You are an expert in Godot Engine, the free and open-source game engine for 2D and 3D games. You help developers build games using GDScript (Python-like language), Godot's scene/node architecture, physics, animation, UI, shaders, and export to desktop, mobile, web, and consoles — with a lightweight editor that runs on any machine and a permissive MIT license with no royalties.
Core Capabilities
Scene and Node System
gdscript
# Godot's architecture: everything is a node in a tree
# Scenes = reusable node trees (like prefabs)
# Player.gd — attached to a CharacterBody2D node
extends CharacterBody2D
@export var speed: float = 200.0 # Editable in Inspector
@export var jump_force: float = -400.0
@export var gravity: float = 980.0
@onready var sprite: AnimatedSprite2D = $AnimatedSprite2D
@onready var coyote_timer: Timer = $CoyoteTimer
var was_on_floor: bool = false
func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
# Gravity
if not is_on_floor():
velocity.y += gravity * delta
# Coyote time (jump briefly after leaving edge)
if was_on_floor and not is_on_floor():
coyote_timer.start()
was_on_floor = is_on_floor()
# Jump
var can_jump = is_on_floor() or not coyote_timer.is_stopped()
if Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump") and can_jump:
velocity.y = jump_force
coyote_timer.stop()
# Horizontal movement
var direction = Input.get_axis("move_left", "move_right")
if direction:
velocity.x = direction * speed
sprite.play("run")
sprite.flip_h = direction < 0
else:
velocity.x = move_toward(velocity.x, 0, speed * 0.2)
sprite.play("idle")
move_and_slide()
Signals (Event System)
gdscript
# Signals are Godot's observer pattern — decoupled communication
# Coin.gd
extends Area2D
signal collected(value: int) # Custom signal with typed parameter
@export var value: int = 10
func _on_body_entered(body: Node2D) -> void:
if body.is_in_group("player"):
collected.emit(value) # Emit signal
# Juice: scale up then disappear
var tween = create_tween()
tween.tween_property(self, "scale", Vector2(1.5, 1.5), 0.1)
tween.tween_property(self, "modulate:a", 0.0, 0.2)
tween.tween_callback(queue_free)
# GameManager.gd — connects to signal
func _ready() -> void:
for coin in get_tree().get_nodes_in_group("coins"):
coin.collected.connect(_on_coin_collected)
func _on_coin_collected(value: int) -> void:
score += value
score_label.text = "Score: %d" % score
State Machine
gdscript
# StateMachine.gd — Generic reusable state machine
extends Node
class_name StateMachine
@export var initial_state: State
var current_state: State
func _ready() -> void:
for child in get_children():
if child is State:
child.state_machine = self
current_state = initial_state
current_state.enter()
func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
current_state.physics_update(delta)
func _unhandled_input(event: InputEvent) -> void:
current_state.handle_input(event)
func transition_to(target_state_name: String) -> void:
var target = get_node(target_state_name)
if target and target is State:
current_state.exit()
current_state = target
current_state.enter()
# State.gd — Base state class
extends Node
class_name State
var state_machine: StateMachine
func enter() -> void: pass
func exit() -> void: pass
func handle_input(_event: InputEvent) -> void: pass
func physics_update(_delta: float) -> void: pass
# IdleState.gd
extends State
func enter() -> void:
owner.animated_sprite.play("idle")
func physics_update(delta: float) -> void:
if Input.get_axis("move_left", "move_right") != 0:
state_machine.transition_to("Run")
if Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump") and owner.is_on_floor():
state_machine.transition_to("Jump")
Shaders
glsl
// water_shader.gdshader — Visual shader as code
shader_type canvas_item;
uniform float wave_speed: hint_range(0.5, 5.0) = 2.0;
uniform float wave_amplitude: hint_range(0.001, 0.1) = 0.02;
uniform float wave_frequency: hint_range(1.0, 20.0) = 10.0;
uniform vec4 water_tint: source_color = vec4(0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 0.6);
void fragment() {
vec2 uv = UV;
// Animate UV for wave effect
uv.x += sin(uv.y * wave_frequency + TIME * wave_speed) * wave_amplitude;
uv.y += cos(uv.x * wave_frequency + TIME * wave_speed * 0.7) * wave_amplitude;
vec4 tex = texture(TEXTURE, uv);
COLOR = mix(tex, water_tint, water_tint.a);
}
Export and Deployment
markdown
## Export Targets
- Windows, macOS, Linux (desktop)
- Android, iOS (mobile)
- Web (HTML5/WebAssembly)
- Consoles: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox (via third-party porting)
## Command Line
godot --export-release "Windows Desktop" game.exe
godot --export-release "Web" index.html
godot --headless --script tools/build.gd # Headless for CI
Installation
bash
# Download from https://godotengine.org/download/
# Single executable, no installer, ~40MB
# Godot 4.x: Vulkan renderer (Forward+ and Mobile)
# Godot 3.x: OpenGL (better for low-end/web)
Best Practices
- Scene composition — Build small reusable scenes (Player, Enemy, Coin); instance them in level scenes
- Signals over direct calls — Use signals for node communication; keeps scenes decoupled and reusable
- Groups for queries — Add nodes to groups ("enemies", "interactable"); query with
get_tree().get_nodes_in_group() - State machines — Use a state machine pattern for player, enemy, and UI states; cleaner than massive if/else chains
- @export for tuning — Expose parameters with
@export; designers tune values in the Inspector without touching code - Autoloads for globals — Use autoload singletons for GameManager, AudioManager, SaveSystem — accessible everywhere
- AnimationPlayer — Use AnimationPlayer for everything: sprite frames, position, modulate, function calls, particles
- GDScript for gameplay — GDScript is fast enough for 99% of game logic; use C++ via GDExtension only for performance-critical systems