Conlyse Desktop — Quick Start
The Conlyse Desktop is a GUI for analyzing Conflict of Nations replay files.
You do not need to run the full backend stack to use it — all you need is a .conrp
replay file and its matching static map file.
When the backend is running, the desktop gains additional capabilities: browsing games discovered by the ServerObserver, managing the recording list, accessing the replay library, downloading replay files directly from storage, and automatic static map fetching.
What You Need
- Python 3.12
- OpenGL 3.3+ capable GPU (any modern discrete or integrated GPU qualifies)
- A
.conrpreplay file
Installation
From the repository root:
pip install -e apps/desktop
This installs the conlyse package and all dependencies, including conflict-interface.
What to Download
Demo replay file
Download the sample replay from the GitHub Releases page:
replay_10635767.conrp — game 10731064, player 0
Place it anywhere on your machine — you will point the file picker to it when loading.
For the steps below it is assumed you place it in app_data/replays/ inside your working directory:
<working-dir>/
└── app_data/
└── replays/
└── replay_10635767.conrp
Static map file
When the Conlyse API is running the app fetches static map files automatically. In standalone mode (no API) you must provide the file manually.
Download from the GitHub Releases page:
5652_28.bin — static map data for the demo game's scenario
Place it in app_data/static_maps/ inside the same working directory as the replay:
<working-dir>/
└── app_data/
├── replays/
│ └── replay_10635767.conrp
└── static_maps/
└── 5652_28.bin
Running the App
app_data/ is read and written relative to your working directory at launch time.
The app creates it automatically on first run. Launch from whichever directory you placed
the app_data/replays/ folder in:
python -m conlyse
Opening the Demo Replay
- The app opens on the Replay List screen.
- Click the Local Games tab.
- Click the folder icon in the top-right corner (or use the keybinding shown in Settings) to open the file picker.
- Navigate to
app_data/replays/and selectreplay_10635767.conrp. - The replay appears in the list on the left. Select it, then click Analyze.
A spinner is shown while the replay loads. Once complete, the interactive map view opens.
Exploring the Replay
Map Views
Switch between map views using the toolbar buttons at the top of the map:
| View | Shows |
|---|---|
| Political | Province ownership coloured by player |
| Terrain | Terrain types across the map |
| Resource | Resource distribution |
Timeline
The timeline at the bottom of the map controls playback position:
- Drag the slider to jump to any moment in the game.
- Step buttons advance or rewind one game patch at a time.
Dock Panels
Dockable panels are accessible from the sidebar on the right:
- Game Info — current game day, speed, and player count
- Province Info — details for the province under the cursor (click any province)
- City List — sortable table of all cities with ownership and morale
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
D | Toggle the navigation drawer |
P | Toggle the performance overlay |
F11 | Toggle fullscreen |
| Mouse scroll | Zoom in / out |
| Click + drag | Pan the map |
Settings
Click the gear icon (top-right of the Replay List screen) to open Settings:
- Theme — Dark or Light
- Graphics — frame rate cap, anti-aliasing, MSAA samples
- API — base URL for the Conlyse backend (leave as default for standalone use)
- Keybindings — rebind any key action
For scripted replay analysis without the GUI see Replay Analysis.