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name: validate-blender description: Validate Blender AKM (Asciicker Mesh) export files, check mesh format, and verify compatibility with the Asciicker engine. Use when exporting from Blender, checking mesh files, or troubleshooting mesh loading. allowed-tools: Bash, Read, Grep

Validate Blender Skill

Validates Blender AKM (Asciicker Mesh) export files for compatibility with the Asciicker engine.

Quick Start

Validate an AKM file:

Use the MCP server tool:

CopyValidate the Blender export: meshes/player.akm

This calls the validate_blender_export tool from the asciicker-dev MCP server.

AKM File Format

AKM (Asciicker Mesh) files are custom binary mesh formats containing:

• Vertex positions
• Normals
• UV coordinates
• Bone weights (for skeletal animation)
• Material indices

Common Validation Checks

The validator checks:

1. File exists - AKM file is readable
2. Header format - Correct magic number and version
3. Vertex count - Non-zero vertices
4. Normal vectors - Valid and normalized
5. UV coordinates - In range [0, 1]
6. Bone weights - Sum to 1.0 for skinned meshes
7. Face indices - Valid triangle indices

Blender Export Workflow

1. Create/edit mesh in Blender
2. Export to AKM format:
   • Use Blender export script (if available)
   • Or use custom Python exporter
3. Validate export:

   CopyValidate meshes/my_mesh.akm
   

4. Place in meshes/ directory
5. Test in editor:
   • Launch editor
   • Place mesh in scene
   • Verify appearance and animation

File Locations

Mesh directory:

Copymeshes/
├── player.akm
├── enemy.akm
├── items/
│   ├── sword.akm
│   └── shield.akm
└── terrain/
    └── rock.akm

Blender Export Script

If you need to create an export script, see the MCP server for template generation:

CopyGenerate a feature template for Blender AKM export

Common Issues

File not found:

• Verify file path relative to project root
• Check file permissions

Invalid header:

• Re-export from Blender
• Verify export script version matches engine version

Vertex count zero:

• Mesh may be empty
• Check Blender export settings

Invalid normals:

• Recalculate normals in Blender: Mesh > Normals > Recalculate Outside
• Ensure mesh is not non-manifold

Bone weight issues:

• Check armature modifiers in Blender
• Verify vertex groups are assigned
• Ensure automatic weights or manual painting is correct

Testing in Editor

After validation:

1. Launch editor: ./.run/asciiid
2. Load mesh:
   • Editor should auto-discover meshes in meshes/ directory
   • Select mesh from UI
3. Place in scene:
   • Click to place mesh instance
   • Verify rendering
4. Test animation (if skeletal):
   • Play animation
   • Verify bone deformation

MCP Server Integration

The validate-blender skill uses the asciicker-dev MCP server, which provides:

• validate_blender_export(akm_file) - Validate AKM file format
• analyze_asciiid_structure() - Show mesh loading code
• generate_feature_template("blender_export") - Export script template

Related Files

• asciicker_mcp_server.py - MCP server with validation tool
• .vscode/mcp.json - MCP server configuration
• meshes/ - Mesh directory
• asciiid.cpp - Mesh loading code

Instructions

When the user asks to validate a Blender export:

1. Identify the AKM file path
2. Use the MCP server validate_blender_export tool
3. Report validation results
4. If errors found, suggest fixes based on error type
5. Optionally guide through re-export process
6. Test in editor if validation passes

Blender Resources

Mesh requirements:

• Triangulated faces (or auto-triangulate on export)
• Clean geometry (no non-manifold edges)
• Recalculated normals
• UV unwrapped (if textured)
• Proper armature setup (if animated)

Export checklist:

• Apply modifiers (or export with modifiers applied)
• Export selected vs all objects
• Coordinate system: Z-up (or transform on import)
• Scale: Match engine units