Everything here still works with TA files today. Open-source projects are linked at GitHub (always current); classic Windows tools are hosted on File Universe, the community’s long-standing archive. All classic tools are 32-bit Windows programs — they run fine on Windows 10/11, usually without compatibility modes.
Map editors
- Mappy — the modern map editor: full undo/redo, drag-and-drop features, high-quality minimap rendering, actively maintained. Recommended over Annihilator for new maps. (Source)
- Annihilator — the classic community map editor (search File Universe). Still widely used; heightmap import/export works well.
- Cavedog’s official Map & Mission Editor — the original 1998 tool, included with The Core Contingency expansion and archived on File Universe. Historically interesting; Mappy supersedes it.
- SnappyMap — command-line utility that pieces TA terrain together automatically from a heightmap image.
HPI archive utilities
- TAUtil — C# library (with binaries) for reading/writing HPI archives, TNT maps, GAF animations and palettes. If you want to script against TA formats, start here.
- HPI Tools (HPIView / HPIPack / HPI Pack-Dump) — the classic trio: browse, extract and repack HPI/UFO/CCX archives with a GUI. Search File Universe for “HPI”.
- HPI Replace / HPI Edit — newer GUI variants for editing archives in place.
Unit & script tools
- 3DO Builder+ 2.1 — view/edit .3do models, import .obj, render unit and build pictures. By Kinboat & Immerman; download link on the wiki page.
- TA_Editor — fork of MacBain’s Units & Weapons editor: edit FBI unit definitions and weapon tables.
- CheckTdf — command-line linter for .tdf/.ota/.fbi files, also scans inside HPI archives. Catches the classic typos before the game does.
Engines & online play
- Robot War Engine (RWE) — open-source engine built for TA data file compatibility (early development).
- Spring / Recoil Engine — mature open-source engine that TA mods run on; see Links for the mod scene.
- TA Forever — active multiplayer platform for original TA.
A note on safety
Every tool listed here has been part of the TA community for years, but 32-bit-era Windows executables are exactly what your antivirus likes to grumble about. The classic tools are clean (false positives from old installers are common), but verify what you download and prefer the GitHub sources where they exist. Our own downloads are checksummed — see Download Verification & Safety.