Spacetraders 4: Visualizing the starting system
In this entry, I build a simple visual map of my starting SpaceTraders system. Using real system coordinates from the API, I plot waypoints in 2D and extend the idea into 3D by introducing a synthetic Z dimension to separate overlapping locations. Along the way, I run into a few surprisingly tricky problems around data grouping, symmetry, and Matplotlib’s 3D quirks—and briefly break my “no AI while coding” rule to get unstuck. The result is a compact 2D+3D system overview that finally makes the universe feel tangible instead of abstract.
Spacetraders 3: Getting to know the game
SpaceTraders is more than a collection of API endpoints. It’s a persistent simulation of a space economy, with ships, contracts, markets, and delayed consequences built directly into its design. This post takes a step back from implementation details and looks at how the game world is structured, how its main systems interact, and why understanding these mechanics upfront makes automation and data-driven play much easier later on.
Spacetraders 2: PostgreSQL - Building a Local Game State with ELT
This entry documents a practical PostgreSQL setup for SpaceTraders gameplay. It covers Python integration, database creation, schema organization, ELT-style raw data ingestion, hashing, and reusable function skeletons for storing and transforming API responses. Designed as a technical reference and archive for building a local game state.
Spacetraders 1: OpenAPI and API-first gameplay foundations
SpaceTraders is an API-driven space trading game where all gameplay is performed through REST endpoints. This entry introduces the game in the context of OpenAPI and documents practical Python workflows for authentication, pagination, throttling, and defensive API consumption, serving as both a series introduction and a technical reference note.