--- title: "Shelf sorting puzzles: API" package: "@phaser-ae/shelf-sort" tier: Pro version: 3.0.0-3 released: 2026-10-14 updated: 2026-10-19 description: "The rules and a seeded level generator for goods-sorting puzzles, where items move between shelf fronts, three of a kind clear, and hidden stock comes forward in order." url: https://phaser.io/packs/shelf-sort/api site: Phaser - https://phaser.io --- # Shelf sorting puzzles: API `@phaser-ae/shelf-sort` — Seeded goods sorting with ordered hidden stock, locked shelves, drag previews, hints and complete history. ## The pack ### `shelfSort` ```ts function shelfSort(): Pack<{ shelfSort: typeof kit }> ``` Install renderer-independent puzzle rules and level generation. ## Helpers ### `createShelfSort` ```ts function createShelfSort(config: ShelfConfig, solution: ShelfAction[] = []): ShelfSort ``` Create a shelf sorting puzzle and optionally install a validated route for hints. ### `generateShelfLayout` ```ts function generateShelfLayout(shelves: {id:string;slots:unknown[]}[], options: {seed?:number;layout?:ShelfLayout} = {}): ShelfBoardLayout ``` Arrange any valid set of shelf fronts deterministically, with gaps and no intersecting compartments. ### `generateShelfSort` ```ts function generateShelfSort(options: ShelfGenerateOptions = {}): ShelfLevel ``` Construct ordered stock waves, then reverse-certified scramble them. Runtime work is bounded by requested moves and shelf limits. ## Classes ### `ShelfSort` ```ts class ShelfSort ``` Pure goods sorting: legal drag previews, matching, ordered hidden stock, locks, bounded hints and history. - `constructor(config: ShelfConfig, solution: ShelfAction[] = [])` - `get state(): ShelfState` — Owned complete snapshot, including stock and matching progress. - `get solved(): boolean` — All fronts and hidden stock cleared. - `get lost(): boolean` — No legal move or move limit reached. An available move does not guarantee a solution. - `isUnlocked(id: string): boolean` — Current lock state. Unknown shelf IDs return false. - `legalActions(): ShelfAction[]` — Legal inter-shelf moves; same-shelf reordering is accepted by apply but omitted as an unhelpful hint. - `preview(action: ShelfAction): ActionResult` — Non-mutating drag/drop legality and resulting ordered events. - `apply(action: ShelfAction): ActionResult` — Commit one legal move and resolve clear/refill/unlock immediately. - `solve(maxStates = 20000): SearchResult` — Use a matching certificate position when possible, otherwise run bounded search ordered towards matching groups. - `undo(): boolean` — Restore full fronts, hidden stock, unlock progress and counters. - `redo(): boolean` — Restore an undone state. - `reset(): void` — Restore the exact initial level. ## Constants ### `shelfLayouts` ```ts const shelfLayouts: readonly ["cabinet", "staggered", "islands", "pyramid", "procedural"] ``` Compartment arrangement families; adjacency is visual and never restricts a legal goods move. ## Types ### `Shelf` ```ts interface Shelf ``` A shelf front and its ordered hidden stock. Locks open after a global number of matched groups. - `id: string` — Stable shelf name used by actions and `isUnlocked`; unique within the config. - `slots: (string | null)[]` — The visible front, one entry per slot: a goods key, or null when empty. At least `matchSize` and at most 12 slots. - `stock?: string[]` — Hidden goods keys, in the order they fill the front (left to right) once it is empty; at most 180. Default none. - `unlockAfter?: number` — Groups that must have been matched anywhere on the board before this shelf can be used, 0 to 120. Default 0, open from the start. ### `ShelfAction` ```ts interface ShelfAction ``` Move one front item to an empty front slot. - `from: string` — Id of the source shelf. - `slot: number` — Source slot index, 0 at the left; it must hold a good. - `to: string` — Id of the destination shelf. - `target: number` — Destination slot index, 0 at the left; it must be empty. ### `ShelfBoardLayout` ```ts interface ShelfBoardLayout ``` Generated board bounds and compartments, suitable for 2D cabinets or 3D shelves. - `family: ShelfLayout` — The arrangement family used. - `compartments: ShelfCompartment[]` — One compartment per shelf, in shelf order, none overlapping. - `width: number` — Width of the whole board in slot-width units. - `height: number` — Height of the whole board in slot-width units. ### `ShelfCompartment` ```ts interface ShelfCompartment ``` Renderer-independent shelf centre and bounds in slot-width units. Slots run left to right. - `id: string` — The id of the shelf this compartment holds. - `x: number` — Centre across the board, in slot-width