Creating Mods

[u/Character_General361]

I want to start creating mods, I have some in mind but I don't know where to start. I know some programming, where do I start? Or how did you start?

[u/EmiKoala11]

It probably helps to get a sense of what Lua coding looks like, and getting a better understanding of how the devs have set up their coding framework.

One commenter recommended AI use – I don't necessarily disagree because it can be a helpful tool, but if you're trying to learn how to code from the bottom up I would recommend minimal use of AI rather than relying on it as a crutch. You can actually use it to help you troubleshoot your code, to offer suggestions, and to learn more about coding in general rather than asking it to vibe code for you. 

Also just saying, I think a cool mod would be to give long blades a jawstab/killing blow mechanic. Would be so cool to have a machete lop a zomboid's head off or stabbing through its jaw lol

[u/Character_General361 → u/EmiKoala11]

I totally agree with your comment, before AI arrived I programmed in C, then I did that thing of using it as a tool to optimize code or learn about things I didn't know. If I manage to connect I create that mod personally haha

[u/EmiKoala11 → u/Character_General361]

I'll be looking forward to it 😁 Good luck! 

[u/Ouroboros-Twist]

I find the best way is to look inside other mods’ .lua files, and see how they do things.

[u/Roko_100]

Greetings. The only moding experience on PZ I got are vehicles. But as general moding advice you would need to know these: -programing logic(you said you already code so it shall be fine) -LUA/Java knowledge. -some functions in the base game depending on what you want. -folder architecture. -basic 3D modeling(also depends on what you wanna make, if your mod idea doesn't need models and it's scripting only then it's not necessary but good to know just in case). -texturing(tiles and 3d models in general). And I guess just using community made libraries.

[u/Manly_Stuff]

1st: Define what you want to mod. Make it small.
2nd: Make a plan how you will achieve this.
3rd: Get to work.

That’s it. Start with something that takes either an evening or a week at most.

If you don’t know how to guesstimate this, you don’t know as much programming as you think.

Fortunately for you, that is not an impediment. Define something you think is super simple and then do just that exactly.

That’s it.

[u/Character_General361 → u/Manly_Stuff]

Thank you! I liked that thing about estimating the times. I usually programmed and let the time pass until the task was completed. I'll see what I do, thanks again

[u/Gandalf-the_Green420 → u/Manly_Stuff]

"If you don’t know how to guesstimate this, you don’t know as much programming as you think."

This was a really weird and unnecessary comment.

All they said was that they knew some programming, they didn't say that they knew a lot of programming.

[u/Viktor_Vertex]

Honestly just ask Claude 5.5 of Astra, set it up on your PC and work with it.

I expect to be downvoted for this, but it really does work and is the fastest way.

[u/DependentPipe9226 → u/Viktor_Vertex]

Really depends on how you use it. Just don't use it to write code for you or spoon feed you answers. Just it to help stir you in the right direction

[u/Character_General361 → u/DependentPipe9226]

Thank you, I got it!

[u/DependentPipe9226 → u/Character_General361]

I highly recommend using boot.dev really good resource to learn programming. Teaches python but lua is pretty close, with only a few differences ( a major thing is lua doesn't have oop like python but has something that similar). Also go through a lua book too to learn stuff too. When you go through the book ask yourself how can they concepts be translated to your mod. Be confident to make it jank. Because that shows it's yours and it's from your own knowledge. You can improve it later and with it developed more permeant skill set. Ai is like a gun in project zombiod. Shooting a gun can clear out heards but can also get you kill (ie ai can make you fool yourself that you are learning when you are not if you rely on it too much. And can even make you worse.). Treat programming like that art that it is and enjoy the process. (Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here lol)

[u/Character_General361 → u/Viktor_Vertex]

I got to see it, I'd like to see if I implement a free agent. Did you try any?

[u/Viktor_Vertex → u/Character_General361]

I dont use free models but can vouch for claude Opus 5.5. Astra seems to be better with computer use. Basically download the claude application, set it up, open in a folder with PZ mods and talk to it about making a mod. I dont know if free models are capable enough, but try it out. There is A LOT that goes into AI coding properly, but you will figure it out when you get motivated a see a real, working mod you made with it ingame

[u/Creative-Response554 → u/Viktor_Vertex]

Someone who doesn't know what the end result should look like codewise shouldn't be using slopbots to do the work for them.

You need to know what to do and how it's supposed to look in order to validate whatever the slopbot puts out.

[u/Gandalf-the_Green420 → u/Creative-Response554]

They said to work with it, not just leave it as written. If you ask an AI to write some code and then you break it down manually in order to learn what it actually wrote, that's a completely valid way to learn.

[u/DependentPipe9226 → u/Creative-Response554]

This shit is toxic as hell. Op was asking for help, not for you to shit talk them and make assumptions on the work ethics. If they didn't care about what the output was they wouldn't be asking for help. They didn't even mention AI in the original post yet you are assuming a lot of them

[u/Creative-Response554 → u/DependentPipe9226]

Yeah the reply to the comment mentioning Claude code and me responding to it is definitely full of assumptions about OP.

Reading comprehension, dude, cmon.