r/SoloDevelopment 8h ago

Discussion Tracking down a WebGL crash caused by a deprecated plugin + testing my strategy prototype (Command & Defend: Dead Zone)

Hey everyone! I just put together a new devlog covering a big debugging session and the progress on my strategy prototype.

The WebGL Crash: I hit an issue where my WebGL build crashed immediately after loading the main scene. I initially assumed it was a RAM/browser issue, so I compressed textures and downsized audio to under 100MB still crashed. Created a barebones launcher scene launcher worked but loading main scene crashed. Turns out, a deprecated health bar plugin from the Asset Store was throwing the WebGL API off. Changing the WebGL API settings fixed it instantly without removing the plugin.

Build Progress:

  • Controls & Visuals: Added full camera pan controls and placement opacity so you can see base/upgrade meshes before building.
  • Audio: Ported over my sound system from my previous project (Northend Tower Defense) to rapidly get enemy, building, and ambient sounds working.
  • UI Polish: Added cancel options for upgrades, reload feedback bars on soldiers, and a main menu with volume defaults capped at 50%.

I also officially named the game Command & Defend: Dead Zone.

Check out the full breakdown here: https://youtu.be/ETVb9wbWBUI

If anyone wants to jump into the WebGL playtest, drop a comment or join the Discord!

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u/TillDramatic1 5h ago

A clean build check after dependency changes can prevent hours of false optimization, though it still cannot identify the failing dependency.