C&C Red Alert for CnCNet

This repository contains the source code for the version of Command & Conquer Red Alert packaged with the CnCNet Client.

The source tree has been restored to a state that produces binaries matching the last official patched release, v3.03.

Dependencies

Building from source requires the pre-packaged build dependency archives:

• CnCNet_RedAlert_Build_Dependencies.zip

Extract the contents of the zip archive into the repository root.

Compiling (Win32 only)

From the repository root, run:

MAKE.BAT

This builds the English localisation by default and produces three executable variants, all copied into RUN\ENGLISH\:

File	Variant
RA95.EXE	Release build
RA95_PLAYTEST.EXE	Playtest build
RA95_INTERNAL.EXE	Internal debug build

Building other languages

Set the BUILD_LANG environment variable before running MAKE.BAT to build a different localisation. Valid values are ENGLISH, FRENCH, and GERMAN:

SET BUILD_LANG=FRENCH
MAKE.BAT

Binaries are written to RUN\<LANGUAGE>\.

To build all three localisations sequentially in one go, run:

MAKE_ALL.BAT

Private CnCNet build

A separate ENGLISH build that also pulls in the private CnCNet sources is produced by:

MAKE_CNCNET.BAT

Output is staged into RUN\CNCNET\, separate from the standard localisation builds.

This requires access to the private sources, which are not part of this repository and are only available to internal CnCNet developers. Provide them in one of two ways:

• check the private repository out into CODE\CNCNET\, or
• point CNCNET_RED_ALERT_PRIVATE_REPO in a local .env file at a separate clone (see .env.example).

Without the private sources present, MAKE.BAT / MAKE_ALL.BAT build normally and this step is simply unavailable.

Build from a short path

Build from a short directory (for example the repository root on a short drive, or a path like C:\RA). The IPXPROT module is assembled by 16-bit TASM running under the bundled MS-DOS player, and DOS caps a command line at 127 characters. That command line embeds the absolute include path (<root>\WIN32LIB\INCLUDE), so a long checkout path (a deeply nested folder) overflows the limit and corrupts the command line. The symptom is a mangled output filename followed by:

**Fatal** IPXPROT.ASM(61) Can't locate file: ipxreal.ibn

If you hit this, move the repository to a shorter path, or map one with SUBST and build from there:

SUBST X: "%CD%"
X:
MAKE.BAT

Developing in VS Code

The repository ships a VS Code workspace (.vscode/). Open the folder in VS Code (or run OPEN_VSCODE.BAT); it will offer to install the recommended C/C++ extension.

Build tasks (Terminal > Run Build Task, or Ctrl+Shift+B, then pick one):

Task	Action
Build (MAKE.BAT, ENGLISH)	English build
Build all languages (MAKE_ALL.BAT)	English / French / German
Build CnCNet (MAKE_CNCNET.BAT)	Private CnCNet build (requires the private sources)
Compile current file (Game Code Only)	Clean-recompile just the open CODE\*.cpp file — fast syntax/iteration check

Watcom compiler diagnostics are parsed into the Problems panel.

IntelliSense: configurations for each variant (ENGLISH / FRENCH / GERMAN / CnCNet) are provided; switch the active one from the status bar or via C/C++: Select a Configuration. Include paths and defines mirror the build, and the standard is pinned to the toolchain's (C++98 / C89).

Launching: open the Run and Debug view (Ctrl+Shift+D), choose Run English (RA95) or Run CnCNet (RA95) from the dropdown, and press F5. Each launches RA95.EXE from its RUN\<variant>\ folder with -CD., so the retail data files must already be present in that folder (see Running the game).

This is a convenience for quickly launching the built game — not a full debugging experience. The game is built with Watcom, whose debug information the VS Code debugger cannot read, so source-level breakpoints will not bind; it will still launch the game and surface crashes/call stacks.

Running the game

The build produces only the executables — the original retail game data files (*.MIX, movies, audio, etc.) are not part of this repository and must be supplied separately.

Copy the data files from any legitimate Red Alert install into the same RUN\<LANGUAGE>\ directory as the executable, then launch any of the three RA95*.EXE variants from there.

The easiest source for the game data is the C&C Ultimate Collection, available from:

• EA App
• Steam

Contributing

Bug reports, suggestions, and pull requests are welcome via GitHub Issues and Pull Requests. Please open an issue to discuss any significant changes before submitting a pull request.

License

This repository and its contents are licensed under the GPL v3 license, with additional terms applied. Please see LICENSE.md for details.