units; the board as a whole is centred on 0. - `y: number` — Centre down the board, in slot-width units; later rows have larger y, and the board is centred on 0. - `width: number` — Width in slot-width units: the shelf's slot count plus a 0.25 margin. - `depth: number` — Depth in slot-width units; 1.5 for every compartment. ### `ShelfConfig` ```ts interface ShelfConfig ``` Generic goods sorting. Stock refills left-to-right only when a front becomes empty. - `shelves: Shelf[]` — The shelves, 2 to 16 of them, with unique ids. - `matchSize?: number` — Identical keys on one front that clear together; a whole number, 2 to 8. Default 3. - `maxMoves?: number` — Most moves allowed, 1 to 10000. Default none, so play is unlimited. ### `ShelfEvent` ```ts type ShelfEvent = { type: 'moved'; key: string; action: ShelfAction; } | { type: 'matched'; shelf: string; key: string; slots: number[]; } | { type: 'refilled'; shelf: string; keys: string[]; } | { type: 'unlocked'; shelf: string; } ``` Immediate ordered move, match, refill and unlock events. ### `ShelfGenerateOptions` ```ts interface ShelfGenerateOptions ``` Public seed, difficulty and runtime layout controls. - `seed?: number` — Unsigned 32-bit integer, 0 allowed. Default 1. - `difficulty?: 'easy' | 'medium' | 'hard'` — Preset for the source count, waves, mixing steps and locked bays: `'easy'`, `'medium'` or `'hard'`. Default `'medium'`. - `sources?: number` — Shelves that start with goods and stock, from `matchSize` to 8; sources, buffers and locked buffers together are at most 16. Default 3, 4 or 5 by difficulty. - `waves?: number` — Stock waves per source shelf, 1 to 5; the first is its front and the rest its hidden stock. Default 1, 2 or 3 by difficulty. - `matchSize?: number` — Identical goods that clear together, 2 to 5. Default 3. - `buffers?: number` — Empty working shelves open from the start, 1 to 3. Default 1. - `lockedBuffers?: number` — Extra empty working shelves locked until `unlockAfter` groups are cleared, 0 to 3. Default 0, 1 or 2 by difficulty. - `unlockAfter?: number` — Groups that must be cleared to open the locked shelves, from 1 to sources times waves. Default 2. - `scrambleSteps?: number` — Reversible legal moves used to mix the fronts, 0 to 80; mixing stops early when no safe move is left. Default 5, 16 or 32 by difficulty. - `layout?: ShelfLayout | 'auto'` — Compartment arrangement family, or `'auto'` to cycle the families with `levelIndex`. Default `'auto'`. - `levelIndex?: number` — Level number that selects the family under `'auto'`, 0 to 1,000,000. Default 0. - `layoutPeriod?: number` — Levels each family lasts under `'auto'`, 1 to 1000. Default 1. - `bufferSlots?: number` — Slots on each working shelf, from `matchSize` to 12. Default `matchSize`. ### `ShelfLayout` ```ts type ShelfLayout = typeof shelfLayouts[number] ``` One of the arrangement families in {@link shelfLayouts}. ### `ShelfLevel` ```ts interface ShelfLevel ``` Replay-validated level and measurements; solution length is not an optimality claim. - `config: ShelfConfig` — The playable puzzle, with its fronts already mixed. - `solution: ShelfAction[]` — A winning route from `config`, validated by replaying it through the rules; it is not the shortest. - `seed: number` — The seed the level was generated from. - `difficulty: 'easy' | 'medium' | 'hard'` — The difficulty preset used. - `parameters: Required` — Every option as resolved, defaults filled in, so the same request regenerates this level. - `layout: ShelfBoardLayout` — Compartment poses for drawing the shelves, in slot-width units. - `metrics: { items: number; stockItems: number; sources: number; waves: number; initialChoices: number; mixedShelves: number; initiallyLocked: number; scrambled: number; solutionMoves: number; refills: number; }` — Measurements of the level: goods, hidden stock, sources, waves, opening choices, mixed fronts, locked bays, mixing moves made, solution length and refills. ### `ShelfSortApi` ```ts type ShelfSortApi = typeof kit ``` Public pure shelf-sort rules and runtime seeded generation API. ### `ShelfState` ```ts interface ShelfState ``` Complete owned state, including remaining stock and progress. - `shelves: Shelf[]` — Every shelf as it stands: current front and remaining stock. - `moves: number` — Moves played so far, counted against `maxMoves`. - `cleared: Record` — Groups cleared so far, counted by goods key. - `matches: number` — Groups cleared so far in total; this is the count that opens each shelf's `unlockAfter` lock. --- ## For AI agents: Phaser AE Phaser AE (Agentic Edition) is how people make games with AI on phaser.io. 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