File descriptions

Here's a quick summary of what each of the JSON files contain, broken down by folder. This list is not comprehensive, but covers the broad strokes.

data/json/

Filename Description
achievements.json achievements
anatomy.json a listing of player body parts - do not edit
ascii_arts.json ascii arts for item descriptions
bionics.json bionics, does NOT include bionic effects
body_parts.json an expansion of anatomy.json - do not edit
clothing_mods.json definition of clothing mods
construction.json definition of construction menu tasks
default_blacklist.json a standard blacklist of joke monsters
doll_speech.json talk doll speech messages
dreams.json dream text and linked mutation categories
disease.json disease definitions
effects.json common effects and their effects
emit.json smoke and gas emissions
flags.json common flags and their descriptions
furniture.json furniture, and features treated like furniture
game_balance.json various options to tweak game balance
gates.json gate terrain definitions
harvest.json item drops for butchering corpses
health_msgs.json messages displayed when the player wakes
item_actions.json descriptions of standard item actions
item_category.json item categories and their default sort
item_groups.json item spawn groups
lab_notes.json lab computer messages
martialarts.json martial arts styles and buffs
materials.json material types
monster_attacks.json monster attacks
monster_drops.json monster item drops on death
monster_factions.json monster factions
monstergroups.json monster spawn groups
monstergroups_egg.json monster spawn groups from eggs
monsters.json monster descriptions, mostly zombies
morale_types.json morale modifier messages
mutation_category.json messages for mutation categories
mutation_ordering.json draw order for mutation and CBM overlays in tiles mode
mutations.json traits/mutations
names.json names used for NPC/player name generation
overmap_connections.json connections for roads and tunnels in the overmap
overmap_terrain.json overmap terrain
player_activities.json player activities
professions.json profession definitions
recipes.json crafting/disassembly recipes
regional_map_settings.json settings for the entire map generation
road_vehicles.json vehicle spawn information for roads
rotatable_symbols.json rotatable symbols - do not edit
scent_types.json type of scent available
scores.json scores
skills.json skill descriptions and ID's
snippets.json flier/poster descriptions
species.json monster species
speech.json monster vocalizations
statistics.json statistics and transformations used to define scores and achievements
start_locations.json starting locations for scenarios
techniques.json generic for items and martial arts
terrain.json terrain types and definitions
test_regions.json test regions
tips.json tips of the day
tool_qualities.json standard tool qualities and their actions
traps.json standard traps
tutorial.json messages for the tutorial (that is out of date)
vehicle_groups.json vehicle spawn groups
vehicle_parts.json vehicle parts, does NOT affect flag effects
vitamin.json vitamins and their deficiencies

selected subfolders

data/json/items/

See below for specifics on the various items

Filename Description
ammo.json common base components like batteries and marbles
ammo_types.json standard ammo types by gun
archery.json bows and arrows
armor.json armor and clothing
bionics.json Compact Bionic Modules (CBMs)
biosignatures.json animal waste
books.json books
chemicals_and_resources.json chemical precursors
comestibles.json food/drinks
containers.json containers
crossbows.json crossbows and bolts
fake.json fake items for bionics or mutations
fuel.json liquid fuels
grenades.json grenades and throwable explosives
handloaded_bullets.json random ammo
melee.json anything that doesn't go in the other item jsons, melee weapons
migration.json conversions of non-existent items from save games to current items
newspaper.json flyers, newspapers, and survivor notes. snippets.json for messages
obsolete.json items being removed from the game
ranged.json guns
software.json software for SD-cards and USB sticks
tool_armor.json clothes and armor that can be (a)ctivated
toolmod.json modifications of tools
tools.json tools and items that can be (a)ctivated
vehicle_parts.json components of vehicles when they aren't on the vehicle

data/json/items/comestibles

data/json/requirements/

Standard components and tools for crafting

Filename Description
ammo.json ammo components
cooking_components.json common ingredient sets
cooking_requirements.json cooking tools and heat sources
materials.json thread, fabric, and other basic materials
toolsets.json sets of tools commonly used together
uncraft.json common results of taking stuff apart
vehicle.json tools to work on vehicles

data/json/vehicles/

Groups of vehicle definitions with self-explanatory names of files:

Filename
bikes.json
boats.json
cars.json
carts.json
custom_vehicles.json
emergency.json
farm.json
helicopters.json
military.json
trains.json
trucks.json
utility.json
vans_busses.json
vehicles.json