What is Godot?

Key takeaways:

  • Godot is a free and open-source game engine that allows for cross-platform development for 2D and 3D games.

  • Godot uses a visual scripting system that makes it easy for beginners to learn game development.

  • Godot supports multiple languages for scripting, including GDScript, C#, C++, and C.

Do you love video games and dream of creating your own? Don’t worry, aspiring developer—you already have everything you need! Godot, with its user-friendly interface and free, open-source license, is the perfect tool for beginners to start making their own games.

Godot

Godot is a game development engine that allows for cross-platform development for 2D and 3D games. It provides a unified set of abstract tools that the users can use to avoid grunt work and create their dream games.

The Godot offers the following advantages:

  • Free and open-source: No licensing fees, full control over the source code.

  • Cross-platform development: Build games for various platforms with a single codebase.

  • Visual scripting: Create game logic visually without writing code, perfect for beginners.

Interface

When we start the engine, we have the option to open an existing project or create a new one. The screen shown below is what we see when we create a new project:

Landing page
Landing page

We also get the option to choose the renderer backend for the project, and they are as follows:

  • Forward +: This option is for development on only a desktop platform and uses advanced 3D graphics.

  • Mobile: We can use this option for both desktop and mobile development. It uses slightly less advanced 3D graphics but is still

  • Compatibility: This option is for targeting low-end devices. Builds exported using this renderer are compatible with desktop platforms, mobile devices and web platforms. Even though it uses the least advanced d, it makes up for this by being very fast.

After creating the project, we should be able to see the landing page for the editor. Let’s take a look at its different components:

Godot editor
Godot editor

  • Scene Dock window: This window is highlighted in yellow and placed at the top left of the screen. It is responsible for giving a detailed view of the node structure in the scene. We’ll delve into what nodes are in a later section. This window, by default, gives us options to choose our first node. Ideally, the root node is the Scene node (either 2D or 3D), or it can also be a user interface in case our scene contains menus.

  • File System window: Highlighted in red, this window is placed at the bottom left of the editor and shows us the structure of the files in our project. Normally, all of the assets that we’re supposed to use, whether they be 3D models or scripts, will appear here.

  • Viewport window: This window is highlighted in teal and is in the center of the screen. It allows us to view our scene and make edits to it by adjusting the nodes placed inside it. At the top of the viewport window is a toolbar that we can use to play around (transform, scale, and lock the nodes) with the nodes placed inside the scene.

  • Inspector window: This window shows us the different properties of the selected node.

Note: There are multiple types of nodes and this window will show a different interface each time a different node is selected.

  • Tabs: The multiple tabs shown at the bottom of the screen contain different windows. Each window is used for a different purpose. For example, the “Output” tab shows any output printed to the screen. Similarly, the “Shader Editor” window provides a way to interact visually with shader nodes.

Nodes

Godot’s scenes have a tree-like structure. Nodes are the fundamental building blocks of a game. If you are familiar with Unity, you might remember that in Unity, GameObjects are equivalent to nodes in Godot. Every Godot object inside a scene is a node. Each node can have different properties that can allow it to do different stuff, and we can even attach more properties to it to make it do additional stuff—similar to how we can attach components to GameObjects in Unity. Nodes can also be nested inside each other. Every node present inside the scene is a child node of the scene. Similarly, in the image shown on the left, one CSGBox3D node is a child of the other.

Godot's Nodes
Godot's Nodes

Scripting

Godot allows us to script the game logic in multiple languages. GDScript is an object-oriented and imperative language and is used officially for Godot. Godot also provides an IDE built inside the editor that can be used for GDScript. Besides GDScript, the other languages for which official support is available are C#, C++, and C.

Let’s discuss a little about GDScript. It’s an object-oriented and imperativeCode executes in a step by step sequence. The order of each command is crucial. programming language and is very similar to Python. It should also be noted that GDScript is a gradually typed language, which means that it supports both staticVariable type is known at compile time. and dynamic Variable type is checked during run-time.typing.

func _ready():
	print("Hello world!")
GDScript Hello World program

The code shown above outputs “Hello world!” to the “Output” tab when run.

Note: We can use multiple languages inside a single project as well. For example, we can use GDScript to script the game logic because it is quick to write, while C++ or C# can be used for complex algorithms to maximize performance.

Exporting projects

As mentioned at the start of this Answer, Godot allows us to build and export projects for all platforms. To export your projects directly from the editor, you can navigate to the “Export” menu by clicking on “Project” and then “Export...”. This will open the window, as shown below:

Export menu
Export menu
1 of 3

We will need to add a preset for the platform we need to export our project for. This can be done by clicking the “Add...” button at the top of the window and choosing the platform for our build. Usually, the default settings for the export are sufficient to export a build.

Demonstration

Below is a working demo of the engine. Feel free to try it.

import React from 'react';
require('./style.css');

import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import App from './app.js';

ReactDOM.render(
  <App />, 
  document.getElementById('root')
);

Limitations of Godot

  • Smaller community: Fewer third-party assets and plugins compared to larger engines.

  • Less mature 3D capabilities: Some 3D features may not be as advanced as those of other engines, especially for complex 3D games.

  • The steeper learning curve for advanced features: Mastering advanced features requires more effort.

Frequently asked questions

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What is the meaning of Godot?

Godot is the name of a game engine, not an acronym. It’s derived from the character Godot in Samuel Beckett’s play “Waiting for Godot,” symbolizing a long-awaited tool or solution.

Is Godot easier than Unity?

Whether Godot is easier than Unity depends on individual preferences and experience levels. Both engines have their own learning curves. Godot is often considered more beginner-friendly due to its visual scripting and simpler interface, while Unity offers a more mature and feature-rich environment.

What is the main theme of Godot?

The main theme of “Waiting for Godot” is the absurdity of human existence. It explores the idea of waiting for something that may never come, highlighting the futility and meaninglessness of life. The characters, Vladimir and Estragon, are trapped in a cycle of waiting, their lives devoid of purpose or significance. This theme is reflected in the play’s minimalist setting, repetitive dialogue, and the characters’ constant questioning of their existence.

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