Gaea Docs Update

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Documentation has been something that, frankly, we have struggled with since 1.0.

As our team has grown, we are now approaching documentation differently. We recently started publishing new content on both the video and manual fronts.

We revised the documentation heavily and are going through and fixing the gaps and missing bits. As of this writing, the documentation stands at around 100K words, spanning over 450+ pages.

At the same time, we have been regularly releasing new in-depth videos covering individual nodes on our YouTube channel - and are updating the documentation on individual nodes as well.

Next up we will be adding a new Guides section that goes beyond the core technical manual and cover specific tasks, larger strategies, and application-centric articles.

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Subscribe to this post to stay updated. We will post new information whenever there is a significant update to the documentation.

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General thread for the site/documentation issues
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We’ve added a Documentation Changelog in the Release History section. This page contains a granular list of all pages as they’re updated.

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In preparation for the upcoming Gaea 2.3 Bleeding Edge build with Macro support, we’ve updated the Macro documentation.

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In addition to basic building instructions, there is a page dedicated to best practices for creating and maintaining macros.

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March Docs Update

[!NOTE] Note
This is a March docs update,
Some newer documentation work is still being prepared, so April updates will be posted separately soon.

We have been doing a pretty large cleanup, expansion pass and technicals and user guide upgrade across the Gaea 2 docs so they are easier to search, easier to follow, learn and closer to the current Gaea 2.x experience.

With over 300 page updates to bring it more together. Full docs changelog is here: Documentation Changelog[1]

Node Reference updates

A large pass was made across the Node Reference to bring pages closer to current Gaea 2.3 behavior and fill in missing information/properties on nodes

Highlights:

  • Updated many node descriptions and metadata
  • Added missing node information where available
  • Added/updated various nodes like ColorThreshold documentation
  • Cleaned up outdated or removed node references that had gone stale
  • Improved consistency across node categories like Modify, Simulate, Utility, Output, and Derive

Useful starting point: Node map[2]

Install, licensing, and setup docs

We also updated several setup-related areas so new users and studio users have a clearer path.

Updated areas include:

  • Getting Started
  • Install Gaea
  • System Requirements
  • Regular Installation
  • Uninstall / Clean Install
  • License Management
  • Fortress Server
  • Gaea 1 migration / node changes

Examples:

  • System Requirements:[3]
  • Install Gaea:[4]

Build, export, and regions

The build/export area received another round of cleanup, especially around larger terrain workflows.

Updated areas include:

  • Build Options
  • Regions
  • Tiled Builds
  • Build Reports
  • Build Path Tokens
  • Profiles and batch builds
  • Exporting nodes and mesh exports

Build Options:[5]
Regions:[6]

Macros, automation, and developer docs

The developer-facing docs were expanded and reorganised in a few places.

Notable updates:

  • Building Macros received new screenshots and clearer steps
  • Macro import/export information was improved
  • Automation and CLI sections were cleaned up
  • Bridge-building docs were refreshed
  • Expressions, variables, and Math node documentation received updates

Building Macros:[7]
Automation:[8]

Videos and learning resources

The video section had a big organisation pass.

This includes:

  • More official tutorial pages
  • More node-specific video links
  • More community videos
  • Better video indexing so related learning material is easier to find
  • Better Showcasing for Authorised Partner videos

Videos:[9]

Site cleanup and search improvements

Some of the less visible work should still make the docs feel better day to day.

We worked on:

  • Page descriptions and metadata
  • Search text cleanup
  • Table of contents regeneration
  • Image recovery and heading cleanup
  • Internal link/report cleanup

Basically: fewer dead ends, cleaner pages, and better search results.

What is next

April documentation work is already way underway and will get its own update once it is ready/live.

Expect more cleanup around:

  • Node Reference pages for useage goals
  • More comparison images for nodes
  • better index pages for catagories
  • More official video links
  • Examples and workflow pages
  • Consistency checks with newer features

Thanks for bearing with the dust while the docs keep getting cleaned up.

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April Docs Update

[!done] Live

[!Note]
This is an April docs update.

  • A few April documentation items and newer feature pages did not make this roundup, so follow-up updates will be made separately.
  • There is process lag between doc updates, topic updates and the live docs updates, please bare with if you don’t see the live updates right away or older links.

April was another large documentation pass across the Gaea 2 docs, focused on bringing more of the current 2.x workflow into the docs, tightening navigation between related pages, and filling in missing reference coverage. New and existing users should have a greater navigation experience across the docs on PC and Mobile.

This round covered 265 page updates. Full docs changelog is here: Documentation Changelog[1]

At a glance

Area Updated pages Notes
Node Reference 196 Large pass across node categories plus Node Map coverage
Release History 19 Backfilled and cleaned up version history pages
User Interface 12 Build Options and graph workflow pages
Using Gaea 11 Build/export, graph management, terrain import, and surface workflow docs
Developers 9 Extensibility, automation, expressions, CLI, bridges, and macros
Guides, Install, Videos 17 Setup, Unreal guidance, troubleshooting, and official learning pages

Node Reference expansion

The largest part of the April work was another heavy pass on the Node Reference.

This included broad updates across:

Category Updated pages
Modify 42
Simulate 26
Primitive 24
Surface 22
Utility 21
Derive 15
Terrain 15
Colorize 14
Output 13

which introduced better landing pages, navigations, syncs with published videos and cleaned up properties and visual usage.

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Useful starting points:

  • Node Map[2]

  • Node Reference[3]

Developer and extensibility docs

April also included a useful developer-docs cleanup, especially around extensibility and automation.

