- v50 information can now be added to pages in the main namespace. v0.47 information can still be found in the DF2014 namespace. See here for more details on the new versioning policy.
- Use this page to report any issues related to the migration.
v0.34:Utilities
| This article is about an older version of DF. |
Utilities are third party applications useful for Dwarf Fortress players and modders, and this page serves as a list of them. Dwarf Fortress is a difficult game to play, and any help that can be had in the task is welcome help. This page lists utilities useful for modders and player alike. If you would like to add an article on a specific game utility to the wiki, please do so under the Utility namespace. Not included on this page: tileset repositories and graphics set repositories have been given their own, separate page. Mods have also been listed under their own Modification namespace. To avoid namespace clutter websites are considered utilities, though they really aren't, and have been included.
A subsection of the Bay12 forums is devoted to such third party programs, and contains development threads for most of them.
The Lazy Newb Pack is an effort to make Dwarf Fortress more accessible for new players by bundling and configuring utilities, graphics and tilesets, and extras such as reference material or more intuitive controls.
Lazy Newb Pack
A commonly-used software bundle with a nice launcher. Allows to start playing DF really quickly on a new machine - no need to download and integrate tilesets and tools like Dwarf Therapist, SoundSense, etc - or even know what you need to get. The newer packs also include many third-party fixes for common bugs, which work automatically, and a large number of significant user interface improvements. The launcher makes changing settings or graphics options much easier (press button, instead of editing files) and can even remember to launch selected utilities whenever you open a game of Dwarf Fortress.
Current versions
- PeridexisErrant Lazy Newb Pack (windows)
- MacNewbie Pack ReBorn (OS X)
- Lazy Newb Pack Installer for Linux
Legacy versions
The older versions have not been updated in more than a year. While they are still available, they're also incompatible with more recent tools and bug fixes.
- Lazy Newb Pack (windows, outdated)
- MacNewbie Pack Cyan v0.6 (OS X, outdated)
- There is no previous Linux edition.
3D Visualizers
Stonesense
Stonesense is a third party visualizer, implemented as a DFHack plugin, that lets you view your fortress in a classic isometric perspective. It runs alongside Dwarf Fortress, and can follow the main game's view, updating in real time. It is included in dfhack, and can be opened by typing 'stonesense' or 'ssense' into the console window.
Fortress Overseer
Fortress Overseer has been the only 3d visualizer since DF 2010. It has been completely rewritten and is currently updated to support DF 2012 (currently supporting versions 34.11 and 31.25). Overseer works indirectly, by using dfhack to 'mapexport' a file which can then be rendered in 3D. DirectX 9 must be installed, though this requirement is not documented.
Isoworld
Isoworld is an isometric world map viewer, which can display each of the detailed maps exported from Legends Mode. It also has a pictographic view which makes finding waterfalls easy.
Isoworld can link with DFhack to display a game view at full spatial resolution in wider context, including tracking the game view. This is particularly useful for adventure mode.
Music and Sounds
SoundSense
SoundSense is a tool that parses game logs and reacts to game events with sound effects, incidental music and dwarfy comments.
forum thread, download at homepage.
Game manipulation tools
DFHack
DFHack is an advanced Dwarf Fortress memory access library and a set of tools and scripts using this library, providing direct object-oriented access to Dwarf Fortress's internals as if it were compiled into the game itself. Releases support versions up through 0.34.11 (as of June 22nd, 2012). Runs on Windows, Linux, and MacOS X.
DFHack has an official forum thread. Code and binary releases are available from the Github site.
Falconne's UI plugins work through DFHack, as do automation tools such as Autolabor, Workflow, Autobutcher, and many others.
DFHack User Interface Plugins
A collection of DFHack plugins that improve the in-game interface with features such as:
- Search function in screens with big lists.
- Ability to place furniture before it's built and have it automatically allocated when available.
- Ability to place constructions with box select (like laying designations), including easier material selection and open space placement (without having to wait till adjacent constructions are built).
- Easier pasturing, live happiness monitor, mouse support, stocks dashboard.
Dwarf Therapist
Dwarf Therapist gives you an advanced GUI to manage and check dwarf job allocations, military assignments, statistics (such as attributes, personality traits and happiness), sort dwarves by various criteria (eg. profession, migration wave, happiness, number of assigned jobs etc.) and generally manage the Dwarven Resources of your fortress in a very convenient way. This version contains the "labor optimizer" semi-automatic labor management system.
Splinterz' fork of Dwarf Therapist is the currently updated version, and available for Windows. A Mac version is available, and is being integrated into the main codebase for a future version. Besides the Bay12 forum thread, there's more information on the google code page.
Fortress layout tools
DF Designator
DF Designator helps you build fortresses from either image files or Quickfort .CSV files. It also has a user interface that allows you to assign hotkeys to blueprints and to combine blueprints in multi z-level designs. Windows, Mac and Linux versions are available.
Quickfort
Quickfort is a utility for Dwarf Fortress that helps you build fortresses from "blueprint" .CSV files (comma separated values). These files are easily created and edited in an app like Excel. Most building-oriented DF commands are supported through the use of multiple .CSV files to describe the different phases of DF construction (designation, building, stockpiles, and making adjustments. Also see Quickfort Community Blueprints.
Modding tools
Blast
A raw compiler and assembler that helps with compatibility. It also has a more minimalistic, lighter (but less hand-holding) fork called Rubble.
Raw Explorer
Raw files manager.
World Map / World Gen Tools
Perfect World DF
requires an additional (tiny) download to be funtional for current versions (34.#): http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=5491 . generate worlds to your liking easier or faster than df's ingame map maker. easy access to world settings too to modify. forum thread
Fortress World Generator
A bash script for automating world generation of large numbers of worlds on GNU/Linux. Available on pastbin.
Dwarf Map Maker
A photoshop action script which turns legends mode exported maps into a much prettier fantasy map. There is also a version available for GIMP.
Filesharing websites
Dwarf Fortress File Depot
The Dwarf Fortress File Upload Service - an excellent place to store mods, community games, tilesets and other files. Courtesy of Janus; for files related to Dwarf Fortress only.
Dwarf Fortress Map Archive
The Dwarf Fortress Map Archive is a large collection of user-submitted maps and videos and a nice flash viewer for perusing them. Maps are uploaded, stored, and downloaded in a special compressed format created by the DF Map Compressor; videos are stored in a compressed version of Toady One's own video-recording format.
Other/miscellaneous
dfterm3
Dfterm3 is a remote Dwarf Fortress playing software for multiple users through a web interface. It is a successor to dfterm2, which does exactly the same on telnet instead of a web browser.
Exita
Exita is a python program that takes your DF world map exports and dump them into several different text outputs.
Legends Viewer
Allows browsing legends easily.
- Please note if you use DFHack's workflow tool, clear your workflow in either adventure mode or fortress mode prior to exporting the XML. The settings are stored in HEX format as legendary figures and you will get the HEX error when trying to import the XML into the viewer.
DFMon
An announcement monitoring/filtering program, useful to get rid of job cancellation spam.