do i have to switch between .love and .zip files every time?

[worldaway]

(im a noob to this)
This is the way i modify my code:
I change the .love to .zip
I open the .zip folder
I open the main.lua with notepad++
I modify code/save
I get out of the main.lua and .zip folder
I rename the .zip folder to .love
Now I run the program.

Is this the best way to modify and run code, because It seems very cumbersome?

[Rad3k]

You can run your code just from a directory, it doesn't have to be zipped - I do this all the time when I'm working on something. But that's easy on Linux...
If you're on Windows, you can try this doesn't work:
1. Unzip your .love into an empty directory
2. Place a shortcut to love (Löve executable) in that directory
3. In the shortcut properties, set "working directory" (or something like that, I don't remember) to this directory.

Then I think you should be able to run your project with this shortcut. I don't know for sure if it works, but that's what I would try first.

EDIT: Just checked, it didn't work.
But you can drag the folder (or .zip file) onto the Löve shortcut and it should work (works for me).

[Jasoco]

Keep it in a folder during development. Zip it into a .love when you release it or want to upload a demo here.

[T-Bone]

If you've installed Löve properly, you should be able to be able to run your game from a command line, so you should be able to make a sort of launcher, that runs your game as a folder when you double click on it. I think you should make a .bat file containing

Code: Select all

love PATHTOFOLDER

[Taehl]

If you're in Windows, you can make a shortcut to have Love run a folder. (Love can run folders, .zip files, and .love files). The shortcut path should be the filepath to Love, then the filepath to the your project. For example, I use:

Code: Select all

D:\Dev\Love\love.exe "D:\Dev\Love\Underlife b2"

[nevon]

Or if you add the love executable (love.exe) to your PATH, you can just open up a terminal and run:

Code: Select all

cd C:\path\to\your\game\
love.exe .

At least I think that should work (not sure if . works in Windows). If not, just:

Code: Select all

love.exe C:\path\to\your\game\

[Kadoba]

Since you're using notepad++ you can also enter run commands by hitting F5. Notepad++ will remember the command until you close it.

It's really handy.

[tentus]

Since you're using notepad++ you can also enter run commands by hitting F5. Notepad++ will remember the command until you close it.

It's really handy.

For reference, this is the command (depending on your love location, of course):

Code: Select all

"C:\path\to\love\love.exe" "$(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)"

You can also give it a shortcut if you save it. I always set it up to be Ctrl-Shift-Enter, that way no matter what main.lua I am editing, it is one shortcut away from running.

[GijsB]

right click on the .love
open with winrar
edit
save
play

[T-Bone]

Since you're using notepad++ you can also enter run commands by hitting F5. Notepad++ will remember the command until you close it.

It's really handy.

For reference, this is the command (depending on your love location, of course):

Code: Select all

"C:\path\to\love\love.exe" "$(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)"

You can also give it a shortcut if you save it. I always set it up to be Ctrl-Shift-Enter, that way no matter what main.lua I am editing, it is one shortcut away from running.

The same works if you're running Linux if you're using gedit, if you have "external commands" activated. The linux command is

Code: Select all

love .