godot-resource-data-patterns

name	godot-resource-data-patterns
description	Expert blueprint for data-oriented design using Resource/RefCounted classes (item databases, character stats, reusable data structures). Covers typed arrays, serialization, nested resources, and resource caching. Use when implementing data systems OR inventory/stats/dialogue databases. Keywords Resource, RefCounted, ItemData, CharacterStats, database, serialization, @export, typed arrays.

Godot 4.7 Baseline

• Expert patterns in this skill target Godot 4.7+ (stable, 2026-06-18).
• Consult the Godot 4.7 migration guide when upgrading projects from 4.6.
• NEVER assume 4.6 defaults (stretch mode, audio area_mask, RichTextLabel percent flags) without checking 4.7 migration notes.

Resource & Data Patterns

Resource-based design, typed arrays, and serialization — decision tree + scripts, not Inspector tutorials.

NEVER Do in Resource Design

• NEVER modify resource instances directly — Without .duplicate(), changing a value (like HP) modifies the shared .tres for everyone.
• NEVER use untyped arrays in Resources — @export var items: Array allows logic errors. Always use Array[ResourceClass] for type safety.
• NEVER store Node references in Resources — Objects that only exist in a specific SceneTree cannot be serialized. Store NodePath or UID.
• NEVER perform heavy calculations in Resource getters/setters — Resources should be data containers. Offload logic to Nodes or specialized RefCounted classes.
• NEVER skip ResourceSaver.save() error checks — Saving can fail due to permissions, disk space, or path issues. Always check the return code.
• NEVER use Resources for high-frequency runtime data — If a value changes 60 times a second (like velocity), a standard variable is faster than a Resource property.
• NEVER allow circular Resource references — If A.tres references B.tres and B.tres references A.tres, the engine may crash on load.
• NEVER forget the _init defaults — Resources created via new() or in the Inspector need default values in their constructor to be editable.
• NEVER share a Resource between entities if they need unique state — Use resource_local_to_scene = true or duplicate() for components.
• NEVER use .tres for massive datasets — If you have 10,000 items, a JSON or custom binary format might be more efficient than individualized Resource files.

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Decision Tree: Resource vs RefCounted vs Node

Type	Use when	Disk / Inspector
Resource	Shared definitions, saveable data, @export authoring	.tres/.res, Inspector ✅
RefCounted	Temporary runtime calcs, non-persistent helpers	No disk / weak Inspector
Node	Scene entities with process/signals in the tree	Scene files

Use Resources for: item defs, stats templates, abilities, dialogue tables, enemy configs. Use RefCounted for: damage calc scratchpads, ephemeral state machines, non-saved utilities.

Available Scripts — MANDATORY by Scenario

Scenario	MANDATORY read
Per-instance mutable stats (HP) sharing a base .tres	resource_local_to_scene.gd
Nested Item → Weapon → StatusEffect trees / save whole graph	nested_resource_serialization.gd
Many entities sharing one config (flyweight)	resource_flyweight_caching.gd / flyweight_enemy_config.gd
Custom @export data containers	custom_data_resource.gd
Reactive stats with signals	character_stats_resource.gd
Inventory arrays of Resources	resource_based_inventory.gd
Save Resource trees to disk	resource_save_system.gd — check Error
Preload / O(1) cache before play	resource_preloading_strategy.gd
Runtime Resource.new() loot	dynamic_resource_generation.gd
Validate / pool / factory	resource_validator.gd / resource_pool.gd / data_factory_resource.gd

Expert WHY (critical)

CAUTION: Runtime HP/mana on a shared .tres without duplicate(true) or resource_local_to_scene mutates the asset on disk — the "damaging one damages all" bug.

• .res vs .tres: binary .res in production; .tres for design diffs; nested trees save with parent via ResourceSaver.
• Cache: ResourceLoader.CACHE_MODE_REPLACE after external edits bypass stale cache.
• Local-to-scene / duplicate: mandatory for per-instance components — resource_local_to_scene.gd.
• 10k+ rows: individualized .tres files lose to JSON/binary — see Official Docs binary serialization.

Deep dive (load on demand)

Pattern 1–7 walkthroughs (ItemData, databases, RefCounted calcs, directory scan, O(1) cache) — references/resource-patterns-deep.md. Implement nested weapons from nested_resource_serialization.gd, not memory.

Reference

Progressive disclosure: open Official Documentation links only when researching a specific API; load Related Skills when routing to a peer domain — do not preload the whole lattice.

Official Documentation

• Resources — Custom Resource scripts, .tres/.res, sharing vs duplicate(), and resource_local_to_scene for per-instance state.
• Data preferences — When to store data in Resources vs dictionaries, ConfigFile, or plain scripts for inspector and serialization needs.
• Resource — duplicate, emit_changed, resource_path, and local-to-scene flags used by every data container pattern here.
• ResourceLoader — Cached load / threaded requests that power flyweight sharing and preload caches.
• ResourceSaver — Persist custom Resources to user:// or res:// and always check the returned Error.
• RefCounted — Lightweight runtime objects when you need refcounting without disk serialization or Inspector exports.
• Saving games — Broader save strategies that pair with ResourceSaver for slot-based .tres state.
• Background loading — Threaded ResourceLoader polling so databases and VFX packs do not hitch the main thread.
• GDScript exports — Typed @export / Array[T] so item and quest Resources stay Inspector-safe.
• Binary serialization API — Compact FileAccess packing when thousands of rows outgrow individualized .tres files.
• Scene organization — Why shared Resources live outside scene trees and how component scenes compose exported data.

Related Skills

Prerequisites

• godot-project-foundations — Project layout, import, and res:// hygiene before authoring shared .tres databases.
• godot-gdscript-mastery — class_name, typed arrays, setters, and @tool discipline every custom Resource script depends on.

Complements

• godot-signal-architecture — Ownership and fan-out for Resource changed / custom signals that drive reactive UI and stats.
• godot-save-load-systems — Slot versioning, migration, and secure paths that wrap ResourceSaver/ResourceLoader save flows.
• godot-scene-management — Packed scenes and threaded loads that consume preloaded Resource caches without hitch spikes.
• godot-ability-system — Ability/buff definitions are Resource data; this skill owns the container and serialization patterns.
• godot-dialogue-system — Dialogue graphs and line tables are nested Resources that reuse typed-array and save patterns here.
• godot-performance-optimization — Flyweight sharing, pooling RefCounted payloads, and when .res beats text .tres at scale.

Downstream / consumers

• godot-inventory-system — Item stacks, equipment, and bags consume ItemData / inventory Resource arrays defined here.
• godot-procedural-generation — Generators that instantiate loot, quests, and configs via Resource.new() at runtime.
• godot-monte-carlo-balancer — .tres stats and economy tables are the preferred extract source — build the data layer before regex farms.

Master

• godot-master — Library router and mirrored module entry for cross-skill discovery.