koobas.hobune.stream
Advice on static variables and object references
Hi all, just a bit of advice needed here.
I am coding in C# and as my game is growing, I am adding many scripts to the myriad of game objects, but often they need to access scripts assigned to players, enemies etc.
So, simply put I am often re-typing the same code over and over in each script, namely the ones that reference player functionality.
An example would be the players control scripts and animator components.
I am forever having to remember to include the following sorts of code
// Declaring the var
GameObject player;
Animator anim;
// Then instantiating
player = GameObject.FindObjectWithTag("Player");
anim = player.GetComponent<Animator>();
Then I have to do this for each function, script etc.
Now, I don't mind this, but it seems a little inefficient to me.
So, should I be putting these in one sort of control script that defines these as public statics so that I can reference them in a much simpler fashion?
I have never used statics before, so I am just after advice and opinions please :)
A static variable is a variable that belongs to the class, not the instance of that class. So for example, if I had a class called Player and in that class I had a variable called count, then to refer to that variable and add '1' I would write something like
Player.count++;
So if count was 0, it would now be one. All objects of the type of your script would see the change, because they all have access to the class data. This is unlike non-static variables, where a change only affects the state of the single object in which the modification occurs and so only the single object would have a change of data value.
You can have a script, that is singleton instead of static, and this way, it's much easier for other scripts to talk to it, and the other way around.
A singleton implemntation is avaiable widely and I highly suggest you read about.
Here is what I do, I have lots of scripts that are singleton (Means, they're available only one, not more) and some of them, I use the DoNotDestroyOnLoad methode, which does make this script not get destroyed when even loading any new level ..
Let's say a GameController (I have also SoundEffectsController, ... etc and properly lots of conrtoller)
The player code can talk to GameController script without using the find methode at all
in my player start methode for example I do this
//Singleton have a variable called instance, which can call that sinleton and access the controller
GameController.Instace.player = this.gameObject;
//now on other scripts, they can access the player without doing any GameObject.Find at all
GameController.Instance.player.GetComponenet<Example>().DoThis();
as well, in my game controller, I tent to save lists of other objects, so I can access them easily, like a list of enemies, a list of NPCs or just anything!
I barely have to use GameObject.Find
and if I ever use the find methode, I usually find myself using transform.FindChild() which finds the child of that transform, not searching through all GameObjects!
Hope this helps.
Singleton for Unity3D C#: http://wiki.unity3d.com/index.php/Singleton
Best of luck!
that's just the kind of thing I was looking for, thanks for taking the time to explain :)
