Welcome to SimTools
05/05/2025
SimTools v4 Dev Diaries
May 2026
Still Alive, Still Building
Hey everyone,
First things first — I owe you all an apology. It's been a while since the last update, and I know many of you have been waiting, watching, and wondering what's going on behind the scenes. Progress has been slower than any of us would have liked, and for that, I'm genuinely sorry. Your patience means more than I can properly express, and I don't take it for granted.
First things first — I owe you all an apology. It's been a while since the last update, and I know many of you have been waiting, watching, and wondering what's going on behind the scenes. Progress has been slower than any of us would have liked, and for that, I'm genuinely sorry. Your patience means more than I can properly express, and I don't take it for granted.
So, What's Actually Happening?
The short answer: a lot — just not always in ways that are immediately visible.
The new codebase is actively under development. One of the core commitments driving this rebuild is that every feature from the old version is being carefully migrated and re-incorporated. Nothing is being abandoned or cut corners on. Each piece of functionality is being evaluated, refactored where needed, and brought forward — properly — into the new architecture. This takes time to do right, and doing it right is the only way I'm willing to ship it.
Beyond the migration work, this isn't just a "new coat of paint" situation. The new version is being built with significantly expanded capabilities from the ground up:
🎮 Support for additional games is actively being wired in — the goal is broader compatibility than ever before.
✨ New features are being developed alongside the migration, not after it.
🏗️ The underlying architecture is being designed to make future additions far easier to implement and maintain. This is why it takes longer. I'm not just porting — I'm building something better.
The new codebase is actively under development. One of the core commitments driving this rebuild is that every feature from the old version is being carefully migrated and re-incorporated. Nothing is being abandoned or cut corners on. Each piece of functionality is being evaluated, refactored where needed, and brought forward — properly — into the new architecture. This takes time to do right, and doing it right is the only way I'm willing to ship it.
Beyond the migration work, this isn't just a "new coat of paint" situation. The new version is being built with significantly expanded capabilities from the ground up:
🎮 Support for additional games is actively being wired in — the goal is broader compatibility than ever before.
✨ New features are being developed alongside the migration, not after it.
🏗️ The underlying architecture is being designed to make future additions far easier to implement and maintain. This is why it takes longer. I'm not just porting — I'm building something better.
Open Source Is Coming!
This is the part I'm genuinely excited to share.
The plan is to open the codebase to the community, and when that happens, I want you involved. Whether you're a seasoned developer or someone just getting started, there will be meaningful ways to contribute. More eyes on the code means fewer bugs, faster features, and a healthier project overall.
If you're a developer — start thinking about what you'd want to contribute. Watch this space. When the repo goes public, I want the community ready to hit the ground running.
The plan is to open the codebase to the community, and when that happens, I want you involved. Whether you're a seasoned developer or someone just getting started, there will be meaningful ways to contribute. More eyes on the code means fewer bugs, faster features, and a healthier project overall.
If you're a developer — start thinking about what you'd want to contribute. Watch this space. When the repo goes public, I want the community ready to hit the ground running.
Support the Project — Donate to SimTools
None of this happens without support. Development time is real time, and keeping this project alive and moving forward takes resources.
If SimTools has ever saved you money, enhanced your setup, or just made your sim experience better — please consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, goes directly back into the project and helps ensure we can keep building.
👉 Donate to SimTools — your support genuinely makes a difference.
If SimTools has ever saved you money, enhanced your setup, or just made your sim experience better — please consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, goes directly back into the project and helps ensure we can keep building.
👉 Donate to SimTools — your support genuinely makes a difference.
Wrapping Up
I know "it's coming" is a phrase that wears thin after a while. I get it. But I can tell you with confidence that the work is real, the progress is happening, and the end result is going to be worth the wait.
Thank you for sticking with me. More updates soon — and this time, soon actually means soon.
Thank you for sticking with me. More updates soon — and this time, soon actually means soon.
Developer of SimTools. Long standing fan of Maxis and the sim-style franchise. First game ever played was the original SimCity on DOS. I work full-time as an Armed & Unarmed Security Officer, going where clients need me most.
