 According to Adams, "Dwarf Fortress" is written in an "unsanctioned messy combination" of C and C++ using a free edition of Microsoft Visual Studio as the IDE.Adams did not use the 3D graphics which "Armok" had since its development was hampered because of it.He cited the ease in development of features like fluid simulation, copyright issues with the art and more unhindered possibilities as further reasons for not using it.