Getting Started with Goal-Flow: Mastering 2D Scene Layout

First, clone the repository from GitHub to your local machine. Use the following command: `git clone https://github.com/wanmol/goal-flow.git`. Navigate into the directory with `cd goal-flow`. Install dependencies using your preferred package manager, typically `npm install` or `yarn`. Run the development server with `npm run dev` to start the local instance. Once the server is running, open your browser to `http://localhost:3000`. You should see the main canvas interface. If you encounter port conflicts, check the `vite.config.js` or `webpack.config.js` file to adjust the port number. Ensure your node version is compatible with the project's `package.json` specifications to avoid module loading errors during initialization.

Upon loading the interface, locate the settings panel on the right sidebar. Set your canvas dimensions to match your target game resolution, such as 1920x1080 for high-fidelity or 320x180 for retro aesthetics. Enable the grid overlay to assist with precise sprite alignment. Adjust the grid size to 16x16 or 32x32 pixels, which are standard tile sizes for 2D games. Use the zoom controls to navigate the canvas; you can zoom in for detailed sprite placement or zoom out to view the entire level layout. Create a new scene by clicking the 'New Scene' button in the top toolbar. Name your scene descriptively, such as 'Level_01_Boss', to keep your project organized as you scale up your game content.

Drag and drop your sprite sheets or individual PNG assets into the asset library panel. If you are using sprite sheets, Goal-Flow allows you to define sprite regions by clicking and dragging over the image. Once defined, these sprites will appear in the palette. Select a sprite from the palette and click on the canvas to place it. Use the arrow keys to nudge the sprite by single pixels for precise positioning. To move a sprite, select it and drag it to a new location. You can also use the transform tool to scale or rotate sprites if needed. Ensure that sprites are placed on the correct layer; background elements should be on lower layers, while interactive characters should be on higher layers to ensure proper z-indexing during rendering.

Effective scene management relies on proper layering. In the Layers panel, you can create new layers for different categories of objects, such as 'Background', 'Midground', 'Characters', and 'UI'. Drag layers up or down in the list to change their rendering order. Elements on higher layers will appear in front of elements on lower layers. You can toggle the visibility of specific layers using the eye icon, which is useful for isolating specific parts of your scene while editing. Lock layers that you do not intend to modify to prevent accidental movement. This step is crucial for ensuring that your game engine renders objects in the correct order, preventing visual glitches where characters might appear behind walls or UI elements.

Once your scene is complete, you need to export it for use in your game engine. Click the 'Export' button in the top menu. Choose the format that matches your engine requirements; common options include JSON for data-driven scenes or PNG with metadata for tile-based maps. If you are using a JSON export, the file will contain sprite positions, layer information, and animation data. Integrate this file into your game engine by loading it during the scene initialization phase. Test the scene in your engine to ensure that sprites appear in the correct positions and layers. If you encounter issues with sprite alignment, double-check your grid settings and ensure that your engine's tile size matches the grid size used in Goal-Flow.