dots-src

name	dots-src
description	Decompile and cache TaleWorlds v1.3.15 types via `dots-src path <Type>`. Returns absolute path for grep/cat composition. Use before patching, overriding, or writing adapters.

dots-src — one-command TaleWorlds source lookup

Wraps ilspycmd against the installed v1.3.15 DLLs and caches at ~/.dots-src/v1.3.15/. Inspired by vercel-labs/opensrc. Use this before every [HarmonyPatch], GameModel override, or adapter that touches a TaleWorlds type — never guess signatures from the v1.4 dump at E:\Decompiled_Bannerlord\.

Core pattern

# Decompile + cache (first call) or print cached path (subsequent calls)
pwsh tools/dots-src.ps1 path TaleWorlds.CampaignSystem.GameComponents.DefaultPartyWageModel

# Compose with grep/cat/rg — exactly like opensrc
rg "GetCharacterWage" $(pwsh tools/dots-src.ps1 path TaleWorlds.CampaignSystem.GameComponents.DefaultPartyWageModel)
cat $(pwsh tools/dots-src.ps1 path TaleWorlds.MountAndBlade.Formation)

Progress goes to stderr, path goes to stdout — safe in $(...).

Subcommands

Command	Behavior
path <Type>	Print absolute path to cached .cs. Decompiles on miss.
path <Type> -Dll <Name>	Skip namespace heuristic; force a specific DLL.
list	Show all cached types as a table. --json for raw output.
remove <Type>	Delete one cache entry.
clean	Nuke the entire cache.

How DLL resolution works (on cache miss)

1. DLL index cache — ~/.dots-src/dll-index.json remembers type → dll from prior lookups. Instant hit.
2. Namespace heuristic — TaleWorlds.CampaignSystem.X.Y probes TaleWorlds.CampaignSystem.X.dll, then TaleWorlds.CampaignSystem.dll, then TaleWorlds.dll. Catches ~99% of cases on the first probe.
3. Brute-force iteration — Last resort: probes every *.dll in bin/Win64_Shipping_Client alphabetically. ~30 probes max.

When to use

Situation	Action
About to write [HarmonyPatch(typeof(X), nameof(X.Y))]	dots-src path X first — verify Y exists with the expected signature
About to override GetCharacterWage on DefaultPartyWageModel	dots-src path DefaultPartyWageModel — copy the exact base signature
About to call a TaleWorlds API from an adapter	dots-src path <Type> — confirm method exists in v1.3.15 (not just v1.4)
Bug investigation: "vanilla does X, what does its code actually look like?"	dots-src path <ClassName> then rg for the symptom
Want to know what's already cached	dots-src list

When NOT to use

Situation	Use instead
Looking for a class but don't know the FQN	grep -r "ClassName" E:/Decompiled_Bannerlord/ to find namespace, then dots-src path to verify v1.3.15
Need to browse a whole namespace tree	ls E:/Decompiled_Bannerlord/<area>/ (v1.4 is fine for browsing)
Need full type list of a DLL	mcp__ilspy__list_types (the ILSpy MCP is purpose-built for this)

Why this exists

The recurring failure mode (caught by Codex review 2026-05-06, see feedback_codex_caught_api_misread.md in memory): two agents disagreed on a TaleWorlds API; the more confident one was wrong because it inferred from the v1.4 decompile folder. A single primitive that always lands on v1.3.15 — and caches so the cost is paid once per type — removes the temptation to skip verification.

Environment requirements

• $env:BANNERLORD_GAME_DIR set to the Bannerlord install root (e.g. E:\Steam\steamapps\common\Mount & Blade II Bannerlord).
• ilspycmd on PATH (dotnet tool install -g ilspycmd).

Both are reported with actionable error messages if missing (per .claude/rules/environment-failures.md).

Related

• .claude/skills/research/SKILL.md — broader "decompile and analyze before implementing" workflow. Use that for full analysis sessions; use dots-src for one-shot signature lookups.
• CLAUDE.md "TaleWorlds Research — Lookup Order" — high-level routing.