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Desktop Window Physics

One of the standout features of PyToNingans is its real-time desktop environment collision system. Characters do not merely walk across the bottom of your monitor—they recognize other running desktop applications as physical obstacles and platforms.

How Window Collision Works

PyToNingans interfaces directly with the native Windows desktop manager via the Win32 API (user32.dll):

  1. Window Enumeration: The engine queries visible top-level windows on the screen (e.g., text editors, web browsers, file explorers).
  2. Hit-Testing: The engine retrieves window rectangles (GetWindowRect) while filtering out minimized windows, transparent overlays, and fullscreen desktop workers.
  3. Platform Recognition: When an entity falls onto the top edge of a window frame, the physics solver converts the window boundary into a temporary solid platform.
flowchart TD
    Entity[Falling Entity] --> Test{Hit-Testing Desktop Window?}
    Test -->|Above Window Top Border| Land[Land on Window Frame]
    Land --> Walk[Walk across Window Title Bar]
    Test -->|Window Moved or Closed| Fall[Gravity Takes Over & Entity Falls]
    Fall --> Ground[Land on Desktop Taskbar / Monitor Bottom]

Configuring Window Physics

You can configure physics behavior dynamically in the Settings dialog under the Combat & Visuals tab:

  • Enable Desktop Window Physics: Check to allow characters to stand and walk on non-maximized application windows.
  • Avoid Spawning Over Open Windows (Spawning Tab): Prevents characters from appearing directly over your active work windows, prioritizing unobstructed desktop regions.