coordinates
• •Bone weights (for skeletal animation)
• •Material indices

Common Validation Checks

The validator checks:

1. •File exists - AKM file is readable
2. •Header format - Correct magic number and version
3. •Vertex count - Non-zero vertices
4. •Normal vectors - Valid and normalized
5. •UV coordinates - In range [0, 1]
6. •Bone weights - Sum to 1.0 for skinned meshes
7. •Face indices - Valid triangle indices

Blender Export Workflow

1. •Create/edit mesh in Blender
2. •Export to AKM format:
   • •Use Blender export script (if available)
   • •Or use custom Python exporter
3. •Validate export:
   code

   Validate meshes/my_mesh.akm
   

4. •Place in meshes/ directory
5. •Test in editor:
   • •Launch editor
   • •Place mesh in scene
   • •Verify appearance and animation

File Locations

Mesh directory:

meshes/
├── player.akm
├── enemy.akm
├── items/
│   ├── sword.akm
│   └── shield.akm
└── terrain/
    └── rock.akm

Blender Export Script

If you need to create an export script, see the MCP server for template generation:

Generate a feature template for Blender AKM export

Common Issues

File not found:

• •Verify file path relative to project root
• •Check file permissions

Invalid header:

• •Re-export from Blender
• •Verify export script version matches engine version

Vertex count zero:

• •Mesh may be empty
• •Check Blender export settings

Invalid normals:

• •Recalculate normals in Blender: Mesh > Normals > Recalculate Outside
• •Ensure mesh is not non-manifold

Bone weight issues:

• •Check armature modifiers in Blender
• •Verify vertex groups are assigned
• •Ensure automatic weights or manual painting is correct

Testing in Editor

After validation:

1. •Launch editor: ./.run/asciiid
2. •Load mesh:
   • •Editor should auto-discover meshes in meshes/ directory
   • •Select mesh from UI
3. •Place in scene:
   • •Click to place mesh instance
   • •Verify rendering
4. •Test animation (if skeletal):
   • •Play animation
   • •Verify bone deformation

MCP Server Integration

The validate-blender skill uses the asciicker-dev MCP server, which provides:

• •validate_blender_export(akm_file) - Validate AKM file format
• •analyze_asciiid_structure() - Show mesh loading code
• •generate_feature_template("blender_export") - Export script template

Related Files

• •asciicker_mcp_server.py - MCP server with validation tool
• •.vscode/mcp.json - MCP server configuration
• •meshes/ - Mesh directory
• •asciiid.cpp - Mesh loading code

Instructions

When the user asks to validate a Blender export:

1. •Identify the AKM file path
2. •Use the MCP server validate_blender_export tool
3. •Report validation results
4. •If errors found, suggest fixes based on error type
5. •Optionally guide through re-export process
6. •Test in editor if validation passes

Blender Resources

Mesh requirements:

• •Triangulated faces (or auto-triangulate on export)
• •Clean geometry (no non-manifold edges)
• •Recalculated normals
• •UV unwrapped (if textured)
• •Proper armature setup (if animated)

Export checklist:

• •Apply modifiers (or export with modifiers applied)
• •Export selected vs all objects
• •Coordinate system: Z-up (or transform on import)
• •Scale: Match engine units