Release notes from GML-Extended

gml-extended-v1.5.3

2025-09-19T07:46:16Z

GML Extended

This release primarily updates in-engine documentation for all core and optional functions, focusing on improving type consistency, clarifying function descriptions, removing most Feather suggestions, warnings and errors, while adding new features.

Major changes

Core > Snippets

Warning

Core > Shortcuts library has been renamed to Core > Snippets. If you import this release into a project with a previous version of GML-Extended you need to also remove the Libraries > GML-Extended > Functions > Core > Shortcuts folder too!

Added new wrapper functions for asset_get_index() return types in Feather:
- sprite_get_index: A wrapper for asset_get_index that gets the index of a sprite by its name and return the sprite with the correct type to use when Feather is enabled.
- object_get_index: A wrapper for asset_get_index that gets the index of an object by its name and return the object with the correct type to use when Feather is enabled.
- room_get_index: A wrapper for asset_get_index that gets the index of a room by its name and return the room with the correct type to use when Feather is enabled.
- font_get_index: A wrapper for asset_get_index that gets the index of a font by its name and return the font with the correct type to use when Feather is enabled.
- sound_get_index: A wrapper for asset_get_index that gets the index of a sound by its name and return the sound with the correct type to use when Feather is enabled.
Add new wrappers for random functions:
- rand: Snippet for random and random_range. If only one argument is provided, random is used, if two parameters are provided, it uses random_range.
- irand: Snippet for irandom and irandom_range. If only one argument is provided, irandom is used, if two parameters are provided, it uses irandom_range.
- rand_linear: Snippet for random_linear and random_linear_range. If only one argument is provided, random_linear is used, if two parameters are provided, it uses random_linear_range.

Core > Math

Added new function:
- random_range_linear: Returns a random value with a linear distribution within a range. This is more random than random_range().

Optional > Game

Added new function:
- game_get_framerate: Returns the current game set framerate.

Optional > Layers

Added new function
- layer_set_depth: Sets the depth of a layer by using jus the name of the layer. This is useful when you don't have the layer id stored in a variable or want to check the depth of a layer by its name.

Minor changes

Core > Arrays

Removed function array_create_ext since GameMaker had this function since v2022.11 and was causing issues with some user using GM v2022.9 and previous. I wasn't aware of that, but this change should not affect anybody using GM versions after v2022.11. (Sorry if it caused conflicts to anybody 😓 )

Documentation

Standardized type annotations for arguments and return values across array, color, and file functions, replacing generic types like array and ds_list with more precise Feather types such as Array and Id.DsList.
Added in-engine documentation to clarify behavior of functions and methods.
Reorganized and corrected the documentation for file functions in Docs/Core/Files.md, including swapping the order of file_text_get_lines_array, file_text_read_whole, and file_json_read, updating their examples and descriptions, and clarifying return types.
Added documentation for the following functions added in previous versions:
- instance_first: Returns the first created instance of the object passed as argument.
- instance_last: Returns the last created instance of the object passed as argument.

Bug Fixes

Tried to fix most (if not all) Feather related issues!

If you have any feature request, issue, comment or suggestion, please let me know in the issues tab!

Full Changelog: v1.5.1...v1.5.3

gml-extended-v1.5.2

2025-08-30T07:51:06Z

GML Extended

Major changes

No major changes introduced in this update

Minor changes

Vastly improved documentation and added badges to identify which versions have which functions. And moved multiple functions from the Experimental status to Core.

Warning

Is important that you rename the following experimental functions from their previous experimental name if you used these and decide to update since the older names are no longer supported and could crash your project.

Core > Colors

The following functions were added in v1.5.1 but now are properly documented:
- color_get_rgb_normalized
- color_get_hsv_normalized
The following functions are no longer experimental:
- color_to_hex_rgb : Previously part of Experimental > dec2hex
- color_to_hex_rgba : Previously Experimental > rgba_dec2hex
- color_hex_rgba_to_abgr : Previously Experimental > hex_rgba2abgr
- color_rgba_get_alpha : Previously Experimental > color_rgba_get_alpha

Core > Math

The following function is no longer experimental:
- dec2hex

Core > Structs

The following function was added:
- struct_entries

Experimental > Colors

The following functions were renamed and released from experimental to core:
- dec2hex
- rgba_dec2hex
- hex_rgba2abgr
- color_rgba_get_alpha

Bug Fixes

Fix most of feather issues introduced in the last versions.