Updated areas include:

  • Extensibility overview cleanup so it is easier to choose between macros, variables, expressions, Math node workflows, and future SDK planning

  • Building Macros improvements with a more structured authoring flow, clearer export guidance, and better parameter exposure steps

  • Expressions and Allowed Functions cleanup for scripting-oriented workflows

  • Automation and Command Line Automation refinements for production build workflows

  • Building Bridges and Building a Bridge with the CLI refreshes for file-based integration workflows

Examples:

  • Extensibility:[4]

  • Building Macros:[5]

  • Automation:[6]

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Build, export, and graph workflow docs

The broader workflow docs also received another pass, especially around build setup, terrain management, and graph navigation.

Updated areas include:

  • Build Options overview and tab pages

  • Resolution, Build, Tiles, Nodes, Script, Terrain, Regions, Profiles, and Commands

  • Build and Export

  • Exporting Nodes

  • Managing Graphs

  • Navigating Complex Graphs

  • Portals and Chokepoints

  • Crafting the Surface

  • Importing Terrains

  • Colorizing and Textures

Examples:

  • Build Options:[7]

  • Build and Export:[8]

  • Managing Graphs:[9]

Install, setup, and guides

We also tightened up several setup and pipeline-adjacent docs so getting started and bridge-based use cases are easier to follow.

Updated areas include:

  • Install Gaea

  • Regular Installation

  • Portable Installation

  • System Requirements

  • Uninstall or Clean Install

  • Starter Guide

  • Scale and Resolution

  • Guides

  • Universal Instructions

  • Gaea2Unreal

  • Unreal

  • Troubleshooting

Examples:

  • System Requirements:[10]

  • Install Gaea:[11]

  • Gaea2Unreal:[12]

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Videos and learning links

The video side also received a smaller but useful update pass with more official learning links tied back into the docs.

Updated or added pages include:

  • EasyErosion

  • Distance

  • GraphicEQ

  • IceFloe

  • Transpose

  • Terraces & FractalTerraces

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Videos:[13]

Release history and quieter cleanup work

Some of the April work was less visible, but still important:

  • Release history pages were cleaned up and backfilled

  • Section index pages were refreshed across Developers, Guides, Using Gaea, and Node Reference

  • Cross-linking between related workflow pages was improved

  • Search and navigation coverage improved through stronger index coverage and updated entry pages

Basically: fewer stale entry points, better route-finding through the docs, and more current coverage for the main 2.x workflow.

What is next

There is still some April documentation work that did not make this post, and that will be folded into follow-up updates.

Expect more work around:

  • 10 additional guides

  • More node usage guidance and comparison coverage

  • More feature pages that missed the April cutoff

  • Additional workflow examples and bridge-oriented documentation

  • More official video links from Maarten

  • Continued consistency passes across newer Gaea 2.x documentation

If you come across any doc issues or gaps in theory and explination, feel free to tag me in the chat channel

Till next time
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May Docs Update

[!faq] Publishing in progress

[!note]
This is a May docs update.

  • Some May documentation work may still take a little time to appear everywhere in the live docs.
  • There is process lag between writing, review, topic updates, and live docs updates, so please bear with us if a page or link updates slightly later.

May was a more focused documentation month after the larger April pass.

The main work this month was around preparing new guide material, adding more visual support to node pages and continuing selected Node Reference updates

This round covered ~100 documentation page updates, plus a larger batch of new or updated visual assets.

At a glance

Area Updated pages/files Notes
Node Reference 38 Selected node pages updated, mostly visual-direction support and embeds
Guides 18 New scenario and workflow guide pages prepared and cleaned up
Release History 40 Changelog and version history updates
Videos 3 Official node video pages updated
Using Gaea / UI 2 Focused graph workflow updates
Visual Assets 39 New node visuals and supporting media added

New guide work

A large part of May went into preparing new guide-style documentation.

These pages are aimed at practical production workflows, including planning, debugging, graph readability, build choices, terrain handoff, reusable templates, and delivery preparation.

Updated guide areas include:
  • Art-directing from reference
  • Diagnosing terrain look and shape
  • Planning scale, height, and resolution
  • Multi-purpose terrain outputs
  • Profile-driven builds
  • Resolution and tiling workflows
  • Auditing graphs before build
  • Building the right version
  • Cleaning production masks
  • Debugging macros with test nodes
  • Delivering terrain packages
  • Exploring variations safely
  • Handing off terrain intent
  • Keyboard-first workflow
  • Portable file node paths
  • Readable complex graphs
  • Reusable terrain templates
  • Source, build, and publish data

These pages are part of the wider effort to make the docs more useful for real production decisions, not just feature lookup, whether that’s an individual or a team effort.

Node Reference visual updates

Another focused pass on the Node Reference, mostly around adding or improving visual-direction assets and embeds.

Updated node areas included:

Category Updated pages
Surface 22
Simulate 12
Modify 4
Utility 2
Output 1

There is still more to come, but these will be finished in June’s update

Videos and learning links

A smaller update pass also touched official node video pages.

This includes

  • all of Maarten’s latest node ref efforts.
  • direct links from doc to community files

see more[1]

Smaller workflow and docs-system updates

A few focused workflow and docs-system updates

These included:

  • Updates around graph organisation and modifiers explanations
  • TOC / hive data updates
  • Supporting data updates for links, video entries, and generated docs structures for SEO/LLMs reading

These are less visible from the user side, but they help keep the documentation system moving cleanly as more Gaea 2 content is added.

What’s planned for June?

For June, the focus will be:

  • Continuing through the remaining May backlog
  • Backend optimisations for the documentation system
  • Adding and improving any newly added Gaea 2 content
  • More guide coverage (based on feedback)
  • More node usage guidance and visual examples of the remaining nodes

If you come across any doc issues, missing explanations, unclear theory, or workflow gaps, your feedback is welcome. Feel free to tag me in the community chat channel

Onwards to June!
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  1. Videos - Gaea Documentation - QuadSpinner ↩︎

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