Introduction

DFHack is a Dwarf Fortress memory access library and a set of basic tools using this library. The library is a work in progress, so things might change as more tools are written for it.

It is an attempt to unite the various ways tools access DF memory and allow for easier development of new tools.

Getting DFHack

The project is currently hosted on github, for both source and binaries at http://github.com/peterix/dfhack

Compatibility

DFHack works on Windows XP, Vista, 7 or any modern Linux distribution.

OSX is not supported due to lack of developers with a Mac.

Currently supported Dwarf Fortress versions are Windows and Linux.

Windows

Note

Windows 2000 is currently not supported due to missing OS functionality. If you know how to easily suspend processes, you can fix it :)

0.31.01 - 0.31.03 legacy

0.31.04 - 0.31.25 SDL

Linux

Native linux DF

0.31.05 - 0.31.24: spotty support (some things might not work)

0.31.25: full support

Windows DF under wine

0.31.01 - 0.31.03 legacy

0.31.04 - 0.31.25 SDL

Tools

All the DFHack tools are terminal programs. This might seem strange to Windows users, but these are meant mostly as examples for developers. Still, they can be useful and are cross-platform just like the library itself.

dfattachtest

Test of the process attach/detach mechanism.

dfautodump

Automated item dumping tool. All loose items on the floor marked for dumping are insta-dumped to the position of the in-game cursor.

Cursor must be placed on a floor tile. Instadumped items may not show up in the cursor description list until you save/reload.

Options:

-d Destroy instead of dumping. Doesn't require a cursor.

dfcleanmap

Cleans all the splatter that get scattered all over the map. Only exception is mud. It leaves mud alone.

dfcleanowned

Removes the ownership flag from items. By default, owned food on the floor and rotten items are confistacted and dumped.

Options:

-a confiscate all owned items
-l confiscated and dump all items scattered on the floor
-x confiscate/dump items with wear level 'x' and more
-X confiscate/dump items with wear level 'X' and more
-d a dry run. combine with other options to see what will happen without it actually happening.
On Windows:
  • dfremovelitter.bat runs the tool with -lx
  • dfconfiscate.bat runs the tool with -a

dfcleartask

Items marked for a job can get stuck during a abandon/reclaim. This tool aims to fix that. Best used immediately after a reclaim. Not thoroughly tested, use at your own risk.

dfderamp (by zilpin)

Removes all ramps designated for removal from the map. This is useful for replicating the old channel digging designation. It also removes any and all 'down ramps' that can remain after a cave-in (you don't have to designate anything for that to happen).

dfdoffsets

Dumps the offsets for the currently running DF version into the terminal.

dfexpbench

Just a simple benchmark of the data export speed.

dfflows

A tool for checking how many liquid tiles are actively checked for flows.

dfincremental

A simple memory search tool for DF. Requires arcane knowledge ;)

dflair

Marks all of the map as a lair, preventing item scatter on abandon/reclaim.

dfliquids

A command prompt for liquid creation and manipulation (the Moses effect included!) Also allows painting obsidian walls directly.

Note

Spawning and deleting liquids can F up pathing data and temperatures (creating heat traps). You've been warned.

dfmode

This tool lets you change the game mode directly. Not all combinations are good for every situation and most of them will produce undesirable results. There are a few good ones though.

Example

You are in fort game mode (0 game mode), managing your fortress (0 control mode) and paused. You switch to the arena game mode, assume control of a creature and the switch to adventure game mode(1). You just lost a fortress and gained an adventurer.

I take no responsibility of anything that happens as a result of using this tool :P

dfpause

Forces DF to pause. This is useful when your FPS drops below 1 and you lose control of the game.

dfposition

Prints the game mode, current DF window properties and cursor position in both local and world coordinates.

dfprobe

Can be used to determine tile properties like temperature.

dfprospector

Lists all available minerals on the map and how much of them there is.

Options:

-a processes all tiles, even hidden ones.

On windows, it's possible to run dfprsopector-all.bat to process all the tiles without messing with terminal windows.

dfreveal

Reveals the whole map, waits for input and hides it again. If you close the tool while it waits, the map remains revealed.

dfunreveal

Hides everything and then only reveals the part of the map accessible from the position of DF's cursor. Place the cursor in open space that you want to keep revealed - this should include the surface world. Can be used to fix maps stuck revealed or hide parts of the fortress blocked off by walls.

dfsuspend

Test of the process suspend/resume mechanism. If this doesn't work as expected, it's not safe to use DFHack.

dftubefill

Fills all the 'candy stores' with 'delicious candy'. No need to fear the clowns. Don't use if you haven't seen the hidden fun stuff yet ;)

dfunstuck

Use if you prematurely close any of the tools and DF appears to be stuck. Mostly only needed on Windows.

dfvdig

Designates a whole vein for digging. Point the cursor at a vein and run this thing :) Running 'dfXvdig' on Windows or using the '-x' parameter will dig stairs between z-levels to follow the veins.

dfveinlook

Simplistic map viewer for linux. Mostly a debug/development thing.

dfweather

Lets you change the current weather to 'clear sky', 'rainy' or 'snowing'. Fill those ponds without mucking around with dfliquids :D Rain can also stop brush fires.

Your tool here

Write one ;)