If you have any feature request, issue, comment or suggestion, please let me know in the issues tab!

Full Changelog: v1.5.1...v1.5.2

gml-extended-v1.5.1

2025-08-30T07:03:18Z

GML Extended

Small release fixing issues with compatibility scripts on some targets and issues with `instance_create_*` custom scripts.

Full Changelog: v1.5.0...v1.5.1

gml-extended-v1.5.0

2025-08-30T07:02:09Z

GML-Extended - The Compatibility Update!

Release Notes:

Compatibility!

As one fo the (probably) latest updates of the library, this library is now compatible with GameMaker versions from v2.3.7 to v2024.4 using the compatibility scripts that can be imported into the project!

Draw Profiles

You can now create draw profiles with custom properties, so everytime you need to use the same draw configurations, you can now just call a profile! i.e: When drawing texts maybe you have different fonts and colors defined for those fonts, like titles always on center and with color c_orange, so now instead of having to setup the draw functions to set color, alpha, font, align, and more, you can now just create a profile with draw_create_profile(), and the call the profile in your draw event with the function draw_set_profile(). More explaination in the documentation (Optional > Draw > draw_create_profile)

New Libraries

Compatibility

Library contains scripts to make all the other functions compatible with older versions of GameMaker from 2.3.7!

Core > Types

Library contains new functions to get and define types for your variables. Know more on the Types documentation!

Optional > GUI

Library for some GUI manipulation and aspects. Contains some previously core shortcuts that weren't used as often.

Experimental > Colors

Moved some of the functions that weren't working that well on previous versions to this library.

Experimental > Files

New library with functions to manipulate .yy room files.

New functions

lib_datetime

current_week(): Returns the current week of the year.
current_day_of_the_year(): Returns the current day of the year.

lib_math

percentage(): Return a percentage number from the given values.

lib_shortcuts
-contains(): Checks if an element is inside a container.

lib_strings

string_percentage(): Returns a string with the percentage of the given values.

lib_types

New macros for gm_types.
str(): Converts a value to string.
int(): Converts a value to an int with no decimals.
int8(): Coverts a value to an 8-bit int.
int16(): Coverts a value to an 16-bit int.
int8s(): Coverts a value to a signed 8-bit int.
int16s(): Coverts a value to a a signed 16-bit int.
is_type(): Checks if a value corresponds to a gm_type.

lib_draw

New macros for current draw state.
draw_surface_from_center(): Draw a surface from center x,y coordinates and can include rotation.
draw_set_gui_scale(): Sets GUI draw scale.
draw_set_blendmode(): Sets blendmode. It's like a shortcut for gpu_set_blendmode() and gpu_set_blendmode_ext() functions.
draw_reset_blendmode(): Resets blendmode to bm_normal.
surface_clear(): Works as draw_clear_alpha() for surfaces.
draw_set_depth(): Works as gpu_set_depth().
draw_reset_depth(): Resets depth to object depth.
draw_reset_alpha(): Resets alpha to 1.
draw_reset_color(): Resets color to c_white.
draw_create_profile(): Creates a draw profile to setup recurrent draw setup calls.
draw_set_profile(): Sets a created profile.

lib_ease

Library is no longer experimental and is now optional.
Last 2 arguments changed from min, max to factor, so instead of defining min and max value, you just multiply it for a factor.

lib_images

image_set(): Sets built-in variables from an image in one line.
image_set_scale(): Set image xscale and yscale in one line.
image_smooth_rotate(): Rotate the sprite smoothly to a direction given.

lib_layers

New macros for layer element types to setup for future functions.
layer_get_background(): A way to get the background of a layer using the ID or the name of the layer in one line.
layer_get_tileset(): A way to get the tileset of a layer using the ID or the name of the layer in one line.
And a lot more related to the experimental library on the docs!

Misc changes

Some functions from library "Core > Shortcuts" were moved to new library "Optional > GUI".
Fixed @param definition for functions so feather shouldn't give any new errors now.
Added new demo rooms for draw events and easing.

