About a year ago I started looking into what it would take to make a custom career for the Sims 2. I make my living as a software engineer and thus went down a huge rabbit hole that ended with me building a web app that re-implements parts of SimPE with a more modern UI and no downloads required: introducing SimPAI (Sims 2 Package Alteration Interface)!

some details:

• the source can be seen at https://github.com/bass-dandy/simpai
• it is implemented as a monorepo with 2 packages: simpai (the web app itself) and dbpf-transform (the serialization/deserialization library I wrote for package files)
• dbpf-transform is also published as an npm package in case anyone wants to use it to build more tools (and it includes typescript type definitions)
• the currently supported resource types are:
  • BCON
  • BHAV
  • GLOB
  • JFIF(JPEG)/PNG/TGA images
  • NREF
  • OBJD
  • OBJF
  • STR#/CTSS/TTAS
  • TPRP
  • TRCN
  • TTAB
  • TTAS

some known limitations that I hope to address (eventually):

• numeric inputs only display as hex
• creating an empty BHAV or OBJD resources crashes the app
• cannot import semi-globals
• does not implement any of SimPE's BHAV operand wizards
• does not show visual links between BHAV instructions (is that even useful? looks messy imo)
• TTAB animal motive tables are not implemented correctly (does anyone have an example of these being used at all?)
• I have only thoroughly tested on chrome, so there may be bugs on other browsers

As a proof of concept, I used SimPAI to create a custom career. This is the only CC I've ever made, so I'm not super familiar with how people generally use SimPE. Thus I have some questions!

• what other resources would you like to see implemented? I mostly intend to focus on text resources rather than binary ones, but I am open to any suggestions (and code contributions!)
• are any of the currently implemented resources missing SimPE features that you find helpful?
• I simplified some resources by removing fields that are (allegedly) unused. Should I not?
• does anyone want to make a logo? :3

Making this has been a great learning experience - I had never used svelte (I use react in my day-to-day), I hadn't used bitwise operators since college, and I know a little bit more about how the Sims 2 works on the inside. I'm probably gonna take a short break from working on this but if you have any suggestions I will definitely see what I can do!

One of the main use cases for SimPE is recoloring items. That means:
1. Incorporating the database of Maxis objects as package files
2. Importing and exporting the texture files from those package files
3. Creating a new package file
4. Modifying the characteristics of a texture, like reflectivity

To create new content, add also:
1. Exporting the GMDC/mesh from a package file
2. Importing a GMDC/mesh to a package file

And of course, all the BHAV files that are associated with, say, a sofa, must be properly linked/included.

I only use SimPE, and have never been interested in exactly how it works, so this is more vague than I think you would prefer. But it is my 2 cents.

The potential on this is awesome, I'm really excited to see the development!

This is amazing and exactly what I needed. I've already used it a few times to edit mods quickly. I hope it continues development.

This is sick!

@bass_dandy
What would help the most for me is to add decimal values to the BCON eg when creating a career.
Maybe a converter or something like that.
It's tedious as it is now, though i really love it!