There are plenty of reasons why your thoughts might turn to crafting in the Matrix. Maybe you're wondering what those Code Bits that you looted off gang members are used for. Maybe you're tired of having to fight and fight to get a good item from a loot drop, or tired of hunting for vendors so you can purchase items and abilities. Or maybe you'd like to keep that Enhanced Edson BR-19 for longer than its stability is going to last, and you'd also like to be able to give one to every member of your crew. If you learn to craft, then you can do all of these things.

Tank: "What do you need, besides a miracle?”

Neo: "Guns. Lots of guns.”

- The Matrix

Crafting in The Matrix Online is, in game context, the process of adding new code to the existing code of the Matrix. If it can be used, shot, worn, consumed, or equipped, then it can probably be made by a crafter using the right set of abilities. In order to do this, you must have some abilities in the Coder discipline branch. Although you don't need to specialize to be able to craft items, the most effective crafters are found in the Programmer or Code Crafters' disciplines. They are people who can duplicate the operator's job of supplying items and ability loadouts while in-game.

You already have the basics to get started as a Coder. Every new redpill starts off with a Code Analyzer tool and the Write Code ability. If you have run a couple of missions or killed some gang members, then you probably already have some looted Code Bits, which provide your raw material. 

The first things that crafters need are some raw materials, which come in the form of code bits and code fragments. Code bits are made into code fragments, and code fragments are the building blocks of Ability and Item Code recipes. You can find code bits (and sometimes fragments) tucked into desks and filing cabinets in mission areas, or you might loot them from the bodies of dead gang members and mission enemies.

The Code Analyzer and Write Code ability allow you to create Item and Ability Codes that you can use or give to other players, and turn code bits into code fragments. The knowledge of how to make a code is called its "recipe”, and these recipes are displayed by the Code Analyzer. You won't have many recipes to work with when you start out, however. You can get more recipes in two ways: either add levels to the Write Code ability, which will give you new ability and code fragment recipes; or decompile items in your inventory.

Here we come to your second important tool and ability. Every item in the Matrix represents a piece of code, and this code can be taken apart with the Decompile Items ability and an Item Decompiler tool to learn how it was made. Be warned, however, because decompiling an item destroys it in the Matrix. If you succeed, you'll have the recipe to recreate it, but if you fail...Let's just say a Coder who's short on cash should avoid decompiling his last pair of pants. Once you learn the recipe for an item, you can use the Write Code ability and a Code Analyzer tool to turn that recipe into an Item Code.

Now that you have the Item Code for something, what do you do next? It's still not quite to the point of being a usable and wearable item in the Matrix, because it needs one last step: compiling, or the process of putting it all together.  In order to do this, go to the Loading Area.  Here you can transfer your Item Codes (along with Ability Codes, code bits, or code fragments) into your code archive, and then compile them using the nice, big "Compile” button in your inventory screen. You don't have to be a Coder to compile items in the Loading Area - anyone can do it. But players who don't want to go back to the Loading Area every time they need new guns might consider taking the Compile ability and a Code Compiler.

Knowing this much, you may feel ready to equip some abilities and explore crafting for yourself. But if you have more questions, Part Two will be coming soon. In this article we will give more in-depth detail on the process of writing code for a new item or ability, and talk about repairing items and decrypting codes.