BlockSmith

BlockSmith - Blocks to Scripts

A node flow environment built with JavaFX.<br>

See example at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oev1IJZvAPw <br><br>

QUICK START

Welcome to BlockSmith! Here’s how to get started:

Blocks generate, process and output data. Double-click anywhere on the workspace to add a block. Each block does something specific, like entering a number or doing math. Need help? Click the (i) icon on a block to learn more about it.

Connect blocks by linking their ports. Hover over a port to see what kind of data a port accepts or produces. Example: A multiply block needs two numbers and gives you the result. That’s it! You’re ready to build your first graph. <br><br>

CONTROLS

• Right drag: pan
• Scroll: zoom
• Left double click: create blocks
• Left click: select a block
• Left click + CMD/CTRL: multi select blocks
• Left drag: selection rectangle
• Left drag block: move selected block(s)
• Left click port: connect blocks
• Left click connection: remove connection
• Right click: radial menu <br>

SHORTCUTS

• CMD/CTRL-A: select all blocks
• CMD/CTRL-C: copy selected blocks
• CMD/CTRL-V: paste copied blocks
• CMD/CTRL-G: group selected blocks
• CMD/CTRL-O: load graph
• CMD/CTRL-S: save graph
• CMD/CTRL-N: new graph
• CMD/CTRL-PLUS: zoom in
• CMD/CTRL-MINUS: zoom out
• CMD/CTRL-Z: undo
• CMD/CTRL-Y: redo
• Space: zoom to fit
• Del/Backspace: delete selected blocks <br>

FUNCTIONALITIES

• Input blocks to generate primitve data types e.g. String, Boolean, Integer, Long, Double
• Math blocks such as multiply, divide, add and substract
• List blocks to get, add, remove and replace items
• Json blocks to get properties
• Date blocks
• File blocks
• Spreadsheet blocks
• String blocks <br>

CUSTOMIZE

• Create custom blocks by copying TemplateBlock.java and change its behaviour
• Create your own library with block types and add it to "build/lib/" <br>

STYLE

• Change styles in App.java to either flat white, flat dark or default
• Customize your own style by using one of the above styles as template <br>

TODO

• General UI/UX

  • ✅ Start screen
  • ✅ Undo/redo
  • Auto save/load
  • ✅ Menu bar
  • ✅ Save canvas size, position and zoom factor
  • ✅ Zoom controls <br>

• Block behaviour

  • Hints
  • ✅ Behaviour info
  • ✅ Exceptions
  • ✅ Remove connections
  • ✅ Save block size <br>

• Block library extension

  • ✅ Load external libraries (subclasses and static methods)
  • ✅ Load blocks through reflection
  • ✅ Migrate existing blocks to external libraries <br>

• Select Block

  • Search through tags <br>

• Bugs

  • ✅ Fix align submenu of radial menu <br>

• Other

  • Customization functionality through config file
  • Comments
  • Scripting block
  • Looping groups/areas
  • ✅ Improve grouping
  • BUG text and blocks are copied/pasted simultaneously
  • ✅ Remove Obj library