> "I left every town better than I found it." > — A quote that defines my approach to everything. --- ## The Reflection: Self-Centered Righteousness? In my previous post [[0x2000_init]], I laid out a rigid workspace structure with `corrosion-2d` as a separate library crate. My reasoning was clear: _"Separating the engine from the game early on enforces certain 'rules.' The engine doesn't know game logic, and the game logic doesn't depend on engine internals."_ I warned about the alternative: _"Reusing an engine buried in two years of spaghetti code isn't easy, nor fun, to fix."_ **That idea sucks.** Depending on what you want to accomplish, it's actually counter-productive. I fell into the trap of **"solving a problem that isn't there yet."** I caused myself unnecessary, synthetic stress. I felt that not coding on the _engine_ set me back, while not coding on the _game_ also set me back. It became a downward spiral, removing the fun from the challenge of developing a game. ## The Pivot: Doing It the Right Way Developing a game has been on my to-do list forever, but I haven't always taken the proper time. Now, as my kids are growing up and things start to slow down, I want to do this the **proper way**. I want to do it because it's **fun**. Because it's a challenge. Because I want to make the world of gaming a better place. Yea, I know... But a very special person once said: > _"I left every town better than I found it."_ This resonates with me deeply. It's a standard I strive for in all areas of life. Whether it's secure code, a well-built system, or a playful game, the goal is to leave things improved. So, let's begin again. Not with the perfect, abstracted library structure, but with the **right motivation**. There is a myth that _"either you do it properly or not at all."_ But what if "properly" means building something that brings you joy first, and refactoring later when the pain becomes real? Building a game and an engine side-by-side is doable, but where's the fun in splitting your focus between two abstract goals? Next up: 0x2001_cargo_new - Setting up Chromatic Hero