Full Changelog: v1.3...v1.5.0

gml-extended-v1.4.0b

2023-06-17T00:33:51Z

Fixed some issues with structs

gml-extended-v1.4.0

2023-06-17T00:30:27Z

Changelog

Extension Updates

Divided and re-organized functions on "Core", "Optional" & "Experimental"
Added easing demo room
Some optimization updates

lib_files

Added

json2yy

lib_shortcuts

Added

int

Removed

rgb
hsv
color_get_rbg
color_get_hsv

lib_structs

Added

struct_equal

lib_math

Added

random_linear
uuid_v4

lib_colors

Added new library to work with colours

lib_ease

Added new library to work with easing animations

Full Changelog: v1.3...v1.4

gml-extended-1.3.0

2023-03-06T20:20:59Z

Changelog

lib_files

Added

json2file

Modified

Renamed from file_to_json to file_json_read

lib_shortcuts

Added

str macro
rgb
hsv
color_get_rbg
color_get_hsv
view_get_x
view_get_y
gui_mouse_x
gui_mouse_y
gui_width
gui_height

lib_strings

Added

string_pad_left
string_pad_right

Removed

string_fill_zero

lib_structs

Added

struct_key_exists

lib_time

Added

time_performance

Full Changelog: v1.2.3...v1.3

gml-extended-v1.2.3

2023-01-24T20:23:12Z

Arranged folders
Added new functions
Added shaders

New shaders

Recolor shader (shd_gml_ext_recolor)
Gauss Blur shader (shd_gml_ext_blur_gauss)

New functions

draw_sprite_recolor
draw_sprite_blur
draw_surface_recolor
draw_surface_blur
instance_get_if
trace
alert
alert_async

Full Changelog: v1.2.2...v1.2.3

gml-extended-v1.2.2

2023-01-06T22:21:57Z

Release notes

Added additional arguments xscale, yscale, angle to functions draw_text_outline & draw_text_shadow.
Added new functions file_text_get_lines_array, instance_get_all, instance_number_if, string_title.
Refactor array_shuffle function for readability.
Removed msgType unnecessary expression on http_async_get_message function.
Solved some issues & bugs from previous versions.

Full Changelog: v1.2.1...v1.2.2

gml-extended-v1.2.1

2022-12-06T20:47:26Z

A bunch of functions added related to Draw, Game Params, Instances & Events, Layers and Images. The function are the following:

draw_self_ext
draw_figure
draw_quad
draw_rectangle_width
draw_rectangle_rotated
draw_text_outline
draw_text_shadow
draw_text_size
draw_fps
draw_fps_real
draw_set_align
gpu_set_alpha_overwrite
game_params
game_get_param_value
game_get_param_exists
game_throw_error
instance_create
instance_create_unique
instance_any_exists
instance_in_room
del
event_user_exec
layer_get_element_ids_fixed
image_loop_index

As for the version, this version 1.2.1 is specifically recommended for GameMaker versions 2022.11+ but can bu used on older versions.

Full Changelog: v1.2.0...v1.2.1

Release notes from GML-Extended

gml-extended-v1.5.3

GML Extended

Major changes

Core > Snippets

Core > Math

Optional > Game

Optional > Layers

Minor changes

Core > Arrays

Documentation

Bug Fixes

If you have any feature request, issue, comment or suggestion, please let me know in the issues tab!

gml-extended-v1.5.2

GML Extended

Major changes

Minor changes

Core > Colors

Core > Math

Core > Structs

Experimental > Colors

Bug Fixes

If you have any feature request, issue, comment or suggestion, please let me know in the issues tab!

gml-extended-v1.5.1

GML Extended

Small release fixing issues with compatibility scripts on some targets and issues with instance_create_* custom scripts.

gml-extended-v1.5.0

GML-Extended - The Compatibility Update!

Release Notes:

Compatibility!

Draw Profiles

New Libraries

New functions

Misc changes

gml-extended-v1.4.0b

gml-extended-v1.4.0

Changelog

Extension Updates

lib_files

Added

lib_shortcuts

Added

Removed

lib_structs

Added

lib_math

Added

lib_colors

Added new library to work with colours

lib_ease

Added new library to work with easing animations

gml-extended-1.3.0

Changelog

lib_files

Added

Modified

lib_shortcuts

Added

lib_strings

Added

Removed

lib_structs

Added

lib_time

Added

gml-extended-v1.2.3

New shaders

New functions

gml-extended-v1.2.2

Release notes

gml-extended-v1.2.1

Small release fixing issues with compatibility scripts on some targets and issues with `instance_create_*` custom scripts.