Dungeons & Desktops: Building a procedurally generated roguelike with GitHub Copilot CLI (opens in new tab)
GitHub Dungeons is a terminal-based roguelike that transforms a repository into a procedurally generated dungeon. Built in Go with GitHub Copilot CLI, it uses the latest commit SHA as a seed, making each commit produce a distinct but reproducible map. The project demonstrates how AI-assisted development can let developers focus more on game design and iteration than on implementation details. ## Repository-Driven Procedural Generation - The game generates rooms, corridors, and enemies from the current codebase. - Each repository produces a structurally different dungeon. - The latest commit determines the random seed: - The same commit always creates the same map. - Code changes reshape the dungeon. - Procedural generation creates replayability by producing many layouts from a single set of rules. ## Roguelike Design - GitHub Dungeons draws on classic games such as *Rogue*. - It combines: - Procedurally generated levels - Permadeath - A text-based terminal interface - Players navigate with arrow keys, fight bugs, collect items, and search for the exit. - When the player’s HP reaches zero, the run ends and they must start over. - The Copilot CLI `/yolo` command, an alias for `/allow-all`, reinforces the game’s one-life theme. ## Building with GitHub Copilot CLI - The author began with a high-level prompt asking Copilot to build a Go-based GitHub CLI extension using BSP-generated dungeons. - The `/delegate` command sent feature requests to Copilot’s cloud-based coding agent. - Copilot worked asynchronously and returned changes through pull requests. - Example delegated work included progressively harder levels with: - More enemies - Additional health potions - The author reviewed and refined Copilot’s output, including cheat codes for invincibility. - Copilot also generated a “dungeon scribe” agent that created documentation and ASCII diagrams explaining dungeon generation. - This workflow allowed the author to concentrate on mechanics, balance, player experience, and easter eggs rather than boilerplate and scaffolding. ## Binary Space Partitioning - Binary Space Partitioning (BSP) generates the dungeon by repeatedly dividing a large area into smaller regions. - The process begins with one rectangle representing the entire map. - That space is recursively split into smaller sections, which can then be used to place rooms and connect them. - BSP suits roguelikes because it balances: - Structure, avoiding chaotic layouts - Replayability through controlled randomness - Navigation, by supporting connected maps - The technique naturally produces clean rectangular rooms while retaining variation between generated levels. GitHub Dungeons shows how repository data, classic roguelike mechanics, and AI-assisted coding can combine into a playful development experiment. Using Copilot as an implementation partner lets the developer iterate quickly while remaining focused on designing an enjoyable game.