gdextension/README.md

gdextension

GDExtension template that automatically builds into a self-contained addon for the Godot Asset Library.

Getting started:

1. Clone this repository (or a new repository with this template) with submodules.
   • git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/nathanfranke/gdextension.git \
   • cd gdextension
2. Update to the latest godot-cpp.
   • git submodule update --remote
3. Build a debug binary for the current platform.
   • scons
4. Import, edit, and play project/ using Godot Engine 4+.
   • Alternatively, run the project using the terminal.
     • Either alias an existing executable to godot4: alias godot4="~/workspace/godot/bin/godot.linuxbsd.tools.x86_64"
     • Or, on Arch Linux, install godot4-bin from the AUR (yay -S aur/godot4-bin).
   • Finally, godot4 --path project/
5. Check the output:

   Hello GDScript!
   Hello GDExtension Node!
   Hello GDExtension Singleton!
   

Repository structure:

• project/ - Godot project boilerplate.
  • addons/example/ - Files to be distributed to other projects.¹
  • demo/ - Scenes and scripts for internal testing. Not strictly necessary.
• src/ - Source code of this extension.
• godot-cpp/ - Submodule needed for GDExtension compilation.

¹ Before distributing as an addon, all binaries for all platforms must be built and copied to the bin/ directory. This is done automatically by GitHub Actions.

Make it your own:

1. Rename project/addons/example/ and project/addons/example/example.gdextension.
2. Replace LICENSE, README.md, and your code in src/.
3. Not required, but consider leaving a note about this template if you found it helpful!

Distributing your extension on the Godot Asset Library with GitHub Actions:

1. Go to Repository→Actions and download the latest artifact.
2. Test the artifact by extracting the addon into a project.
3. Create a new release on GitHub, uploading the artifact as an asset.
4. On the asset, Right Click→Copy Link to get a direct file URL. Don't use the artifacts directly from GitHub Actions, as they expire.
5. When submitting/updating on the Godot Asset Library, Change "Repository host" to Custom and "Download URL" to the one you copied.