Development Information

Overview

GnollHack can be built for several platforms using either a Linux or Windows development machine.

• Repository Structure
• Related Repositories
• Overview of Building GnollHack with .NET MAUI — Please read this first before building anything with .NET MAUI.
• Troubleshooting Building GnollHack with .NET MAUI
• Instructions for Developing GnollHackM Project (.NET MAUI)
• Updating Tileset for GnollHackM (.NET MAUI)
• Known Working Build Setups

Supported Platforms

Modern Client

Platform	Technology	CPU Arch	Solution	Projects	Emulator Support1
Android	.NET MAUI	Arm64, x642	GnollHackM	GnollHackM	Yes4
iOS	.NET MAUI	Arm64	GnollHackM	GnollHackM	Yes4
Windows	.NET MAUI	x64, (Arm643)	GnollHackM	GnollHackM	No5

• ¹ Emulator support refers to the fact that if the port is supported by popular cross-operating-system emulators.
• ² Android x64 binaries are used by Android emulators running on a Windows machine with an x64 CPU, such as Google Games for PC emulator.
• ³ .NET MAUI supports Arm64 on Windows but we have not built Arm64 binaries, because we do not have a Windows test device with an Arm64 CPU.
• ⁴ May have odd behavior or crash.
• ⁵ GnollHack's modern Windows port (.NET MAUI) doesn't run on Wine or Proton, because they don't have support for running WinUI 3 apps.

Legacy Clients

Platform	Technology	CPU Arch	Solution	Projects	Emulator Support1
Android	Xamarin.Forms	Arm64	GnollHack	GnollHackX, GnollHackX.Android	Yes3
iOS	Xamarin.Forms	Arm64	GnollHack	GnollHackX, GnollHackX.iOS	Yes3
Windows	ASCII	x64	GnollHack	GnollHack	Yes
Windows	ComCtl32 Controls	x64	GnollHack	GnollHackW	Yes
Linux	ASCII	x64	N/A2	N/A2	N/A

• ¹ Emulator support refers to the fact that if the port is supported by popular cross-operating-system emulators.
• ² The Linux version is built on Linux as described in Build Instructions for ASCII Version on Linux.
• ³ May have odd behavior or crash.

Support for Other Platforms

• Support for macOS using .NET MAUI / Mac Catalyst or Avalonia UI is coming in the future, but it may take a while.
• Linux support for the modern client is coming in the future using Avalonia UI, but the technology is not ready yet, so we need to wait.
• At the moment, we don't plan to support gaming consoles or controllers, such as Steam Deck.

Easy Build Repository

• GnollHackMAUIEasyBuild Repository — Build GnollHack's modern ports (.NET MAUI) with ease

Windows Development Machine

Windows Build Target

Legacy Windows Ports (from 1990s)

• Build Instructions for ASCII Version on Windows — Win32 Console Application
• Build Instructions for Windows GUI Version on Windows — Win32 Application with ComCtl32 Controls

Modern Windows Port: .NET MAUI with WinUI 3 (from 2020s)

• Build Instructions for WinUI3 Version on Windows (.NET MAUI)
• Data File Locations (WinUI 3 Version – .NET MAUI)
• Steam Version Publishing Checklist

Android and iOS Build Targets

Xamarin.Forms (Legacy Mobile Ports)

• Build Instructions for Android Version on Windows
• Android Version Building Checklist
• Build Instructions for iOS Version on Windows

.NET MAUI (Current Mobile Ports)

As of March 26, 2025, .NET MAUI mobile ports are fully functional but not yet deployed to the stores.

• Build Instructions for Android Version on Windows (.NET MAUI)
• Build Instructions for iOS Version on Windows (.NET MAUI)

Linux Development Machine

Linux Build Target

• Build Instructions for ASCII Version on Linux

Miscellaneous Info

General

• Debugging Linux Version in WSL using Visual Studio Code
• Release Checklist
• SkiaSharp Build Instructions
• Installing MSIX Packages on Windows 10 and 11
• Native Libraries

.NET MAUI

Windows / WinUI 3

• System Requirements for Modern Windows Port (.NET MAUI ∕ WinUI 3)
• CPU and GPU Usage Modes in Modern Windows Port (.NET MAUI ∕ WinUI 3)

Articles

• Mobile Version Development — The technologies and the history of the mobile version of GnollHack.
• Benefits of .NET MAUI over Xamarin.Forms – How is .NET MAUI better than Xamarin.Forms