Light Reflector

Version: 1.1.0-beta

A vehicle-based light reflector system that reflects Decals and BasePart reflectors at long distances on roads.

Note

Please use the main repository especially with contributions or commits! Additionally, please DO NOT make any changes in the mirrored repository as it cannot be pulled into the main repo.

The main repository is in Codeberg; however, I provided a push mirror on GitHub (pulls are not supported). Open an issue in Codeberg if you have concerns with this.

Warning

This script is under alpha and some functions may not work correctly or be unstable. Additionally, there are no external documentation for this module at the moment.

Wally / Pesde Notice

Older versions in Pesde AND Wally are not accurate! Accurate older releases are in Codeberg (not GitHub).

Additionally, the published packages are broken with version mismatching.

Additionally, this is my first time using Pesde AND Wally - apologies if something is not formatted correctly.

Issues

Broken Wally and Pesde packages, with mismatched versioning
- The Pesde package has version issues as well due to my custom pre-release tag infdev
Rojo may not work correctly?
Possible BasePart memory leak on games with Instance Streaming
Many :GetAttribute calls popping up in the Microprofiler
No external documentation
Some signs and reflectors may not work at all in very rare occasions

Global features

Adaptive waiting on performance-critical functions
Distance fall-off
Angle-based brightness
Multi-vehicle support
Non-tweened fading/transitions for gradual brightness
Option to use Tags with CollectionService

Sign/Gantry System Features

Utilizes SurfaceGuis and ImageLabel OR Decals by itself for reflectivity
Uses .ImageTransparency, .Brightness, and .LightInfluence
SurfaceGui pooling to increase performance
Automatic sign :Dot support
- This determines if the vehicle is facing the sign or not to determine reflectiveness
Automatic part rotation for Top faces
- Part rotation is needed since the orientation of images in Decals and SurfaceGuis are NOT the same
- This may break the visuals of actual non-square parts due to rotations
Best for large reflective highway signs on gantries

Reflector System Features

Utilizes BaseParts for reflectivity
Uses .Color and .Material
Wedge :Dot support, with face (Enum.NormalId) selection on non-wedges
- This determines if the vehicle is facing the part or not to determine reflectiveness
Best for pavement reflectors on the road

Hybrid System Features

Works alongside the Reflector System with no separate loop needed
Uses .Color, .Material, AND .Transparency with similar equations to the Sign/Gantry System
Face (Enum.NormalId) selection
Best for reflective traffic light shields, non-decal signs, etc.

Essential Public API

.Start() - Starts the module
.Cleanup() - Resets states and cleans up the module
.Configure({}) - Parses user configuration before starting (if you cannot do it IN the module first)
.RegisterVehicle(car: Instance, isHeadlightEnabled: () -> boolean, getIntensity: () -> number) - Registers vehicles into the module
.UnregisterVehicle(car: Instance) - Unregisters vehicles from the module

Example Usage

local LightReflector = require(path.to.module)

local function determineIntensity(car)
  local finalIntensity = 1
-- logic to see if high beams are enabled or not (thus increase the intensity)
  return finalIntensity
end

LightReflector.Configure({
  -- make any config changes here
})

LightReflector.Start()

workspace.Cars.ChildAdded:Connect(function(car)
	if car:IsA("Model") and car:FindFirstChildOfClass("VehicleSeat") then
		print("Indexed Vehicle")
		LightReflector.RegisterVehicle(car, true, determineIntensity) -- true is the placeholder of what "enables" the light source like a Headlight boolean value
	end
end)

workspace.Cars.ChildRemoved:Connect(function(car)
	if car:IsA("Model") and car:FindFirstChildOfClass("VehicleSeat") then
		LightReflector.UnregisterVehicle(car)
	end
end)

Other examples such as server pre-tagging and a vehicle handler are provided in the examples folder.

Systems Diagram

Diagram

Older YouTube Showcase

Not up to date, uses 0.1.x

Contributing

This section exists due to the file-level copyleft nature of the Mozilla Public License 2.0.

By contributing to this project, you agree that your contributions may be redistributed and relicensed by this project under other open-source and/or open-content licenses in the future (such as Apache-2.0).

View the reason why this clause exists in ./CONTRIBUTING.md

License

License: Mozilla Public License 2.0 (open source).

This may be changed to a more permissive license in the future if most people seem uncomfortable with it.