# Nanolathe: a documented Total Annihilation engine reimplementation

> Reimplements a Total Annihilation-compatible strategy-game engine in Go, with public file-format research and separate gameplay profiles. It distinguishes intended retail 3.1 behavior from community-patch research and deliberate modern changes, and separates synthetic checks from tests requiring original game data.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-10-17
- Added to the catalog: 2026-10-17
- Original resource: <https://github.com/nanolathe-gg/nanolathe>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/nanolathe-gg/nanolathe/blob/5007ba75354c06fc9752a2822d37ff1e1443b77b/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/nanolathe-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/nanolathe-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/nanolathe-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Native use requires the user’s installed Total Annihilation HPI archives. The reference installation includes Core Contingency, Battle Tactics and patch 3.1; other combinations remain under testing.
- **Prerequisites:** The pinned source requires Go 1.27.1 or newer and Ebitengine 2.10.5. Native targets include Windows, macOS 13+ and Linux with graphical/audio libraries; the browser build remains experimental.
- **Scope:** The project is beta. Modern rules intentionally change behavior, while Strict 3.1 expresses a compatibility aim.
- **Testing evidence:** Synthetic tests run without retail assets; the separate retail tier requires an installed game.
- **License:** Original engine code is MIT; original game assets and dependency licenses are separate. The publication note describes curated integration snapshots, omitted raw research and unresolved attribution questions.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/nanolathe-gg/nanolathe/blob/5007ba75354c06fc9752a2822d37ff1e1443b77b/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/nanolathe-gg/nanolathe/blob/5007ba75354c06fc9752a2822d37ff1e1443b77b/go.mod>
3. <https://github.com/nanolathe-gg/nanolathe/blob/5007ba75354c06fc9752a2822d37ff1e1443b77b/NOTICE.md>
4. <https://github.com/nanolathe-gg/nanolathe/blob/5007ba75354c06fc9752a2822d37ff1e1443b77b/docs/PUBLICATION.md>
5. <https://github.com/nanolathe-gg/nanolathe/blob/5007ba75354c06fc9752a2822d37ff1e1443b77b/research/retail-executable-spec/README.md>
6. <https://github.com/nanolathe-gg/nanolathe/blob/5007ba75354c06fc9752a2822d37ff1e1443b77b/LICENSE>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.