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TazUO Code Contribution Guide

Section titled “TazUO Code Contribution Guide”

Welcome to TazUO! We appreciate your interest in contributing to our custom Ultima Online client. TazUO is a C# FNA-based game that utilizes SDL2, originally forked from ClassicUO but now maintained as an independent project focused on quality-of-life improvements for players.

🌳 Branch Structure & Targeting

Section titled “🌳 Branch Structure & Targeting”

IMPORTANT: Please read this section carefully to ensure your contributions go to the right place.

Target Branches

Section titled “Target Branches”
  • legacy - Target this branch for .NET Framework 4.7.2 code contributions
  • dev - Target this branch for .NET 9 code contributions (actively maintained)
  • main - DO NOT TARGET - This is the stable release branch

Development Focus

Section titled “Development Focus”
  • Primary Development: Most active development happens on the .NET 9 version (dev branch)
  • Legacy Version: We also maintain a .NET 472 version (legacy branch) for plugin compatibility

🚀 Getting Started

Section titled “🚀 Getting Started”

Prerequisites

Section titled “Prerequisites”
  • .Net installed.
  • Git for version control
  • Basic understanding of C#, FNA framework, and SDL2

Repository Setup

Section titled “Repository Setup”
  1. Fork the repository from https://github.com/PlayTazUO/TazUO
  2. Due to using an older FNA version, you need to run this:
    Terminal window
    git config --global url."https://".insteadOf git://
  3. Clone your fork locally:
    Terminal window
    git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/TazUO.git
    cd TazUO
  4. Set up the upstream remote:
    Terminal window
    git remote add upstream https://github.com/PlayTazUO/TazUO.git

Choosing Your Target Branch

Section titled “Choosing Your Target Branch”

Before starting any work, decide which version you want to contribute to:

  • Contributing to .NET 4.7.2 (legacy):

    Terminal window
    git checkout legacy
    git pull upstream legacy
    git checkout -b your-feature-name

  • Contributing to .NET 9 (dev):

    Terminal window
    git checkout dev
    git pull upstream dev
    git checkout -b your-feature-name

📋 Contribution Guidelines

Section titled “📋 Contribution Guidelines”

Code Standards

Section titled “Code Standards”
  • Follow C# naming conventions and coding standards
  • Maintain consistency with existing codebase style
  • Add appropriate comments for complex logic
  • Test your changes before submitting a PR

🔄 Pull Request Process

Section titled “🔄 Pull Request Process”

Before Submitting

Section titled “Before Submitting”
  1. Test thoroughly - Ensure your changes work in various scenarios
  2. Check compatibility - Test with different UO server configurations if applicable
  3. Update documentation - Add or update relevant documentation
  4. Follow branch targeting - Ensure you’re targeting the correct branch (legacy or dev)

Submitting Your PR

Section titled “Submitting Your PR”
  1. Push your feature branch to your fork
  2. Create a Pull Request against the appropriate upstream branch:
    • For .NET 4.7.2 features: Target legacy branch
    • For .NET 9 features: Target dev branch
  3. Never target main - This will be rejected

PR Description Template

Section titled “PR Description Template”
## Description
Brief description of the changes made.


## Type of Change
- [ ] Bug fix
- [ ] New feature
- [ ] Performance improvement
- [ ] Code refactoring
- [ ] Documentation update


## Testing
Describe how you tested these changes.


## Screenshots (if applicable)
Add screenshots to help explain your changes.


## Additional Notes
Any additional information relevant to the PR.

🐛 Bug Reports & Feature Requests

Section titled “🐛 Bug Reports & Feature Requests”
  • Bug Reports: Use GitHub Issues with detailed reproduction steps
  • Feature Requests: Join our Discord or use GitHub Discussions to propose new features
  • Wiki Updates: Check our [wiki](https://github.com/PlayTazUO/TazUO/wiki) for existing feature documentation

💬 Community & Support

Section titled “💬 Community & Support”
  • Discord: Join our Discord server for real-time discussion and support
  • GitHub Discussions: For feature proposals and general discussion
  • Wiki: Comprehensive documentation of TazUO features and changes

📝 Important Notes

Section titled “📝 Important Notes”

Branch Targeting Reminder

Section titled “Branch Targeting Reminder”
  • ✅ legacy - .NET Framework 4.7.2 development
  • ✅ dev - .NET 9 development
  • ❌ main - DO NOT TARGET (stable releases only)

Project Philosophy

Section titled “Project Philosophy”

TazUO has evolved beyond its ClassicUO origins. While we monitor ClassicUO for useful updates, we maintain our own roadmap focused on user-requested features and quality-of-life improvements. Our goal is to enhance the Ultima Online experience while maintaining the classic feel players love.

🙏 Recognition

Section titled “🙏 Recognition”

All contributors are valued members of the TazUO community. Significant contributions will be recognized in our release notes and project documentation.

Thank you for contributing to TazUO! Your efforts help make Ultima Online more enjoyable for players worldwide.