CodeForge

Visual C++ Code Generator for Unreal Engine 5

Design classes, structs, enums, and interfaces in a node-based editor. CodeForge generates UHT-compliant C++ boilerplate instantly — with replication, RPCs, delegates, and more.

v0.1.0 · UE 5.7

1 Overview

CodeForge is an editor plugin that lets you define Unreal Engine C++ classes, structs, enums, and interfaces visually — then generates complete, compile-ready header and source files. Instead of hand-writing UPROPERTY/UFUNCTION macros, specifier strings, and replication boilerplate, you configure them through a node graph and a details panel, and CodeForge emits correct C++ instantly.

2 Installation

From Source or Fab

Once you acquire CodeForge, ensure it is placed in your project's Plugins/ directory. Here is the expected structure:

1. Regenerate project files (right-click your .uproject → Generate Visual Studio project files).
2. Compile and open the editor. CodeForge loads automatically — check Edit → Plugins to verify.

3 Quick Start

Generating your first class takes less than a minute:

1. Create Asset: In Content Browser, right-click → CodeForge → CodeForge Blueprint.
2. Open Editor: Double-click the asset to open the visual graph.
3. Configure: In the Details panel, choose Class, set ClassName (e.g., MyCharacter), and ClassType.
4. Design: Right-click the graph to add Properties, Functions, or RPC nodes and connect them.
5. Generate: Click the Generate Code toolbar button.

4 Architecture

CodeForge is organized into distinct layers, ensuring that data, templates, and UI remain fully decoupled:

5 CodeForge Blueprints

A CodeForge Blueprint (UCodeForgeBlueprint) is the root data asset that stores your entire type definition. It lives in the Runtime module and is a pure data object.

Class Prefix System

CodeForge automatically prepends the correct UE prefix based on the type. If you accidentally type ARPGCharacter, the heuristic prevents double-prefixing it to AARPGCharacter.

6 The Node Graph

CodeForge utilizes a heavily customized visual node graph. The central type node connects to various member nodes.

7 Code Generation

The code generation pipeline converts your node graph into a structured context dictionary, which is then fed into Handlebars-style templates (.cft files) to produce the final C++ strings.

8 Classes

The most feature-rich blueprint kind. Supports properties, functions, RPCs, delegates, and replication.

Properties

Each Property node generates a UPROPERTY() macro. Specifiers like EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, and ReplicatedUsing are automatically derived from checkboxes.

UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, ReplicatedUsing=OnRep_Health)
float Health = 100.0f;

Functions & RPCs

Generate pure getters, callable events, and full client/server/multicast RPCs complete with _Implementation and _Validate stubs where required by UE5 conventions.

// Header
UFUNCTION(Server, Reliable, WithValidation)
void ServerRequestAttack();

// Source — _Implementation
void AMyCharacter::ServerRequestAttack_Implementation()
{
    // TODO
}

// Source — _Validate
bool AMyCharacter::ServerRequestAttack_Validate()
{
    return true;
}

Replication

Checking bReplicated on the root node auto-generates the GetLifetimeReplicatedProps override, network includes, and constructor flags (differentiating between Actor bReplicates and Component SetIsReplicatedByDefault).

9 Structs, Enums & Interfaces

10 Asset Editor

Double-clicking a CodeForge Blueprint opens the CodeForge Asset Editor (FCodeForgeAssetEditor), a custom standalone editor with:

• Node Graph Panel (left): The visual node graph for designing your type.
• Code Preview Panel (right): Real-time display of the generated .h and .cpp code.
• Details Panel (bottom-right): Standard UE5 property editor for the selected node or blueprint.
• Toolbar: Buttons for Generate Code, Validate, and toggling the code preview.

Code Preview

The code preview panel updates in real time as you modify properties in the Details panel. It shows two tabs:

UCLASS()
class MYGAME_API AMyCharacter : public ACharacter
{
    GENERATED_BODY()
    // Updates live as nodes change!
};

11 Node Visuals

CodeForge uses a custom SGraphNode_CodeForge widget with enhanced visual features:

• Color-coded title bars — each node type has a distinct color.
• Validation badges — error and warning indicators appear directly on nodes in real time.
• Body tinting — type nodes get a subtle color tint.
• Configurable font sizes — separate sizes for type nodes and member nodes.

12 Validation & Auto-Fix

CodeForge validates your design in real time to prevent C++ compilation errors.

13 Template Engine & Customization

CodeForge uses .cft files located in Plugins/CodeForge/Content/Templates/. It uses a Handlebars-like syntax.

14 Module Scanner

FCodeForgeModuleScanner automatically discovers all C++ modules in your project by scanning for .Build.cs files. For each module it determines:

• ModuleName — parsed from the .Build.cs filename
• APIMacro — derived as MODULENAME_API (uppercase module name + _API)
• SourceDir, PublicDir, PrivateDir — standard UE module directory layout

This powers the ModuleTarget dropdown in the blueprint editor, letting you pick any module in your project as the output target without manual configuration.

15 Auto-Fix System

Several validation rules offer automatic fixes via ApplyAutoFix(AutoFixId). When a validation result has a non-empty AutoFixId, the editor can apply the fix with one click.

16 Enums Reference

ECodeForgeClassType

ECodeForgeRepCondition

17 Specifier Builder Reference

Each definition type has a BuildSpecifierString() method that generates the correct UE5 macro arguments. Here's how specifiers combine:

Property Specifier Priority

Edit specifiers are mutually exclusive (first true wins):

VisibleAnywhere > EditAnywhere > EditDefaultsOnly > EditInstanceOnly

Blueprint specifiers are mutually exclusive:

BlueprintReadWrite > BlueprintReadOnly

Replication: RepNotify takes priority over plain Replicated — generates ReplicatedUsing=OnRep_Name.

Function Specifier Priority

Exec > BlueprintPure > BlueprintCallable

BlueprintNativeEvent is additive (can combine with the above). Category is appended when non-empty.

Type Correction Map

The validator recognizes common miscapitalizations and suggests corrections:

18 Troubleshooting